This is Richard Bernstein from Detroit, legallly blind since birth, who was training

for the NYC Marathon and running in the runners' lane in Central Park when he was hit

from behind by a cyclist a year ago. He suffered terrible injuries, a crushed pelvis and

broken hip, and was hospitalized for ten weeks. (He's seen here, holding the

last "new" NYCC water bottle from 1992, in the hospital a week after getting hit.)

He is still in terrible pain...but is back to run, i.e. now reduced to walking

this year's marathon, his 18th NYC Marathon.

I know this is going to surprise my longtime friend, Neile Weissman--and he has been that. I hope and trust he will continue to be....

I realize I'm such a divisive person in this club that I suspect I will cost a candidate more votes than gain him (or her) by my supporting him (or her) publicly...but reading what I have on this message board about Neile vs. Jerry and Jerry vs. Neile, I just can't keep silent any longer. Sorry, Jerry.

I'm posting this to clear up a lot of confusion among club members about the goals, customs, and limitations of each of these organizations. I'm a club member of NYCC for three years - not on the board yet! - and I'm a TA member who has a leadership role on the volunteer TA Manhattan Activist Committee, helping facilitate the efforts of advocacy volunteers into our active campaigns and ongoing programs. This year in particular, I've been in a position to refer advocacy opportunities between both organizations in either direction.

Disclaimers!

Neile has talked about advocacy and Jerry has said he would make advocacy secondary to club rides. Your view about the importance of these things should certainly inform your vote, but you also need an opinion about what kind of rides we are likely to see available under each candidate to go with that. With that, I offer this chart as a helpful guide. It reflects my personal interpretation of this election.

Again: Disclaimer! this is my own post and no candidates have anything to do with it.

And unfortunately the north path is loaded with gravel and small bits of broken glass.

Happy Riding!

The ride will start and finish at Tavern on the Green this morning rather than at Engineer's Gate.

On November 6th, 2012 I was hit by car while cycling to work. The accident was bad, but I came through. To commemorate one year, I want to volunteer for bike safety. Anyone know how I can help give away bike helmets, work to promote safe bike lanes, etc.?

Thanks 

If you'd like to ride (as opposed to taking subway) with others from Manhattan to the start of the New York City Marathon Ride (Sunday, November 03, 2013),

please post "REPLY" as part of this thread.

According to Fred Schaeffer (founder and CEO Emeritus of Walkway Over the Hudson, the 1.5-mile bridge over the river in Poughkeepsie that has been converted into a state park), park users are complaining about cyclists going too fast, not yielding to pedestrians, and endangering other park users. There's a possibility that the NY State Parks Dept. will listen to these complaints and prohibit bicycling on the bridge, either during certain hours or altogether.

Has a date been set yet?  Thanks ...