This article is from the source 'nytimes' and was first published or seen on . It last changed over 40 days ago and won't be checked again for changes.
You can find the current article at its original source at https://www.nytimes.com/2020/03/14/nyregion/coronavirus-nyc-bike-commute.html
The article has changed 14 times. There is an RSS feed of changes available.
| Version 2 | Version 3 |
|---|---|
| A Surge in Biking to Avoid Crowded Trains in N.Y.C. | A Surge in Biking to Avoid Crowded Trains in N.Y.C. |
| (4 months later) | |
| Halimah Marcus’s bike had been collecting dust for five years. | Halimah Marcus’s bike had been collecting dust for five years. |
| But as coronavirus fears exploded in New York, she pumped air into the tires and replaced the batteries in the light mounted on the handle bar. | But as coronavirus fears exploded in New York, she pumped air into the tires and replaced the batteries in the light mounted on the handle bar. |
| By Monday, she was biking daily to work instead of taking the R subway train. | By Monday, she was biking daily to work instead of taking the R subway train. |
| “It reduced my anxiety,” said Ms. Marcus, 34, the executive director of a nonprofit digital publisher in Downtown Brooklyn. “For me, riding is manageable, and I felt it would be beneficial to my mental health.” | “It reduced my anxiety,” said Ms. Marcus, 34, the executive director of a nonprofit digital publisher in Downtown Brooklyn. “For me, riding is manageable, and I felt it would be beneficial to my mental health.” |
| She has not been back on the subway. And she has a lot of company in the bike lanes. | She has not been back on the subway. And she has a lot of company in the bike lanes. |
| A growing wave of New Yorkers are embracing cycling to get to work and around the city as their regular subway and bus commutes have suddenly become fraught with potential perils, from possibly virus-tainted surfaces to strangers sneezing and coughing on fellow passengers. | A growing wave of New Yorkers are embracing cycling to get to work and around the city as their regular subway and bus commutes have suddenly become fraught with potential perils, from possibly virus-tainted surfaces to strangers sneezing and coughing on fellow passengers. |
| Citi Bike, the city’s bike share program, has seen demand surge 67 percent this month: Between March 1 and March 11, there were a total of 517,768 trips compared with 310,132 trips during the same period the year before. | Citi Bike, the city’s bike share program, has seen demand surge 67 percent this month: Between March 1 and March 11, there were a total of 517,768 trips compared with 310,132 trips during the same period the year before. |
| Cycling has also soared over four East River bridges that connect Manhattan with Brooklyn and Queens, and are popular bike commuting routes. There were as many as 21,300 bike crossings on a single day this month (March 9), up 52 percent from a peak of 14,032 bike crossings for the same period a year ago. | Cycling has also soared over four East River bridges that connect Manhattan with Brooklyn and Queens, and are popular bike commuting routes. There were as many as 21,300 bike crossings on a single day this month (March 9), up 52 percent from a peak of 14,032 bike crossings for the same period a year ago. |
| At the same time, ridership on the subway as well as on the commuter rails that carry workers into New York from the suburbs has seen a precipitous drop as people try to avoid crowded spaces and more and more businesses are asking their employees to work from home. | At the same time, ridership on the subway as well as on the commuter rails that carry workers into New York from the suburbs has seen a precipitous drop as people try to avoid crowded spaces and more and more businesses are asking their employees to work from home. |
| Chicago also had a big jump in bike ridership, with its bikeshare program more than doubling to 82,112 trips from March 1 to March 11, from 40,078 trips for the same period last year. | Chicago also had a big jump in bike ridership, with its bikeshare program more than doubling to 82,112 trips from March 1 to March 11, from 40,078 trips for the same period last year. |
| But the surge in bicycle use has not been seen in other cities affected by coronavirus concerns. In Seattle, average weekday bike ridership on three routes into the downtown fell about 10 percent to 4,500 trips this month from 5,000 trips in February. Bike share programs in San Francisco have also seen fewer trips this month. | But the surge in bicycle use has not been seen in other cities affected by coronavirus concerns. In Seattle, average weekday bike ridership on three routes into the downtown fell about 10 percent to 4,500 trips this month from 5,000 trips in February. Bike share programs in San Francisco have also seen fewer trips this month. |
| New York’s increase in cycling comes after a spate of deadly crashes last year that drew outrage from cyclists and transportation advocates, and spurred city officials to step up efforts to make the streets safer, including a $58.4 million bike safety plan unveiled by the mayor. A total of 28 cyclists were killed in 2019 on the streets of New York, the highest number in two decades. | New York’s increase in cycling comes after a spate of deadly crashes last year that drew outrage from cyclists and transportation advocates, and spurred city officials to step up efforts to make the streets safer, including a $58.4 million bike safety plan unveiled by the mayor. A total of 28 cyclists were killed in 2019 on the streets of New York, the highest number in two decades. |
| This year, there has been one cyclist death, compared with five deaths for the same period last year. | This year, there has been one cyclist death, compared with five deaths for the same period last year. |
| Polly Trottenberg, the city transportation commissioner, said her agency was reviewing additional measures to accommodate the increased number of cyclists taking to the streets to avoid the subways and buses as a result of the coronavirus. | Polly Trottenberg, the city transportation commissioner, said her agency was reviewing additional measures to accommodate the increased number of cyclists taking to the streets to avoid the subways and buses as a result of the coronavirus. |
| “We’re looking at everything we can do quickly to make cycling even safer, and easier, and more accessible.” Ms. Trottenberg said. | “We’re looking at everything we can do quickly to make cycling even safer, and easier, and more accessible.” Ms. Trottenberg said. |
| The transportation agency is considering carving out temporary bike lanes and taking away traffic lanes from cars by using orange cones or movable barriers. More parking areas for bikes may be designated on sidewalks and in pedestrian plazas. | The transportation agency is considering carving out temporary bike lanes and taking away traffic lanes from cars by using orange cones or movable barriers. More parking areas for bikes may be designated on sidewalks and in pedestrian plazas. |
| City officials are already expanding Citi Bike in northern Manhattan and the South Bronx, and now they are also looking to accelerate plans to add more docking stations in Manhattan’s busiest areas. Currently, there are more than 14,000 Citi Bikes based at about 850 stations in Manhattan, Brooklyn and Queens. | City officials are already expanding Citi Bike in northern Manhattan and the South Bronx, and now they are also looking to accelerate plans to add more docking stations in Manhattan’s busiest areas. Currently, there are more than 14,000 Citi Bikes based at about 850 stations in Manhattan, Brooklyn and Queens. |
| City officials are also working with advocacy groups to organize group bike rides that would help new cyclists become acquainted with routes and traffic rules. There is safety in numbers, Ms. Trottenberg added, because cyclists are more visible to drivers. | City officials are also working with advocacy groups to organize group bike rides that would help new cyclists become acquainted with routes and traffic rules. There is safety in numbers, Ms. Trottenberg added, because cyclists are more visible to drivers. |
| New York has a network of about 1,300 miles of bikes lanes, the largest urban network in the nation. Of that, about 500 miles are protected, with barriers that physically separate cyclists from vehicles. In the last three years, protected bike lanes have been added at an average rate of 20 miles per year, knitting together continuous routes across the city. | New York has a network of about 1,300 miles of bikes lanes, the largest urban network in the nation. Of that, about 500 miles are protected, with barriers that physically separate cyclists from vehicles. In the last three years, protected bike lanes have been added at an average rate of 20 miles per year, knitting together continuous routes across the city. |
| A new bike lane planned this year for Avenue of the Americas in Manhattan will not only connect Herald Square to Central Park, one of the city’s most congested corridors, but also bring back a bike lane that was famously installed and then ripped out in 1980 by then Mayor Edward I. Koch after filling up with trash, pedestrians and pushcarts instead of cyclists. | A new bike lane planned this year for Avenue of the Americas in Manhattan will not only connect Herald Square to Central Park, one of the city’s most congested corridors, but also bring back a bike lane that was famously installed and then ripped out in 1980 by then Mayor Edward I. Koch after filling up with trash, pedestrians and pushcarts instead of cyclists. |
| But some transportation advocates say that while the city has made a good start, it needs to do far more to protect cyclists and make the streets safer, especially with the surge in cycling as a result of the coronavirus scare. | But some transportation advocates say that while the city has made a good start, it needs to do far more to protect cyclists and make the streets safer, especially with the surge in cycling as a result of the coronavirus scare. |
| Danny Harris, the executive director of Transportation Alternatives, an advocacy group, said the city has for too long prioritized drivers over cyclists and pedestrians. His group has called for some of the measures that city transportation officials are now considering, such as setting up temporary bike lanes and creating more bike parking. | Danny Harris, the executive director of Transportation Alternatives, an advocacy group, said the city has for too long prioritized drivers over cyclists and pedestrians. His group has called for some of the measures that city transportation officials are now considering, such as setting up temporary bike lanes and creating more bike parking. |
| Updated June 30, 2020 | |
| Common symptoms include fever, a dry cough, fatigue and difficulty breathing or shortness of breath. Some of these symptoms overlap with those of the flu, making detection difficult, but runny noses and stuffy sinuses are less common. The C.D.C. has also added chills, muscle pain, sore throat, headache and a new loss of the sense of taste or smell as symptoms to look out for. Most people fall ill five to seven days after exposure, but symptoms may appear in as few as two days or as many as 14 days. | |
| Scientists around the country have tried to identify everyday materials that do a good job of filtering microscopic particles. In recent tests, HEPA furnace filters scored high, as did vacuum cleaner bags, fabric similar to flannel pajamas and those of 600-count pillowcases. Other materials tested included layered coffee filters and scarves and bandannas. These scored lower, but still captured a small percentage of particles. | |
| A commentary published this month on the website of the British Journal of Sports Medicine points out that covering your face during exercise “comes with issues of potential breathing restriction and discomfort” and requires “balancing benefits versus possible adverse events.” Masks do alter exercise, says Cedric X. Bryant, the president and chief science officer of the American Council on Exercise, a nonprofit organization that funds exercise research and certifies fitness professionals. “In my personal experience,” he says, “heart rates are higher at the same relative intensity when you wear a mask.” Some people also could experience lightheadedness during familiar workouts while masked, says Len Kravitz, a professor of exercise science at the University of New Mexico. | |
| The steroid, dexamethasone, is the first treatment shown to reduce mortality in severely ill patients, according to scientists in Britain. The drug appears to reduce inflammation caused by the immune system, protecting the tissues. In the study, dexamethasone reduced deaths of patients on ventilators by one-third, and deaths of patients on oxygen by one-fifth. | |
| The coronavirus emergency relief package gives many American workers paid leave if they need to take time off because of the virus. It gives qualified workers two weeks of paid sick leave if they are ill, quarantined or seeking diagnosis or preventive care for coronavirus, or if they are caring for sick family members. It gives 12 weeks of paid leave to people caring for children whose schools are closed or whose child care provider is unavailable because of the coronavirus. It is the first time the United States has had widespread federally mandated paid leave, and includes people who don’t typically get such benefits, like part-time and gig economy workers. But the measure excludes at least half of private-sector workers, including those at the country’s largest employers, and gives small employers significant leeway to deny leave. | |
| So far, the evidence seems to show it does. A widely cited paper published in April suggests that people are most infectious about two days before the onset of coronavirus symptoms and estimated that 44 percent of new infections were a result of transmission from people who were not yet showing symptoms. Recently, a top expert at the World Health Organization stated that transmission of the coronavirus by people who did not have symptoms was “very rare,” but she later walked back that statement. | |
| Touching contaminated objects and then infecting ourselves with the germs is not typically how the virus spreads. But it can happen. A number of studies of flu, rhinovirus, coronavirus and other microbes have shown that respiratory illnesses, including the new coronavirus, can spread by touching contaminated surfaces, particularly in places like day care centers, offices and hospitals. But a long chain of events has to happen for the disease to spread that way. The best way to protect yourself from coronavirus — whether it’s surface transmission or close human contact — is still social distancing, washing your hands, not touching your face and wearing masks. | |
| A study by European scientists is the first to document a strong statistical link between genetic variations and Covid-19, the illness caused by the coronavirus. Having Type A blood was linked to a 50 percent increase in the likelihood that a patient would need to get oxygen or to go on a ventilator, according to the new study. | |
| The unemployment rate fell to 13.3 percent in May, the Labor Department said on June 5, an unexpected improvement in the nation’s job market as hiring rebounded faster than economists expected. Economists had forecast the unemployment rate to increase to as much as 20 percent, after it hit 14.7 percent in April, which was the highest since the government began keeping official statistics after World War II. But the unemployment rate dipped instead, with employers adding 2.5 million jobs, after more than 20 million jobs were lost in April. | |
| If air travel is unavoidable, there are some steps you can take to protect yourself. Most important: Wash your hands often, and stop touching your face. If possible, choose a window seat. A study from Emory University found that during flu season, the safest place to sit on a plane is by a window, as people sitting in window seats had less contact with potentially sick people. Disinfect hard surfaces. When you get to your seat and your hands are clean, use disinfecting wipes to clean the hard surfaces at your seat like the head and arm rest, the seatbelt buckle, the remote, screen, seat back pocket and the tray table. If the seat is hard and nonporous or leather or pleather, you can wipe that down, too. (Using wipes on upholstered seats could lead to a wet seat and spreading of germs rather than killing them.) | |
| If you’ve been exposed to the coronavirus or think you have, and have a fever or symptoms like a cough or difficulty breathing, call a doctor. They should give you advice on whether you should be tested, how to get tested, and how to seek medical treatment without potentially infecting or exposing others. | |
| Mr. Harris also urged to city to have a “zero-tolerance” policy for vehicles, including those owned by city agencies, that block bike lanes. | Mr. Harris also urged to city to have a “zero-tolerance” policy for vehicles, including those owned by city agencies, that block bike lanes. |
| “A crisis just exacerbates all the broken elements of our transportation system,” he said. “Everything that advocates are asking for now we’ve been asking for decades.” | “A crisis just exacerbates all the broken elements of our transportation system,” he said. “Everything that advocates are asking for now we’ve been asking for decades.” |
| Some cyclists said they have noticed that bike lanes have become more crowded this week. | Some cyclists said they have noticed that bike lanes have become more crowded this week. |
| Josh Baron, 47, a freelance television editor, said he typically passes about 50 cyclists on his 4.7-mile commute from the Upper West Side to a postproduction studio in SoHo. But on the way home Monday, he rode alongside hundreds of cyclists. | Josh Baron, 47, a freelance television editor, said he typically passes about 50 cyclists on his 4.7-mile commute from the Upper West Side to a postproduction studio in SoHo. But on the way home Monday, he rode alongside hundreds of cyclists. |
| Mr. Baron said he was glad to see more people biking because that meant they were not getting into cars and adding to the city’s congestion and pollution. “We’re a big city and we have to share the spaces we’ve got,” he said. | Mr. Baron said he was glad to see more people biking because that meant they were not getting into cars and adding to the city’s congestion and pollution. “We’re a big city and we have to share the spaces we’ve got,” he said. |
| In Midtown Manhattan, Giuseppe de Peppo, 38, a medical researcher, snagged one of only four Citi Bikes left in a station that holds 35. He had gone to two other Citi Bike stations already that morning, only to find them cleaned out. | In Midtown Manhattan, Giuseppe de Peppo, 38, a medical researcher, snagged one of only four Citi Bikes left in a station that holds 35. He had gone to two other Citi Bike stations already that morning, only to find them cleaned out. |
| “Thank God, I can go to work,” he said. “I cannot find bikes.” | “Thank God, I can go to work,” he said. “I cannot find bikes.” |
| Another Citi Bike rider, Elaine Beth Cohen, 47, said she normally biked 20 minutes to work and then rode the subway back home to the West Village. But since the coronavirus outbreak, she has been biking both ways. “I’m limiting my exposure to large crowds,” she said. | Another Citi Bike rider, Elaine Beth Cohen, 47, said she normally biked 20 minutes to work and then rode the subway back home to the West Village. But since the coronavirus outbreak, she has been biking both ways. “I’m limiting my exposure to large crowds,” she said. |
| Still, Ms. Cohen said that while she is making moderate adjustments to her lifestyle, she cannot avoid crowds entirely. Not when her office is in Times Square and her job is facilitating team building for a social media company. | Still, Ms. Cohen said that while she is making moderate adjustments to her lifestyle, she cannot avoid crowds entirely. Not when her office is in Times Square and her job is facilitating team building for a social media company. |
| “It’s a little arbitrary to be honest,” she said. | “It’s a little arbitrary to be honest,” she said. |