Tag: Transportation

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Living

Ships Ahoy! All the Ferry Service You Can Take To and From Lower Manhattan

NY Waterway
NY Waterway

Reproduced with permission from the Downtown Alliance.

NY Waterway

More than a decade ago, Mayor Michael Bloomberg called New York City’s waterways the “sixth borough.” While that certainly was less controversial than all the times Philadelphia was saddled with that moniker, the designation still seemed ambitious. Bloomberg was trying to bring attention to New York’s often-overlooked status as an archipelago, a city surrounded, and divided, by water — water, he said, that should be treated as part of the city, not just a boundary to cross.

Eleven years and two mayors later, the dream of the sixth borough is becoming a reality. As of February 2022, recent service expansions have made Lower Manhattan accessible via 18 different ferry routes. Waterfront access now outnumbers the area’s robust share of subway service, making it the most-connected neighborhood by ferry in the city. The following is a list of all the ferry services you can take to and from Lower Manhattan, whether you’re going to the Bronx, the Rockaways, New Jersey or just a little bit uptown.

NYC Ferry

The big ferry stop at Wall Street Pier 11 on the east side of the neighborhood is a hub for most ferry routes, meaning you can get just about anywhere along the East River and beyond, from as far north as Throgs Neck in the Bronx all the way out to the Rockaways; and from Bay Ridge in Brooklyn up to Astoria in Queens.

Governors Island is open year-round for the first time this year, and the NYC Ferry launched long-awaited, year-round service there in January.

On the West side of the neighborhood, the Battery Park City stop will get you to Staten Island, or up W. 39th Street. See the full routes and schedules here.

The Staten Island Ferry

The biggest passenger boat in the waters of New York City is also one of the city’s finest free attractions. Regular service resumed in summer 2021, which means you can catch the free ride from Whitehall Terminal about every 30 minutes (or faster during rush hour), all day and night long. You’ll get a great view of the Statue of Liberty too, and you can always hit up the onboard bar to help pass the 25-minute journey. See the full schedule here.

NY Waterway

The neighborhood’s multiverse of ferry options serve those coming from outside the city too. NY Waterway operates routes to Pier 11 from points in New Jersey, including Belford, Hoboken, Liberty Harbor, Jersey City, Weehawken and Edgewater; some of those routes go up the Hudson to Brookfield Place too. See the full schedule and routes here.

Seastreak

The Seastreak is an express boat to and from parts of New Jersey not easily serviced by NJ Transit or the PATH train. The ferry travels from Highlands and Atlantic Highlands to the Battery Maritime Building and E. 35th Street. See the full fares and schedules here.

photo: iStock

Governors Island Ferry

No longer just a summer treat, Governors Island and its ferry are now operating all year long! Boats operate out of the Battery Maritime Building (10 South Street) from 7 a.m. to 4:15 p.m. Monday to Sunday; the last boat off the island leaves at 6 p.m. Tickets cost $3, see the full schedule here.

In addition, the newly added South Brooklyn route is now a permanent stop in between Sunset Park/Brooklyn Army Terminal and Red Hook/Atlantic Basin. Check out ferry.nyc for a full list of ferry schedules, and start planning your wintry Lower Manhattan skyline selfies.

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Business Featured Industry News Lifestyle News NYC Travel

Governor Hochul Announces MTA Board

DOWNTOWN’s board member Elizabeth Velez was named to the board of MTA,  along with Janno Lieber as Chair and CEO of the MTA Board.

“We’ve been fortunate to work with both Elizabeth and Janno, a perfect pair to ensure the continued success for MTA, and we are excited to see what the future holds for our public transportation system. We wish them the best in their newly appointed positions,” says DOWNTOWN’s publisher and founder,  Grace A. Capobianco., 

Governor Hochul today announced Janno Lieber has been nominated to serve as Chair and CEO of the MTA Board and Elizabeth Velez has been nominated to serve on the MTA Board.

“As Governor, my first duty to New Yorkers is to ensure that those who serve our state are experienced, committed, and ready to tackle the challenges we face,” Governor Hochul said. “Janno is leading the MTA forward with expert management and vision, and Elizabeth will bring a wealth of invaluable knowledge and expertise to our challenges together. These are strong, competent leaders who will help steer the MTA through this critical time. We will continue to make appointments that ensure our transit system delivers for riders.”

“I am honored and grateful to be nominated by Governor Hochul, who has been a supporter from day one of a smart transit system that serves all New Yorkers. I look forward to working with the governor, her team, and our partners in the legislature to ensure that subways, buses, and commuter railroads continue to be an engine fueling the region’s economic recovery,” Janno Lieber said. “Elizabeth Velez has a deep understanding of the value of transportation to New Yorkers, will be an excellent addition to the board and I’m eager to work with her on important issues facing the MTA, including a historic capital program that will modernize and expand the transit network and provide enhanced equity and accessibility to New Yorkers in the years ahead.”

“I am thrilled to be nominated by Governor Hochul to the MTA Board,”  Lieber said. “The MTA is a crucial connection point for New Yorkers throughout our city. With the impending influx of infrastructure dollars, the MTA is central to not only improving essential transportation but also to create opportunities both in workforce and procurement that affect our communities.”

Janno Lieber will be nominated to serve as Chair and CEO of the Metropolitan Transportation Authority Board. He has been Acting Chair and CEO since July 2021.

Janno Lieber photo by MTA

In his role at MTA Construction and Development, Mr. Lieber oversaw the agency’s $55 billion five-year capital program, including State of Good Repair investments in infrastructure and facilities of New York City Transit, Long Island Rail Road, Metro-North Railroad, and MTA Bridges and Tunnels. He is responsible for upgrades to signals and other major systems, system expansions, and mega-projects such as East Side Access, the second phase of the Second Avenue Subway, and the Third Track expansion of the Long Island Rail Road mainline. He is also responsible for upgrading and professionalizing the MTA’s project management capacity and for integrating real estate planning and economic development into MTA infrastructure projects.

From 2003 to 2017, Mr. Lieber served as President of World Trade Center Properties LLC, where he was responsible for managing all aspects of the Silverstein organization’s efforts to rebuild the World Trade Center site, including planning, design, and construction issues; business, financing, and legal matters; and public affairs, government, and community relations.

Earlier in his career, he held positions in the administrations of President Bill Clinton and NYC Mayor Ed Koch and worked as an attorney in private practice.

Elizabeth Velez will be nominated to serve on the MTA Board. She is currently the President of the Velez Organization, a second-generation construction firm started in1972 by her father, Andrew Velez.

 

Elizabeth Velez photo by Velez Organization

 

To her credit are hundreds of projects which have come to fruition under her direction, including over 600 units of housing made affordable by state and federal grants in the Bronx and Harlem, and over ten billion dollars of significant educational, healthcare, and large-scale projects throughout New York.

She is a Trustee of Boricua College; an accredited private institution serving primarily Latinas through three campuses in New York. She serves on the advisory boards of numerous New York City and New York State agencies, industry non-profits, and groups supporting mentorship and scholarships for youth. She is a member of the Board for Catholic Charities and the New York City Police Foundation. She is currently serving as a Commissioner of the New York City Property Tax Reform Commission. Following Hurricane Maria’s disastrous landfall, Elizabeth was appointed to the NY Stands with Puerto Rico Recovery & Rebuilding Committee, the NY Memorial Commission for Hurricane Maria, and has spearheaded numerous workforce and economic development programs – including a satellite corporate office in Ponce Puerto Rico. On the international front, Ms. Velez is Co-Chair of Iran 180 – an organization that advocates for human rights and the end to Iran’s nuclear threat. She is a contributor to media outlets such as Matter of Fact TV with Soledad O’Brien, Fox News Latino, The New York Daily News, The Wall Street Journal, El Diario, La Prensa, Hispanic Business, ENR, City & State, and Crain’s New York Business, and most recently, DOWNTOWN Magazine.

She is an outspoken advocate for diversity and empowerment of women and a sought-after speaker on women’s leadership and work/family balance issues. In addition to numerous awards and recognition, Ms. Velez was recognized by City & State as one of the “Manhattan Power 50“.

Help us in congratulating both Janno Lieber and Elizabeth Velez.

Reposted from https://www.governor.ny.gov/news/governor-hochul-announces-nominations-mta-board

Categories
Lifestyle NYC Real Estate

Looking for a House in the Bronx

Looking for a House in the Bronx
Michał Ludwiczak Pexels

 How To Find the Perfect Place To Live

 

Moving to a new city brings with it both stress, and excitement. A good bit of anxiety comes with any move, what sort of house should you find for yourself, the type of neighbourhood you may want to move into, transportation, and lifestyle are all important decisions. Major cities in the US can sometimes be very difficult to manoeuvre, and it’s natural to be stricken with anxiety not only with how challenging such a bustling metropolis can be but also, the many varieties and options available. Such factors are especially true for a city as perfect and simultaneously as intimidating as New York.

The best and worst thing about New York City is that people here do not care about what you did with your past life. You could have been a successful entrepreneur, or possibly have had a very difficult life, but people will care more about what you will contribute to your new city and life here. New York is the perfect place for a fresh start. 

The Bronx 

The Bronx is a borough in New York City, which corresponds with Bronx county. It is one of the fourth-largest areas, fourth-highest population, and the third-highest population density in New York City. Lying North East of Manhattan, across the picturesque Harlem River, the Bronx has an area of 42 miles. It has both high and middle-income neighbourhoods, including Pelham Bay and Pelham Gardens, Riverdale, Fieldston, Morris Park, etc. Studded with parkland (about one-fifth of the total land area) and some astute shopping centres like The Hub, Gateway Centre, and Southern Boulevard. The Bronx is a beautifully aesthetic place to live in. This coupled with excellent connectivity through the New York subway, buses, and major highways, your experience settling down in the Bronx is sure to be nothing short of sublime.

What Are The Things to Look Out For

Research the neighbourhoods

Honestly, the biggest favour you can do for yourself before moving into a new place is to become familiar and aware of the area’s various neighbourhoods. A quick Google search will tell you what neighbourhoods exist in the Bronx, but beyond that, it is advisable to take a day to drive out, spend some time to see if the neighbourhood will fit with your needs and if this is what your budget allows. Every neighbourhood varies with regards to your potential neighbours and the people who live there, accessibility, schools, shopping, affordability, and all that it has to offer. 

Selling vs Renting

There are no two ways you can consider when it comes to a new home, renting or buying. Property in New York can cost a fortune, some may not be able to afford to buy a new house, especially, without good credit and a loan. If you’re the kind that doesn’t want to invest in a loan at this time, or if you do not have an intention to buy property, consider renting. Should you decide to purchase or rent a home, be sure to secure good homeowners/renters insurance. No matter where you live, especially in a city like New York, you must be prepared for future storms, theft, and or fires. Be sure to check Homeowners Insurance Made for New Yorkers. 

Most landlords will look at your credit score before they consider accepting your rental application. Assuming your credit comes back with a good rating. Be advised, New York requires that you earn around 50 times the rental rate to be accepted to lease. Some landlords may ask for a guarantor, who is able to step in to pay, should you default. A guarantor is required to make 100 times the rent, in order to qualify. Some landlords require the guarantor to live in the same state.

 

 

Looking for a House in the Bronx
Via Nelson Mejia Jr. on Flickr

 

Miscellaneous Details

You may not consider certain details to be as important, but they could come up when you are least expecting. New Yorkers love their pets, and over the years New York has become pet friendly, in all areas from housing to hotels. However, there are still properties who may not be pet-friendly. We’ve heard that landlords may not advise you about their no pet policy, until after you arrive with your pet. Be sure to discuss this upfront before signing any lease. Internet access, be sure to ask which provider is available in the area you have chosen, inquire about water and electricity, are they included in your lease or will you have to provide? We suggest, make a list of all the small things that are essential to you so that you are prepared before renting your property. It’s better to have that checklist on hand.

Food/Dining

Many city dwellers choose to rotate cooking, ordering in, or dining out. So it’s important to know what options are available and nearby. Doing your research before you sign a new lease, on the types of restaurants, delis, their rates, delivery options, dine-in hours, etc., is a good idea. Food delivery services such as UberEats, Seamless, Postmates and Grubhub are New Yorkers go-to delivery options. 

Transportation

Living in a city like New York, be sure to factor in transportation. What’s available and where is the closest subway and or bus stop? Unless you choose to have a car, the subway and bus are two of the best ways to get around this great city.

Owning a car, be sure to consider insurance, parking, alternate side parking on city streets, and petrol. There are other options such as Uber, Via and Lyft to get you where you need to go.

Should you consider driving and or taking a car service, be sure to look into road maintenance or rush hour, heavy traffic and possible accidents. Download the NYC subway and or public transportation apps, these are the best way to keep on top of your daily travel. Biking is also a great option, New Yorkers have taken to City Bike and or purchasing their own bikes for city travel. We highly recommend cycling, a great way to get your daily exercise and see the city.

Living in New York or any large city is not always easy, but if you do your homework, educate yourself and prepare, you will be sure to make right decisions for you, there is nothing more exciting, educational, cultural and refreshing than living in New York!

Categories
Architecture Business Design Featured News Technology

Toyota and BIG announce Woven City, the city of the future

Toyota and BIG announce Woven City, the city of the future

Images by BIG-Bjarke Ingels Group

Today, January 7th, Toyota announced the future of city living at the CES technology conference in Las Vegas. The Woven City will be a technological playground and proving ground for the future of green energy, autonomous transportation, artificial intelligence, biophilic architecture, and more. They have not yet released information regarding a cost or timeframe, but the groundbreaking is scheduled for 2021. 

The Woven City, so named because of both the interweaving of technology with urban humanity and because of Toyota’s history as a textile company, will be constructed in Japan at the foot of Mt. Fuji. The 175-acre site is a former Toyota factory. It will be built on a grid that will emphasize different types of transportation: fast-moving autonomous vehicles, alternative transportation methods, and pedestrian traffic, with the latter two placed in more natural settings. “In Higashi-Fuji, Japan, we have decided to build a prototype town of the future where people live, work, play and participate in a living laboratory,” says Toyota Motor Corporation CEO Akio Toyoda, “This is a truly unique opportunity to create an entire community, or ‘city’ from the ground up and allow us to build an infrastructure of the future that is connected, digital and sustainable, powered by Toyota’s hydrogen fuel cell technology.”

The city was designed by Danish architect Bjarke Ingels, who has also worked on Two World Trade Center and a Mars simulation in Dubai, which began in 2017 and is expected to be completed in the next 3-4 years. 

woven city

It is always interesting when we get to one of these “sci-fi moments” in technology–the realization of something that writers have imagined for decades or centuries. A “city of the future” with cutting-edge technology has been in the imagination since Chicago’s 1905 White City, Disney’s Tomorrowland, and beyond. In fiction, it is often portrayed as either a utopian society or the epicenter of a corporate dystopia. It has, in fact, crept up in several recent movies. Not to say that Woven City will be one of these or the other–only that the intentional creation of a town interweaving humanity and cutting-edge technology seems to capture our dreams, hopes, and fears simultaneously. 

woven city

For now, let us watch as this new society at the base of Mt. Fuji is dreamed, built, and lived in. Maybe it will see our way to a brighter future. 

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Categories
Fashion Featured Lifestyle News Wellness

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

Getting Around NYC Efficiently: Are You Ready to Commute by Bike?
https://bikelist.org/?msID=77b57efb-0683-4e77-9ef2-4dbed6f34e9f

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. 

Categories
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!