I have always been amazed and impressed by people who bike on a regular basis, for pleasure, for fitness, to and from work, or for work in the larger and busier cities of the world.  First time I witnessed the skill of a bike messenger I was sitting in a restaurant in London looking out the window.  I had in my view, a very busy round-a-bout, about four or five lanes going at pretty high speeds.  I glanced down at my paper, and looked up again just in time to see a man on a bicycle, sitting up and riding with no hands while eating a sandwich.  In the middle of the speeding lanes.  I could not take my eyes off of him.  A few years later I was in an elevator when a bike messenger stepped in to make a deliver.  I looked at him with awe and respect, as not only was I reminded of the skill of the man in London, but on that day in Chicago, it was about 9 degrees Fahrenheit. 

Many of those who bike to work are forced to park their bikes on the streets.  But that just changed in New York City.  The Department of Transportation, teamed up with the Department of Building, and now in many offices people who bike to work will have access to parking their bikes inside the building.  Last year the number of people who chose to use this form of transportation increased by twenty six percent.  It could be the raise in gas prices, or the cost of taking public transportation, or perhaps people are just starting to live a more thoroughly “green” lifestyle” for their own health as well as that of the environment. 

Either way, this new access to safer places to park their bicycles, may cause that percentage to rise just a bit next year.  So if you’re heading to New York on business, and you feel the strength to take on the busy New York streets, then bring your bike along for the ride.  For a list of hotels which offer this indoor parking service for cyclists, check here.  You will be amazed at the way a city is changed, when you step out of the taxi, train or bus, and hop on your bike.