Is it true people are looting Trader Joe's there?
Coronavirus has caused a bicycling boom in New York City
21–30 of 160 posts
Re: Coronavirus has caused a bicycling boom in New York City
#22Earlier quoted context omitted.
The primary transmission route in inhalation in close proximity to an infected person. Yes, it can persist on surfaces, but this hand-washing meme is mostly a result of (1) it costs nothing and may help, so we should try and (2) masks are supply limited and the healthcare industry doesn't have enough. In reality, if we had an abundance of masks, masks would be more important than hand washing. As it stands, we reserv…
I read N95 masks were basically useless when walking outside, they only mattered indoors and in confined spaces (like public transit). I’d imagine biking is even less transmission and wearing a mask with that is pretty unrealistic. It’s hard to find what is right on the internet though.
Useless or pointless?
Re: Coronavirus has caused a bicycling boom in New York City
#23I wonder if it's better to take the subway, or use a citibike. With the shared bikes, you're farther away from other people, but you're physically touching the shared bike all the time.
The primary transmission route in inhalation in close proximity to an infected person. Yes, it can persist on surfaces, but this hand-washing meme is mostly a result of (1) it costs nothing and may help, so we should try and (2) masks are supply limited and the healthcare industry doesn't have enough. In reality, if we had an abundance of masks, masks would be more important than hand washing. As it stands, we reserv…
Do you have a citation for this? I don't want to blindly trust that fomites aren't a major risk.
If true, that changes how I want to get food to my elders. (I've already gotten them several months worth, but I don't see an end to this and would feel safer if they had more runway.)
Re: Coronavirus has caused a bicycling boom in New York City
#24> The city’s Department of Transportation announced on Wednesday that it’s seen a 50 percent increase in bike traffic on bridges connecting Manhattan to Brooklyn and Queens compared to last March. It's also been regularly 5-10C warmer than average each day so far in March: https://www.accuweather.com/en/us/new-york/10007/march-weath... Almost entirely above freezing means no snow either. And bridges are the first pla…
There has been barely any snow this year in New York. Certainly none was on the bridges before the corona thing. It hasn't regularly been freezing even for most of February. Which was mostly the same as last March.
While it's probable that the warmer weather probably has had some effect, I doubt it can explain the whole increase.
Re: Coronavirus has caused a bicycling boom in New York City
#25Earlier quoted context omitted.
Because the bike industry is currently switching over from rim brakes to disc brakes, you can get some pretty good deals on older (but still brand new) road bikes if you look around. A few months ago I bought a carbon road bike for less than $1,500 including tax. Granted expect to spend at least as much on accessories, but if you live somewhere where you can use it for both commuting and exercise then it still pays f…
This is the whole problem with American bicycle culture summarized in a single post. There’s way too many carbon-fiber sports bikes and not anywhere near enough step-through town bikes with panniers, fenders and lights.
The basic issue is that in Amsterdam most trips are only a mile or two, whereas in NYC it's often a 10 or 15 mile commute between home and work. But yeah if you're only going a couple miles on mostly flat terrain then no question a commuter bike is a better choice.
Re: Coronavirus has caused a bicycling boom in New York City
#26Great. More cyclists.
I wonder if you're the dude that chunked a full Gatorade at me for having the audacity to ride my bike on the road.
Re: Coronavirus has caused a bicycling boom in New York City
#27I wonder if it's better to take the subway, or use a citibike. With the shared bikes, you're farther away from other people, but you're physically touching the shared bike all the time.
Because the bike industry is currently switching over from rim brakes to disc brakes, you can get some pretty good deals on older (but still brand new) road bikes if you look around. A few months ago I bought a carbon road bike for less than $1,500 including tax. Granted expect to spend at least as much on accessories, but if you live somewhere where you can use it for both commuting and exercise then it still pays f…
As someone that used to be an avid cyclist. Disc brakes are almost completely pointless for commuter bicycles. Don't get me wrong they are great when mountain biking (I have cable discs on my mountain bike). On a commuter bike they are mostly just overkill IMHO. But I wouldn't buy a carbon road bike either (All my bikes are steel framed).
Re: Coronavirus has caused a bicycling boom in New York City
#28Earlier quoted context omitted.
If you take the hand washing and not touching your face, then you're at almost zero risk from using shared bicycles. Even if someone gets some rona on the handlebars, if you don't transfer it to an orifice in your face you won't catch it. It's not gonna re-aerosolize off the handlebars.
"Not touching your face" is not a viable solution for most people. It's subconscious. If anyone could master this kind of self-control within a week, everyone would be an arahat.
It's pretty easy to not touch your face when your hands are physically on the handlebars. As long as you are able to wash your hands immediately after getting off the bike, I think you are reasonably safe.
Re: Coronavirus has caused a bicycling boom in New York City
#29Great. More cyclists.
Indeed! I agree that this is excellent news, and I'm not sure why your positivity is attracting so many downvotes.
Re: Coronavirus has caused a bicycling boom in New York City
#30wouldn't it be risky to ride behind a potentially infected rider?
after all you'd be breathing in their exhaled air, or would the speed and wind dillute the aerosol quickly enough to make it harmless?
I read that italy banned bicycling in affected locations to avoid accidents that would further strain their already stressed health care system. sorry, no source.