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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!