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Fashion Featured Lifestyle News Wellness

Getting Around NYC Efficiently: Are You Ready to Commute by Bike?

Something very interesting happens in New York City every morning. Thousands of affluent professionals, many of whom are wealthy executives, ride their bicycles to work. Despite the fact that they could easily afford to drive a Bentley, they actually choose to ride a bike. What exactly is going on here? 

Well, daily commuting in New York City can be challenging, tiresome, and even dangerous in some situations. The fact is, many wise business people have realized that riding a bike is the most reliable and efficient way to get to work. You can search for the best commuter bikes recommended by Pedallers

Cycling vs Other Commuting Methods

There are so many factors that make almost every form of transportation a hassle in NYC. However, after a brief comparison of the perils involved with each, you’ll find that cycling is generally the most reliable and preferable, particularly in scenarios that involve typical commuting distances of less than 5 miles. Here’s a rundown of cycling versus other commuting methods:

  • Bike vs Personal Vehicle – If you choose to drive your own car, then you have to contend with the absurdly crowded traffic, inflated NYC gas prices, and extreme parking difficulty in many places. Cycling might seem physically difficult, but many commuters have started using electric bicycles like these EMOJO bikes to reduce or eliminate the burden of pedaling. So, in a way, it’s sort of like a one-person, slow-moving automobile that can go more places than a vehicle can. 
  • Bike vs Public Transportation – If you opt for public transportation, you have to deal with unexpected delays, crowding, a complete lack of privacy and the possibility of sitting next to an odorous derelict, violent criminal, or anyone else that fate happens to throw your way. You don’t have to share your bike with other passengers and conform to routes & schedules. 
  • Bike vs Taxi or Rideshare Cab – Taxi cabs and rideshare apps like Uber and Lyft are options, but then you’re dependent on the timely arrival of the driver, and even if they pick you up on time, you could still wind up stuck in traffic in the back of a cab or Uber long enough to make you late for work. 

Ultimately, the best way to get around New York City is to use an electric bike. For traveling longer distances, use a rideshare app to get within biking distance.

 

Electric Bike + Rideshare is the Formula

Taking an electric bike with you in an Uber or Lyft ensures that you’ll never be completely stuck in traffic jams because you can always hop out and bike the rest of the way. An electric bike also makes it easier to get from one stop or station to another if you choose to go the public transportation route, so it’s a compatible accessory to every form of commuting. Of course, make sure you choose a rideshare driver who has a bike rack

 

 

Getting Around NYC Efficiently: Are You Ready to Commute by Bike?

 

Other Perks of Commuting on a Bike

By now, you should be thoroughly convinced that riding a bike to work is the smartest move in many scenarios, especially for people who live within a few-mile radius of their job. As an added benefit, it’s also great for the environment and it’s better for your health than sitting stagnant in a vehicle, train, or bus. Even if you choose to ride an electric bike, you still have the option of pedaling when you want to, so your bike can also be used as a tool for exercise. Additionally, studies have proven that boosting blood flow raises alertness and improves cognitive performance, so you’ll arrive at your job feeling ready to tackle the day after a morning bike ride. 

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Featured Lifestyle Living

Gliding Through the City on a Wing Bike

As a New Yorker, it’s practically a competition to get around quickly and easily. People take subways, buses, taxis and cars, but the fastest means of transportation is often the simplest.

Wing Bike is an NYC-based company that makes high-end electric bikes that will stand the test of time. From casual riders to veteran athletes, a Wing Bike is bound to have something to satisfy your needs and get you where you need to go.

The thing that sets Wing Bikes apart from competitors is the electric motor on each bicycle. Once you begin pedaling, the adjustable smart-assist automatically turns on and works with you to effortlessly get to your location faster. You’ll never have to worry about being out-of-breath or sweaty when you arrive at work or meetings.

Each bike has integrated lights, a security alarm, phone charging capabilities and a control panel to adjust your ride settings that all come together to make your biking experience more enjoyable than ever before.

Photos provided by Wing Bike.

The Downtown team had the chance to sit down and ask Seth Miller, the CEO and founder of Wing Bikes, about his company and what makes Wing Bikes the best choice for New Yorkers.

Downtown: Tell us how Wing Bike came to be and a little about your company.

Seth Miller: Wing Bikes is an NYC based electric bike company. We are passionate about getting more people on bikes as their primary mode of transportation. Once people get on our bikes, they will see that fear of showing up somewhere sweaty/disheveled or the concern of theft is a thing of the past. Our bikes are for everyone – our youngest customer is 11 and our oldest is 86. I’ve commuted by bike to corporate jobs, year-round in NYC for about a decade. I’ve always loved biking and have seen it as the best way to get around. Unfortunately, I’ve had 5 bikes stolen in NYC in ten years. This led me to research more about the bike world and how bikes are made. No one had created a fairly priced, street-legal electric bike that had all of the features that were needed for reliable, sweat-free NYC commuting. Some unique features of Wing include: alarm system, integrated front and rear lights, removable battery, lightweight, electric horn, storage options on the front or rear, and puncture-resistant tires. 

DT: What are the benefits of having a pedal-assist bike in New York City?

SM: Any bike sparks joy; however, many people are hesitant to ride in the city for these main reasons: safety, sweating, energy conservation and theft. We set out to create an electric bike that removes these concerns. You ride our bike like any other bike, but the bike gives you a little boost when you want it to. There’s zero learning curve. It allows you to go faster and further without feeling out of control. Riding up hills become effortless – you work as little or as much as you want to. We offer interest-free payment plans through our website, so anyone can buy our bike for about $100/month and pay it off within a year. This is less expensive than a monthly subway card. We have a built-in alarm to scare off thieves and an electric horn so people know you are coming.   

DT: Can you ride a pedal-assist bike without the motor?

SM: Yes, you can ride the bike with the motor on or off and with the battery on or off the bike. You ride and maintain a Wing bike like any other bike.

DT: As you know, New Yorkers use their bikes for pretty much everything: briefcase/bags, children, dogs, groceries and more. Is this still possible with a Wing bike?

SM: Yes, we have front carriers with a very cool bamboo base as well as rear racks. All of these can easily be transported on the bike with you.

DT: What’s the age demographic for a Wing bike?

SM: We see quite a large range of buyers for our bikes. Most of our buyers are 27-55 but one of our favorite NYC customers is an 86 year old Dutchman who has been biking in NYC for 40 years! You can catch him riding around lower Manhattan on his Wing any day of the week. Some of our customers use our bikes to go to and from their office, grocery store or errands while others use our bikes delivering food.

DT: What’s the price of a Wing bike, and do you recommend our readers to purchase them online or via Echelon Cycles, and why? What’s included in this price? 

SM: Our bikes start at $1298 and go up depending on the size of the battery that is selected. Larger batteries provide extended range. Echelon is ones of the best bike shops in NYC with expert mechanics and customer service, they know bikes really well. Customers can either buy direct from our website and have the bike shipped for free to their home or to their favorite bike store such as Echelon. Included in the price is shipping, support, the bike, battery and charger. We also have a showroom in the East Village where customers can try out our bikes.

DT: What is the life span of a Wing bike? 

SM: The life span would be the same as any other bike with the exception of the battery and the motor. The motor and battery have a life span of 5-8 years depending on use. Replacement parts are readily available.

Be sure to check out all of the different Wing Bikes and accessories on their website. They’ll get you where you need to go faster and with less effort than ever before!

Categories
Miami Travel

New York Air Charter Service’s Richard Thompson talks to Downtown

Richard Thompson of Air Charter Service

Air Charter Service was founded in 1990 by Chris Leach, who had realized the need for a customer-centric aircraft charter company. The son of a pilot, Chris started Air Charter Service from the basement of his house. Less than three decades later, ACS arranges close to 10,000 charters each year, with a network of offices spread throughout North America, South America, Europe, Africa, Asia and the Middle East. Furthermore, its annual revenues are around a half-billion dollars.

Richard Thompson, originally from England, joined the ACS team in 2004 as Cargo Sales Director. He moved up in the ranks to Executive Vice President of North America, working out of the company’s New York office, in February 2013. A little over a year later, Richard became President of the Americas for the company.

Downtown had the pleasure of speaking with Richard about not only ACS, but flying private in general. He makes a great case as for why everyone should try it. More info on Richard and ACS can be found at www.aircharterserviceusa.com.

How did you wind up working with the New York Air Charter Service office? Did you know someone at the company?



Richard Thompson: I joined ACS in 2004 and worked within the London Cargo team. In Jan. 2011, our Chairman Chris Leach offered me the opportunity to move from the U.K. to New York and take over the Cargo Sales Director position. This was the second best decision I ever made — after asking my wife to marry me! I’ve never looked back.

What do you remember about the first time you ever flew privately?

RT: As I joined our Cargo Division, my first charter experience was on an old Russian cargo aircraft called the Antonov-26 moving freight for FedEx. The minute I set eyes on the aircraft in Ostend, Belgium — where it was based — I knew this was the job for me.

What sorts of planes does the company offer?

RT: We don’t own a fleet of aircrafts, so we are not tied to any particular aircraft type. We have access to around 50,000 aircraft worldwide, ranging from helicopters and private jets up to Antonovs and Boeing 747s.

Any surprising amenities that a person would find onboard one of the planes?



RT: On the older cargo aircraft, you’re lucky if there is a bathroom or hot water to make a coffee! On our Passenger Jet side, depending on the aircraft type, customers can enjoy all sorts of comforts like inflight wi-fi, personalized catering, media centers, etc.

How does a person go about reserving one of your planes? Do they just call?

RT: Calling or emailing are the most common ways to contact us. We’ll then present you with a few options, varying in price, timings, availability, etc.

Where are your plans? Does the company provide rides to the airport?

RT: While we don’t have a fleet of our own, we can arrange transport to the airport, hotels and even trips whilst you are at your destination.

What sets your company apart from other charter services?



RT: I’d like to think that is a combination of factors. Our specialists’ knowledge and exceptional customer service are what we have built the company up on, but now our size offers the financial security that others struggle to match. Also, with 20 offices around the globe, we’ll always have a local office to where you are, or where you’re going to.

Who is the average customer of your company? Executives? Celebrities? All walks of life?

RT: We get all walks of life using our services, but we do get a lot of celebrities, often A-list, and sports stars. Flying by private jet saves so much time that high-profile executives use jets to get to more than one meeting a day, or just to get home for the evening.

How many people work in your office? Who else is on the team there?

RT: We currently employ over 80 people across our North American offices, which are in New York, Los Angeles, Houston, Miami and Toronto. Our North American sales divisions are Cargo, Executive Jets, Commercial Jets and Hand Carry.

When not busy with the New York Air Charter Service, how do you like to spend your free time?



RT: My wife and I enjoy traveling, especially within the USA. Most recently we have fallen in love with Hawaii and have made several trips out there on vacation. New York is our new home and we enjoy everything the city has to offer.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=UsaWdtbl8_8

Do you have a favorite restaurant near your office?



RT: One thing New York is not short of is restaurants. My two current favorites are John’s Pizzeria on Bleecker — this was the first New York pizza I ever had — and ABC Kitchen on 18th Street for their food, atmosphere and great cocktails.

Do you have tickets to any upcoming concerts or events in New York?



RT: Yes, we have tickets for the Coldplay concert this summer at the MetLife Stadium. We also attend the U.S. Open Tennis each year in Flushing.

Finally, Richard, any last words? Something to encourage others to put chartering a private jet on their bucket list?

RT: I think we have become numb to the excitement of air travel. Commercial flights almost feel like a commute. If it is within your budget to charter a private aircraft — you’d be surprised — try it and I think you’ll be reminded of how special flying actually is. Not to mention the tailored experience you’ll receive and more importantly the stress removed from the whole process. We have enough of that in life already!

We pride ourselves on our brokers’ knowledge and exceptional customer service, we’re ready to help you create a memory or simply make your commute remarkable.

Categories
Living

Gilt City & Uber To Launch uberPOOL Commute Cards Today At 4:30 PM EST

Gilt City uberPOOL Screen Shot

Gilt City, the online destination for exclusive experiences, is teaming up with Uber to offer members special packages of unlimited free uberPOOL rides during weekday rush hour in New York City. The uberPOOL Commute Card — launching today, Jul. 12, at 4:30 PM EST — will be available exclusively on Gilt City for a limited time only.

The unlimited uberPOOL Commute Card passes will be available in three time-based increments: a two-week pass for $49, a four-week pass for $79, and, an eight-week pass for $159. The passes allow for unlimited free rides during weekday commuting hours — Monday through Friday, from 7:00 AM to 10:00 AM and between 5:00 PM and 8:00 PM — for trips beginning and ending in Manhattan below 125th Street. The passes can be purchased for use in the months of July or August. The time period for unlimited rides automatically starts upon the user utilizing the pass for the first trip.

“This partnership between Gilt City and Uber is a prime example of the kind of exclusive and first-to-market offers that Gilt members won’t find anywhere else,” said Jonathan Greller, president, Gilt and Saks OFF 5th. “It was a natural fit to join forces with Uber, a company as eager to shake up the transportation industry as Gilt is to innovate in retail.”

“We are hoping to make commuting in the hot summer just a little bit easier by expanding our $5 uberPOOL flat-rate option to include unlimited uberPOOL rides in Manhattan for the first time ever,” said Josh Mohrer, Uber NYC General Manager. “I want to thank Gilt City for partnering with us and offering this brand new opportunity to its members.”

The uberPOOL Commute Card is an extension of Uber’s existing $5 uberPOOL flat-fare commuting option, which currently allows riders to take an uberPOOL ride for just $5 flat during commuting hours in Manhattan.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ss81htP3HZY