the urban biker meet the big apple's chain gang
n a crazy like New York, people still ride bicycles. It's one of the most practical modes of transport, as mentioned in casey Neistat's foreword to New York Bike Style.(A few years ago, the American filmmaker makes a short video mocking impracticality of New York bike lanes. In the clip, he actually gets a ticket for not riding a bicycle in the bike lane-which is often blocked by things like trash cans, construction ladders, even a police car!)
Neistat, who rides a Jamis, finds bicycles very practical because they bring you quickly and conveniently to your destination even when the subways are crowded, buses are delayed or taxis hit traffic. Parking is too hard to find and the city is too big to walk everywhere. But riding a bicycle in the big city means risking accidents. His first job in the city was a bike messenger.
The book also contains an interview with former Talking Heads frontman David Byrne about his passion for cycling in the city.
Sam polcer, the book' s photographer and author, searched the city, taking pictures that reflect the different styles and fashions of NYC cyclists.
But don't think bicycles are s fashion statement for New Yorkers. The book portrays cyclists in New York City as people who don't use their bikes as a fashion accessory, but mostly as a practical means of transport for their daily life. Thebook is a copilation of the most diverse, inventive and stylish bicycles in the city.
Many of the bikes are simple or old, some are unlabelled. some of the book's photographs are of peopie riding citi bikes, rented cycles from New York's bike sharing system. Some cyclists built their own bikes, which don't look practical or functional, but instead seem solely for fun.
All types of bikes are represented-single-speeds, fixed-gears, cruisers, tall bikes, utility bikes vintage bikes and folding bikes.
It's a fun book to check out about the cycling culture of New York City. Helmets were removed from some of the pictures because Polcer believes that wearing a helmet should be the cyclist's choice