"Does the NYCC have any real ""ESCAPE from NY"" rides and routes? As we learned in 2001, the bicycle might be the most effective way of leaving the Island when the roadways and bridges are clogged with millions on motorized vehicles. We can’t count on the mass transit system to continue services (and would we want to go to Penn S. or GC to catch a train?). On a bike, a camelpak and a clif bar can get you 30 or 40 miles in a few hours easily.
After I unwrap myself from Saran Wrap and duct tape (yet another use), my plan is to head WNW (upwind) using the west side bike path. Maybe we should have rides leaving from NJ side of GWB every half hour so we can have safety in numbers? (drop policy in effect?)
Does anybody see anything wrong with these plans or have better ideas? Would you head east via 59th st. Bridge (downwind) onto a bigger island to stay with family and friends? Westchester, or Hoboken too close?
Who’s in charge if Tom is nowhere to be found?
-Concerned member"
Orange Alert, Big Apple warning–
"I have a full-suspension mountain bike with self-healing, 2 1/4"" off-road tires. I can go many places cars can't, and in traffic probably faster. Breathing may be a problem, but if I solve that one I can get about 200 miles on a tank of ""gas"", which should be far enough to be safe.
My route choice would depend upon what I was fleeing from and/or what bridges are available. There would also be pedestrian traffic to consider. Since a north by north-east direction makes most sense to most threats, I would want to get to Westchester ASAP, unless Indian Point is hit, then I want to get to Southern NJ/PA where I have friends. If going north, I think the best best would be the Broadway Bridge. Getting to NJ might be more of a problem. I would probably take my chances on the VNB, then Gothels."
Disregarding all the chatter about New York turning into a scene from Mad Max... if there is a radiological/Chem or Bio release the last thing you want to do is go outside and breathe deeply (like when cycling) Find the deepest basement you can, bring some water, stay there 24 hours then walk away.
in the event of an emergency, do you really think they will let anyone off the island?
is find a well stocked bar and start drinking heavily.
Who is Guy Hanson? Sounds like a man after my own heart. I laugh out loud today in my quiet unlaughing office. Unfortunately I quit drinking almost twenty years ago. However, a situation such as that suggested in this thread might encourage a resumption of that pastime, along with Mr. Hanson and others, perhaps more fun than trying to desperately cycle out of the island!
Do you think we'd have any advance warning? Maybe we should all keep our tires pumped up just in case...
I guess if we did have advance warning, the MTA would run special shuttles to get NYC people out to the burbs?
"If there was a crisis serious enough to warrant immediate evacuation, you think it will be nice and orderly?
You think people fleeing for their lives will smile and wave as you, clever boy, smugly cycle by?
No way, someone will take a brick, a 2x4, or a gun to your head, and your bike will be gone faster than you can say, ""al queda"".
Welcome to New York.
"
"Oscar, Oscar:
Why such dark views of New Yorkers my brother? The fear in your words reveals the effect of ‘Terror’ on your psyche. Not only did New Yorkers evacuate in an orderly manner last time.–For a few brief moments, we were actually civil towards each other, committing random selfless acts.
Let’s not start our own stampede ""for the terrorist will have already won.""
Peace,
Dr. Phull"
"What ""evacuation"" are you referring to? I must've missed that one.
9/11? A couple of Yankee Stadiums full of orderly financial professionals fleeing the WTC area? And once you were a quarter mile away, you were dusty but out of harm's way.
Not likely to be the case if there's poison gas or radioactive fallout spreading throughout. Remember the '77 blackout? Magnify that into life-and-death, on a city-wide scale.
Not terrified, just realistic. In fact, if I had to bet, I'd bet it'll never happen. But if it does, you're gonna need more than your bicycle to get out alive."
As recently demonstrated in Chicago‘s nightclub panic/stampede, everyone for themselves. If any chemical or biological attack occurs in Midtown more people will be injured/killed by the resulting panic than the actual attack. I’m in full agreement with Oscar’s assessment that laws and civility will be out the door if a major “incident” occurs. Also Oscar brought up a good point of the 77’ blackout, if terrorists wanted to create panic, mayhem and property destruction, you don’t need to go with chemical, radioactive or biological, conventional attacks on power stations and distribution infrastructures is very effective. As night falls, New Yorkers will come out to loot and destroy ourselves.
Scheeeeze fellas:
>As recently demonstrated in Chicago‘s nightclub panic/stampede, (The tragedy started because of a fistfight on the dance floor) ‘everyone for themselves’. –A strategy shown to be not quite effective.
It’s a weak argument that you guys use a blackout almost thirty years ago to predict we’ll turn into animals running around with flat screen TV’s on our backs. I wasn’t here in the 70’s but the socio-economic environment was quite different back then. The city has had many blackouts since- as recent as few summers ago in Washington Heights (for a few DAYS)-the biggest complain was no AC and meat going bad in freezers.
The national guards were not fully mobilized and guarding downtown for a good 24 hrs after 9/11, no one looted Century 21 and no one broke into J & R.
The fact that you guys think that way scares me more than the threat of another attack. So what do you guys suggest? That we arm ourselves against other New Yorkers?
The original post was about using a bike as a viable means of transportation if disaster happens. People actually Brought bikes from downtown to ride home on 9/11. The bikes weren’t fitted with bayonets on the handle bar, nor were people on bikes swinging a mace with metal spiked ball in one hand.
I choose to think and hope that New Yorkers would pull together if there were another attack. Yeah run like hell if something happens but try not to stomp on people if they're in your way. You might trip and end up on the bottom.
If you guys are right, one of my bad farts in Grand Central can turn the switch on for Armageddon.
Secret government documents regarding a chemical/biological/nuclear event on Manhattan island have recently been exposed. The plan calls for a complete quarantine of all inhabitants by the National Guard and other military branches. Anybody attempting to leave the quarantine area will be shot on sight. All public transportation systems will be immediately shut down.
However it doesn't really matter, because our military is one level away from hair-trigger alert. Right now, we only have a three-minute buffer between the order given and the U.S. launching its nuclear arsenal.
So if there is another terrorist attack on the U.S. our nukes are going to fly and you will only have 30 minutes left to live.
Have a nice day.
If we are on a hair trigger for launching nukes as those documents from the National Enquirer might suggest... isn't it our enemies who would have 30 minutes to live???
"who doesn't identify him- or herself, but I can tell that you are pretty clueless as to how close we are to a nulcear third world war. For starters, it may not even take another terrorist attack on the U.S. to provoke our ""leaders"" into a nuclear war. Donald Rumsfeld has stated on numerous occasions that he would not rule out the use of first-strike nuclear weapons on Iraq. Yes you are right, it takes approximately 30 minutes for our ICBMs to reach thier targets. But at the same exact time as the U.S. launches it's missiles Russia, China, Israel, Pakistan, India, North Korea, South Korea etc. etc. etc. will launch theirs as well. Many of those are pointed at NYC.
No, I didn't get this information from the National Enquirer as you so humerously put it. I didn't get this information from Disney News or General Electric News or Rupert Murdock News or the Petroleum Broadcasting Corporation either."
>it takes approximately 30 minutes for our ICBMs to reach thier targets. But at the same exact time as the U.S. launches it's missiles Russia, China, Israel, Pakistan, India, North Korea, South Korea etc. etc. etc. will launch theirs as well. Many of those are pointed at NYC.
What secret document did you come across (check the date)? Mutually Assured Destruction (MAD) is a concept older than I am. It’s probably a good thing that it’s still in effect. Let’s turn our panic meters back down to Lemon Yellow.
Respond if you like, I don’t know who you are either.
-Clueless
"Currently, the only non-NATO nations with ICBMs that can reach the United States are Russia and China, both of whom are no longer ""enemies"" and nevertheless understand the concept of mutual assured destruction, a doctrine most of us have lived under for our entire lives. Neither Israel, Pakistan, India, North Korea, South Korea ""etc. etc. etc"" have ICBMs that can currently reach the United States. Among those countries seeking longer-range missiles, North Korea is the most advanced. Its Taepo Dong-2 may have a range between 4,000 and 6,000 km, which could reach Alaska and the Hawaiian Islands. This does not threaten New York City, at least for the foreseeable future. In addition, North Korea has not tested a nuclear device, nor has it be shown that if indeed it does possess or constructs a nuclear device, the Taepo Dong-2 will be capable of carrying said device. Its one thing to make a nuclear bomb. Its one thing to make a long-range missile. Its an entirely different problem to construct a nuclear device capable of being carried by your missile. Let not be irrational here; besides, a far bigger worry is a nuclear device being sailed up the Hudson River."
You're very confused. You quote all of the nations that would launch at us when we launch at them but only two are capable (Russia and China) and neither of them would as they understand MAD and wish to live. Israel has undeclared warheads but only short range missiles and they would be highly unlikely to launch on NY anyway... perhaps they wish to side with Saddam (they are enemies) in the upcoming war. Pakistan and India also only possess short range missiles, a few warheads and they both undertand that we would have a few weapons left out of 6,000 to hit them with. South Korea has neither warheads or missiles. Your information is so bad you'd improve it by reading the enquirer. Perhaps you are one of those fools listening to Chomsky. If you wish to debate at the next club meeting that would be fine...
With your indulgence, i am brought to recall a september day, almost a lifetime ago.
i was one of those 'wall streeters' who walked north, out of the dust and crap, scandalized by what i had just seen out my office window. The exodus was surprisingly orderly. No, we did not loot stores. Yes, we did help each other.
Once i had ascertained the safety of my nearest & dearest, i did take out the bianchi. With panniers and optimism, i proceded to pedal downtown, into the desolation.
For the next week, i carried water and other supplies to all nature of police, fire, military, and volunteer workers. The Bianchi and i teamed with the downtown bike messengers, running supplies and information. The mobility afforded by my 2 wheels allowed me to deploy when and where the need was... and to get clear in a hurry when prudent. I shoveled at World Financial, made sandwiches at Stuyvesant High, carried water to the US Army at rockefeller park.
Why think of our bikes as a means of escape? They are a tool for engagement.
Apples and oranges.
Fleeing a collapsing building is one thing. Once you're clear, your're clear.
A chain of, say, dirty bombs being detonated all over town is a whole 'nother ball game. If we all had just a matter of hours, or minutes, to escape alive I doubt things would be so orderly.
I made mention of the '77 blackouts only to illustrate how quickly order can disintigrate, not to infer that mass looting would occur. Geez, who'd bother stealing a plasma TV if hanging around long enough to grab it would wind up costing you your life?
But enough of this crap. It's a cycling board, no?
"""In light of more recent events""–(Storm of the new century). ‘Escape NY’ will be held at Annie Moore’s (cash bar). Unless you can Run, Snow Shoe or Ski more than a few miles.
Is it spring yet?
Cheers,
"
How would we pack our pets on the bicycle?
