I myself ride on average 3 to 5 times a week, with an accumulated mileage off season of probably 30 to 75 per week, during the season I ride on average 250 to 300/wk.
Along with the storm recovery efforts, cold weather has arrived...point being that even so called "normal" riders/riding is in transition.
I see "typical" seasonal bike traffic around and about...but no, I'm not as of now seeing anything out of the norm, certainly no increase amongst road riders, or commuters.
I've just returned from the New Haven Connecticut area, and member of my own family who are bike commuters, have not been able to return to riding due to road and path issues. Plus there is just to much debris and repair crews obliterating the safe passage of cyclist, particularly in this now the "off season" where drivers don't even watch for cyclists.
I was in and out of NYC as well these past few days and there as well, things are difficult and not really conducive to seasoned let alone inexperienced cyclist taking to the road or path just yet. The increase in foot traffic along with the decrease in road/path space is an issue.
I think those areas most effected in CT/NY/NJ, folks are so caught up in finding what they can salvage from their homes, bikes and transportation in general is far from their minds.
The focus is food, electricity, and for many, shelter and staying warm. Where things are bad, they are very bad.
Where they are affected, but have power, sadly for those in NY/NJ the focus seems to swing to finding gasoline for their cars. The result is Connecticut is starting to experience gas shortages along with mile long lines to buy gas. This should be alleviated by the reopening of both New York and New Jersey ports this past Friday.
I think it is highly probably in the coming week/weeks you may see an increase in bike use in the more urban areas, as Mass transit is going to be a bit off track with subways still making a come back, and routes for cars, trucks, even bikes altered due to street and path repair and the like.
And if this second nor'easter should hit......
-----Original Message-----
From: Rich Points <director@communitycycles.org>
To: The Think Tank <thethinktank@lists.bikecollectives.org>
Sent: Sun, Nov 4, 2012 9:10 am
Subject: [TheThinkTank] What has been the role of bikes after Sandy?
Hey East coasters,
Have you guys seen more people riding bikes after the hurricane? What has been the role of the bike after the storm? I hope it's getting people to ride to work for the first time and maybe create some new commuters.
Curious in Boulder.
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Rich Points
http://communitycycles.org
Executive Director
(c)303-589-0597
(w)720-565-6019
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