Blogging the News

Here’s some interesting news regarding cycling I think you guys will enjoy.

People don’t like biking uphills, and this company is looking to make it easier on cyclist.”KPLU.ORG”

Citi Bike is working on improving its user experiences; they’ve even hired an aid from a former MTA management.”NEW YORK TIMES”

A vintage approach to Cycling “NEW YORK TIMES”

How to Catch a bike thief “NEW YORK TIMES”

The mayor of Rome refuses to give up cycling “The Telegraph”

Hope you guys find these round-ups as interesting as I did.

Cheick Toure

Social Media Strategy

Originally the purpose of my blog was to document the experience of cycling in New York City from a beginners perspective. As the blog to developed, it’s turned less about me documenting my cycling experience and more about finding ways to inform or expose others who are unfamiliar to biking in the city to the experience. In order to get others involved with my blog I intend to build a social media presence on Instagram, Twitter, and Facebook. Instagram because the cycling experience is a visual one, being able to share the experience with the viewers through photos, can allow viewers to share the experience through their mobile devices. Some people view riding in the city to be a very dangerous thing, which it can be, but there are ways to be safe and still enjoy the fun of cycling. So being able to photographically document cycling in New York City, or taking photos of the go to bike shops for repairs, or the local gas station with free or cheap pump for your tires, or ways to be prepared for night riding, can actually help promote more of the fun and safer experience for those have been interested in cycling and those never put much thought into it.

Who will I reach: These are several blogs that document aspects of cycling, from a street cycling to documenting pro cycling or pro athletes. Those blogs have already established themselves and they often repost a tweet from a fellow blogger in an attempt to create more of a cycling community.

1.Red Kite Prayer: Twitter @RedKitePrayer/ no instagram

2. Adventure Journal: Twitter @adventurevida/ no instagram

3. Rouleur Magazine: Twitter @rouleurmagazine

4. BDIPC: Twitter @#BDIPC/ same for instagram and Facebook

5. Fat Cyclist: Twitter @fatcyclist

6. BikeHacks: Twitter @bikehacks/ Insta @bikehacks

7. The Inner ring:Twitter @inrng

8. Vital MTB: Twitter @VitalMTB/ insta@VitalMTB

9. Boulder Report: Twitter and Instagram @BicyclingMag

10.Bike Snob: Twitter @bikesnobnyc

11.Ralpha Blog: Twitter @rapha/ Insta @rapha

12. Cycle chic: Twitter @_Cycle_Chic

13. Bicycle Habitat: Twitter and Instagram @BicycleHabitat

14. BikepeaceNYC: Twitter and instagram @bikepeacenyc
15.PreferredMode: Twitter,Instagram, Facebook and Tumblr @PreferredMode

These blogs can open up a larger social media followers to my content, some the last three are a bit of competition, but competition can foster growth and push to create original contents.

My accounts:

Facebook: Cycle Path on Facebook would to create more of cycling community, Facebook is a good place for people to open up conversations about an experience. So is twitter, but the main difference here is that you have almost to word count limits.

Twitter: Mainly to keep my readers up to date with my blog, things that I think is interesting for them to follow or that aligns with the work am doing on my blog. As well with informing them of new blog posts.

Instagram: Mainly just to share the experience of cycling through the lens of my cellphone camera with my readers, it makes them feel part of the experience and will drive them to want to participate in the experience and discuss it with others.

Writing Tweets and Headlines:

Twitter handles:             Headlines:

#cyclepaths-                 biking maps of NYC including rules and regulations.

#WilliamsburgBridgecyclepath –     Williamsburg Bridge on Two Wheels as headline

#conversationonCitibike    –     A student’s perspective on Citi Bike

#cyclingisforartistofNYC     –     An artist Mode of transportation

These are few twitter handles to promote the current and previous blog post and give readers the chance to interact with my contents.

Cycle Path: Bridges, The Williamsburg Bridge

Cycle Path: Bridge cycling, The Williamsburg Bridge

Bridge riding has always been one of the biggest hurdles for bike riders to overcome, and today I borrowed a camera and took it to the Williamsburg Bridge to see how other bikers took on the challenge of riding across a bridge. In the beginning of the video you’ll see a young lady taking on the Williamsburg Bridge with a single speed bike. If you’ve ever rode one of those bikes before you know it isn’t easy, but she does it gracefully, on a colorful bike at that. The end of the video also shows a young man entering the bridge from Brooklyn on a single speed bike and he seems to do it effortlessly as well. But overall the Williamsburg Bridge happens to be one of the easier bridges to cross versus the Brooklyn or Queensboro Bridge.

group of french tourist, touring the city bridge using Citi bike

When the WilliamsburgBridge opened in 1903, it was the longest suspension bridge in the world. It was one of the last major bridges designed for the horse and carriage. Now, the Williamsburg Bridge is one of the major crossings of the East River. It connects over 600 bikers and other motorists everyday between Manhattan and Brooklyn.

Today Brooklyn has the most cyclists in comparison to any of the other boroughs in New York City. The Williamsburg Bridge has become the main bridge that connects Brooklyn cyclists to the city.

Group of curious and friendly bike riders who asked what I was recording.

Take a look at these links below if you’re interested in purchasing one of those colorful single speed bikes from the video.  Or one  just like the gentlemen standing in the picture above is holding, they can be customized to your liking.

http://www.republicbike.com/build_aristotle.asp

http://www.citygrounds.com/aventon/aventon-mataro-low-fixed-gear-bike-built-by-city-grounds-3702/color/POLISHED

Cycle Path: Bridge cycling, The Williamsburg Bridge

Bridge riding has always been one of the biggest hurdles for bike riders to overcome, and today I borrowed a camera and took it to the Williamsburg Bridge to see how other bikers took on the challenge of riding across a bridge. In the beginning of the video you’ll see a young lady taking on the Williamsburg Bridge with a single speed bike. If you’ve ever rode one of those bikes before you know it isn’t easy, but she does it gracefully, on a colorful bike at that. The end of the video also shows a young man entering the bridge from Brooklyn on a single speed bike and he seems to do it effortlessly as well. But overall the Williamsburg Bridge happens to be one of the easier bridges to cross versus the Brooklyn or Queensboro Bridge.

group of french tourist, touring the city bridge using Citi bike

When the WilliamsburgBridge opened in 1903, it was the longest suspension bridge in the world. It was one of the last major bridges designed for the horse and carriage. Now, the Williamsburg Bridge is one of the major crossings of the East River. It connects over 600 bikers and other motorists everyday between Manhattan and Brooklyn.

Today Brooklyn has the most cyclists in comparison to any of the other boroughs in New York City. The Williamsburg Bridge has become the main bridge that connects Brooklyn cyclists to the city.

Group of curious and friendly bike riders who asked what I was recording.

Take a look at these links below if you’re interested in purchasing one of those colorful single speed bikes from the video.  Or one  just like the gentlemen standing in the picture above is holding, they can be customized to your liking.

http://www.republicbike.com/build_aristotle.asp

http://www.citygrounds.com/aventon/aventon-mataro-low-fixed-gear-bike-built-by-city-grounds-3702/color/POLISHED

https://blogs.baruch.cuny.edu/pedalstreets/

I got to briefly interview Masha about using Citi Bike’s in NYC, Masha is an SVA student and a designer. I got to ask a couple of questions as she was just parking a Citi Bike after running some errands.

1. Please share a little about yourself, and what do you do in NYC.

My name is Masha and I am a designer living in NYC. As a student at the School of Visual Arts I am very fortunate to be surrounded by so much opportunity.

2. Please share why you chose to be a cyclist in NYC?

Physical activity has always been a part of my life. I use cycling as an excuse to stay fit while running errands around Manhattan. It also exposes me to the history in New York City when I accidentally take a wrong turn.

3. What do you think could be done to enhance the cycling experience in NY ?. In your case with city bikes

Awareness needs to be brought to the attention of pedestrians about cyclist. They forget that bike riders now become vehicles and if they were more attentive to cyclist, it would create a safer environment for everybody.

I got to briefly interview Masha about using Citi Bike’s in NYC, Masha is an SVA student and a designer. I got to ask a couple of questions as she was just parking a Citi Bike after running some errands.

1. Please share a little about yourself, and what do you do in NYC.

My name is Masha and I am a designer living in NYC. As a student at the School of Visual Arts I am very fortunate to be surrounded by so much opportunity.

2. Please share why you chose to be a cyclist in NYC?

Physical activity has always been a part of my life. I use cycling as an excuse to stay fit while running errands around Manhattan. It also exposes me to the history in New York City when I accidentally take a wrong turn.

3. What do you think could be done to enhance the cycling experience in NY ?. In your case with city bikes

Awareness needs to be brought to the attention of pedestrians about cyclist. They forget that bike riders now become vehicles and if they were more attentive to cyclist, it would create a safer environment for everybody.

Steve with his beloved bike

“I think people are going to find the pink lock funny”

” the results of me constantly tweaking this bike”

I had the pleasure of chatting with cool, calm and collective biker by the name of Steve. Such a small world, it turns out that Steve and I at some point in our life both attended LaGuardia CC in Long Island City. We shared a common interest in photography, but the main conversation starter was Steve’s bike. Steve has been cycling in New York for about 8 years, so he knows his way around the city on a bike. I asked him a few questions about what it’s like being a cyclist in a crowded city of New York, and what might have lead to him being on a bike rather than the train, bus, or in a car. Steve mentioned that he just enjoyed the easy feel of biking, and he liked getting his hands dirty by building and fixing his bikes. As he moved to New York from Scotland, he felt that the best way to get to know the City was to get lost in it, “there’s no better way to get lost in the city than on a bike”. Steve studied photography at LaGuardia, so he takes a like into viewing the landscape of New York as he tours it on his bike. Aside from the fun part of cycling in New York, we also talked about some of its dangers. He laughed as he said this but I could actually relate a bit about this experience,” it almost feels like everyone hates bikers in New York”. Taxi drivers not respecting the bike lanes sometimes, being hated by pedestrian or drivers if you try to share the road. But    although New Yorkers are known to be rude, bike riders tend be actually nice to each other, by greeting with nods as they bike pass each other or giving bike compliments as they ride by, it’s a heart warming feeling, and it’s welcoming feeling, something that’s very rare in NY sometimes.

Steve with his beloved bike

“I think people are going to find the pink lock funny”

” the results of me constantly tweaking this bike”

I had the pleasure of chatting with cool, calm and collective biker by the name of Steve. Such a small world, it turns out that Steve and I at some point in our life both attended LaGuardia CC in Long Island City. We shared a common interest in photography, but the main conversation starter was Steve’s bike. Steve has been cycling in New York for about 8 years, so he knows his way around the city on a bike. I asked him a few questions about what it’s like being a cyclist in a crowded city of New York, and what might have lead to him being on a bike rather than the train, bus, or in a car. Steve mentioned that he just enjoyed the easy feel of biking, and he liked getting his hands dirty by building and fixing his bikes. As he moved to New York from Scotland, he felt that the best way to get to know the City was to get lost in it, “there’s no better way to get lost in the city than on a bike”. Steve studied photography at LaGuardia, so he takes a like into viewing the landscape of New York as he tours it on his bike. Aside from the fun part of cycling in New York, we also talked about some of its dangers. He laughed as he said this but I could actually relate a bit about this experience,” it almost feels like everyone hates bikers in New York”. Taxi drivers not respecting the bike lanes sometimes, being hated by pedestrian or drivers if you try to share the road. But    although New Yorkers are known to be rude, bike riders tend be actually nice to each other, by greeting with nods as they bike pass each other or giving bike compliments as they ride by, it’s a heart warming feeling, and it’s welcoming feeling, something that’s very rare in NY sometimes.