Riding my bicycle on the Greenway in NYC

Posted on September 20, 2009 by itees

Yesterday was a bright, clear day, the air was cool and just perfect for a long bicycle ride. The Greenway runs all along the Hudson River, from Battery Park to the George Washington Bridge. I took my camera along because there are a few gardens that I love to circle a few times, and I sometimes stop and admire the beauty.

One of those gardens is in Battery Park and somewhat hidden if you didn’t know about it. It even has a lily pond, but I didn’t see any Frogs. There are gardens all along the Greenway, one near Chelsea, and another of my favorites further uptown, at Riverside Park (91st Street Garden & Crabapple Grove).

Here’s a sample photograph from Riverside Park, to see the complete gallery, click here.

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As I was riding, I was taking it all in, the sounds of crickets, birds, and the river water against the rocks, the butterflies here and there, sail boats out on the water, the Circle Line, people out in kayaks, and the beauty of the surroundings. I’ll never understand why someone would choose to ride and wear earphones, talk on a cell phone or even text. Aside from the dangers of not wearing a helmet and not paying attention to the others on the road, they’re just missing it all.

From Jersey City through Hoboken to NYC and back

Posted on September 19, 2009 by itees

Once or twice a week I get my helmet, bicycle bag, and head downstairs to retrieve my bicycle from the shed. Checking the tires, setting the odometer to 0, I’m ready for my ride.

I ride through the streets of Jersey City along with the cars (since we have no bike paths except on the waterfront of the Hudson River) down to Hoboken and then sometimes along the waterfront toward Liberty State Park or the opposite direction toward the George Washington Bridge. Occasionally, like today, (because it’s so sunny and beautiful) I’ll take the NY Waterway ferry from Hoboken to New York City and ride on the “Greenway” along the Hudson. From 42nd street up to the GW, back downtown to Battery Park City and back again.

Many years ago when they were building the Hudson-Bergen Light Rail train that runs from North Bergen to Bayonne, I thought the plan was to include a bike path, which would have been wonderful, but they didn’t. So, if I want to ride safely where there are no cars I must take the ferry to NY.

As I design suggestive bicycle t-shirts, I’ll be thinking about ways to promote how wonderful one feels after a ride of 20-25 miles or so, the wind in your hair, the sense of freedom, the wonderful exercise and I’m not using any fuel to pollute the planet.

Leave the car, get on your bike!

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“Green” through the years and in 2009

Posted on September 19, 2009 by itees

Over the years I have donated my design work to various organizations including the Hoboken 9/11 Memorial Committee, Jubilee Center of Hoboken (for Children), The Central Avenue Special Improvement District, www.jcheights.com, Actors Shakespeare Company at NJCU, www.ascnj.org, Hudson Theatre Ensemble,www.hudsontheatreensemble.com and Chameleon Theatre Company Ltd, http://chameleontheatrecompanyltd.org.

A few years ago, I launched this line of environmental concept t-shirts to promote “green” living. They are meant to be suggestive, for example, encouraging people to ride a bicycle or to stop littering. The response to these t-shirts was quite positive, but I knew there was still more I could do. I was inspired to make a greater impact environmentally, using my graphic design skills.

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In April 2009, I partnered with Mary Jo Rhodes, author of nature books, to create a custom blog, FROGS ARE GREEN, with which we hope to increase awareness about the massive worldwide amphibian decline (up to one-third of species are threatened with extinction). Because frogs are an indicator species of a healthy environment, we also hope to spread the message that healthy frogs mean a healthy planet for all.

The joy of working on this blog has been that we are reaching people all over the world who care about our cause, and it’s a great way to spread our message.