Copy
View this email in your browser

March News from WE Bike NYC

This March marks the ninth anniversary of WE Bike NYC.
WE would like to give a special "thank you" to all our members new and old! Together, WE have sustained this community for almost a decade and helped create a supportive environment for women, female identifying, and gender nonconforming people to get where they want to go, on or off the bike.

Waiting for that last snow to finish melting? Check out some recent highlights from the Female Bike Forum on Facebook:

Is it safe to bike in below-freezing temperatures?
Recommendations: bikes for petite riders
What can individuals do to improve NYC's bike infrastructure?

WE Bike NYC Upcoming Events


WE Chat: Ideas to advocate for bike resources with employers
Thursday, March 18
7:00 - 8:00 pm, Zoom
RSVP

WE Bike NYC volunteer and bike commuter Joanna will lead a chat about resources for people to bike to work.

Joanna works in corporate HR and has mined some resources for people who ride bikes that may exist or be easily implemented with employers. Sometimes you just need to find the right contact, be the squeaky wheel, or be willing to do some digging.

Register on Eventbrite. Zoom link will be emailed 1 hour prior to event.

Note: This is an all-gender event.

Meet a WE Biker: Elizabeth Jose


This March, WE celebrate the ninth anniversary of WE Bike NYC – and in this issue WE posed our four Meet a WE Biker questions to a very special volunteer – our founder, Liz Jose!

What was your first WE Bike NYC ride?
My first WE Bike NYC ride was THE first WE Bike NYC ride! It was a training ride for the 5 Boro Bike Tour in Central Park. It was raining and SO COLD and there were three of us -- me, the sweep, and one brave participant! We ended the ride early and all got hot chocolate. 

What’s your favorite route?
I currently live in Seattle, so my favorite route is my commute to work that goes by Lake Washington. I love seeing the water every day and how it changes over the different seasons.
 
In NYC, my favorite route was definitely any time I got to ride over the Williamsburg Bridge. For me, riding over that bridge to BikeWorks in the lower east side was where I hatched all my best (and worst) plans.

What do you ride?
I am one of those people who have too many bikes. I recently retrofitted one of my bikes to be an electric bike, thinking it would give me a mental and physical boost to commute in the winter. However, I find that I really just want to ride my tried and true Trek 520! This bike is the only bike I ever bought brand new (in 2007) and I rode it on my cross country adventure from Boston to San Francisco, all around Boston, all around New York City, and now all around Seattle. I joke that it is like riding a couch -- it's not fast, but it's sure comfortable. Riding this feels like home and reminds me of all the great things my body has done and can do!

Why do you love WE Bike NYC?  
I miss WE Bike NYC every day out here in Seattle. The community in WE Bike NYC helped me to meet people that I never would have met in the city. It connected me to fashion designers, activists, teachers, artists, tech folks, youth workers, baristas, and so many more people. It made me feel like I had a safety net in the city, and those connections continue to support and fuel me through the pandemic, on the other side of the country! The connections I made with WE Bikers went way deeper than our love of bikes, however, without that connection, we may never have found each other. Whenever I need advice on bike things, I go directly to Female Bike Forum, because it's the only place on the internet where I know I'll get a variety of answers, from people who have a variety of body shapes, and who offer support without judgement. (And yea, I'm probably biased...but oh well.)
 
 

Bike Tip of the Month


YouTuber Kelsey Leigh shares 6 tips to help you gain confidence while commuting by bicycle in your city.

The tips starting at 2:36 are especially applicable to NYC riding, including examples of over-the-shoulder checks; avoiding left hooks in bike lanes; and taking the lane.
Commuting by bike is a great way to save money, reduce your carbon footprint, and get in shape. YouTuber Kelsey Leigh makes city commuting less daunting wither her tips.

WE Can't Do It Without You!

WE Bike NYC is an official 501(c)(3) non-profit organization. WE are entirely volunteer-run, but it takes money for us to maintain our current standards of operation. 
 
If you are looking for a way to support fun, free, noncompetitive bicycle events and programming specifically for women, please consider donating to WE Bike NYC! 
DONATE NOW!

Community Events


Bike New York: Black History Month Heritage Rides
Brooklyn
Saturday, March 6 (previously rescheduled due to weather)
11:00 AM – 4:30 PM
Cadman Plaza Park, Brooklyn


Come along for a 15-mile discovery ride that will take you from Juneteenth Grove in Cadman Plaza to Prospect Park. Along the way, riders will make stops at historical sites that illuminate Brooklyn’s Black History. 
More Info

Manhattan
Sunday, March 7 (previously rescheduled due to weather)
11:00 AM – 4:30 PM
99 Wall Street, Manhattan


Join Bike New York on a 15-mile journey spanning the isle of Manhattan, from Wall Street to Washington Heights. Starting downtown in the heart of the Financial District, riders will work their way uptown, tracing New York City’s development through the years and honoring the pivotal role its Black citizens have played in shaping Manhattan’s story.
More Info


Time's Up NYC: Randall's Island Moonlight Ride
Sunday, March 28
7:00 PM
Randall's Island, Manhattan


Peaceful and scenic mostly car-free ride to explore this East River island at a gentle pace. Enjoy beautiful plantings, tidal marshes, a magnificent railroad truss, and skyline views across the water with the rising Worm Moon greeting the annelids of spring. Optional quick crossing to the Bronx over the Bronx Kill. Wearing a mask and keeping socially distant required. Lights too. Total distance approximately 7 miles.
More Info

Copyright © 2021 WE Bike NYC, All rights reserved.


Want to change how you receive these emails?
You can update your preferences or unsubscribe from this list.

Email Marketing Powered by Mailchimp