Bi-Borough Journey

Prologue: On Friday, I took myself on a trip to Coney Island, via my bicycle. It was a great ride, and I've listed some highlights (and lowlights) below. 

A: Getting from Astoria to Brooklyn is annoying and not particularly scenic, except for a very short jaunt through Long Island City. You have to make your way through the Queensboro Plaza area, which is full of noise and cars and malfunctioning traffic signals.

B: But then you sail over the Pulaski Bridge and you are suddenly in Greenpoint! I fall in love with Greenpoint every time I'm there. It's so charming and quiet and nice and funky. But as I rode through Greenpoint and down towards northern Williamsburg, I noticed a disturbing amount of girls in dainty summer dresses, riding bikes in the street without helmets. I know it doesn't go with your outfit, but it protects your brain!

C: Southern Williamsburg: big industrial areas and Hasidic Jews.

D: I always forget how quaint/lovely/delightful Park Slope is. When I happen upon more money, I'm definitely taking myself out for dinner in a cafe or something.

E: Hitting Ocean Parkway was the most relaxing part of the ride. Except for having to frequently stop at the crosswalks, it's the urban biker's dream! There is a bike path separated from pedestrians by a railing and separated from cars by a wide grassy embankment.

F: I ventured out too far into the crosswalk at Avenue P and a car zoomed by, splashing a ton of dirty water all over me. The jogger next to me was as surprised as I was. It could have been a perfect "meet cute," but I don't think we were each other's types.

G: I was .8 miles from the water when I switched gears on my bike and it locked up, preventing me from pedaling forward or backward. O Frustration! I sat on the sidewalk with the bike and attempted to fix it, but truthfully I had no idea what the gears should look like normally, so I didn't get very far. I walked the rest of the way, but I was annoyed that I had gotten so close, and yet not close enough to feel as though I could truthfully say I biked all the way to Coney Island. Realistically, I can say I biked to the Brighton Beach area and that's good enough for me.

Epilogue: I proceeded to lay out in the sun, splash around in the water, watch people on the Polar Express ride, and eat an ice cream cone. Perfect day.