For the past 6 Augusts, Mayor Bloomberg has dedicated 7 miles of Park Avenue – from 72nd Street all the way down to Brooklyn Bridge for Summer Streets, on three consecutive Saturdays.

Fab idea! I love it! Runners, walkers, bikers, and bladers can enjoy the car-free zone from 7am-1pm on those Saturdays.

This year, with the new CitiBike system (kudos to the DOT/citibank for that), getting a bike was far easier so hubs and I decided to bike down from our ‘hood to Brooklyn Bridge. Last Saturday was really pleasant because it was a little rainy so the street was pretty open.

Biking downtown

Yesterday was a different story. Because of the perfect weather provided by Mother Nature, the streets were far busier. And of course they should have been, people are out enjoying this glorious event!

Along the route there are signs to alert you to rest stops, activity stops and this year a voice activated pop-up art installation in the tunnel just south of Grand Central.

There are also many signs to show that pedestrians should walk or run on the right and bikers should bike on the left. Makes sense right? Well, not to everyone…. so here is some etiquette for Summer Streets. Again, common sense – not so common…

To enjoy Summer Streets, or any public event like festivals, parades, etc, please follow this simple etiquette (although I know this really doesn’t apply to you – it’s more of a vent with a positive tone haha!):

• follow the rules of the road! You are not the only person there.
• pay attention to your surroundings, you are not the only person there
• watch out for others, you are not the only person there
• if you are biking and need to pass, look behind you before darting out, you are not the only person there
• clean up after yourself, there are garbage cans everywhere
• use your bell, you are not the only person there
• teach your kids the rules of the road before you head out to the streets, your family is not the only one there
• give people their personal space whether running or biking, you are not the only person there
• have fun 🙂

I know I live in a place where there are tons and tons of people, but just think a little. That’s all I ask 🙂

Minus the few people who did annoy me, we still had a good ride! If you haven’t been out to enjoy it yet, you should!

Saw and heard this fancy music wagon both times!