Central New Yorkers are being encouraged to get out on their bicycles through the Cycle in the City series that started Sunday. Organizers hope people get healthy, while learning a little about Syracuse.
The theme of Sunday’s first 20-mile ride was water.
“We’re going to hit various bits of water…and at the end there’s a test. And the test has two questions: How many times did you cross Onondaga Creek? And how many streams did you cross that empty into Onondaga Lake,” said John, one of the ride leaders.
Riders saw various waterways, parks with water and the Inner Harbor along the route. Dolphus Johnson of Syracuse rode along…and thinks new bike lanes are making the city more bike friendly.
“I would say so. I do mine year round. I can go through the winter, the spring, the summer. We just take it all year-round. Like I said, half of it is staying single file and watching for the traffic.”
Not everyone agrees that recently constructed bike lanes are making the city safer for cyclists or encouraging more riding.
“I’m not terribly convinced of it and I ride a lot," said Patrick Coyne of Westvale. "It’s not so much the city and the streets; it’s the drivers. They’ll run you off the road, or are on phones, or not paying attention or don’t believe you belong on the street. We hear it: ‘get off the street. What are you doing there?’. There’s a lot of education on the drivers’ side (needed). Bike riders have got it, but the drivers are horrifying.”
That's not deterring Patrick Coyne, who rides daily to get to work
County Health Commissioner Dr. Indu Gupta joined the group of more than 50 riders. She says these rides promote total wellness, more than the obvious physical health gains.
“In addition to that you start to see the benefit of feeling better, so it improves the mental health and the third part; it’s more of a social gathering. So it makes it social well-being. If you’re feeling better you’re going to be a more productive part of the society also.”
The rides are not races…and go slow enough for just about all skill levels. There’s a 10 and 20 mile option each time out. The city and county will hold five more …one each month through October. For a schedule and the routes of Cycle in the City , click here.
