Category: new+york

Private Joker to bike through Brooklyn

Richard MasonerJuly 14, 20081 Comment on Private Joker to bike through Brooklyn

Meet Matthew Modine (Private Joker in “Full Metal Jacket”) as he rides his bike on Tuesday, July 15 through Brooklyn and the Lower East Side. He’ll stop at a number of local bike shops to spread awareness about his September 20th event – Bicycle for a Day.

Matthew Modine as Private Joker in Full Metal Jacket

Bicycle For A Day (BFAD) takes place September 20, 2008 and is:

• a fun, open and proactive invitation designed to inspire individuals, communities, governments and corporations to take a step towards solving the current environmental issues.

• a global initiative bringing together people who choose to ride a bicycle rather than use gas-powered motor vehicles, immediately reducing their carbon footprint.

• supports organizations that restore and protect our environment and make biking safer and more accessible for everyone.

Modine will start the ride on Tuesday at 4:30 PM and stop at these locations:

  • DUMBO, 35 Pearl Street, Brooklyn, NY 11201.
  • Bay Ridge Bicycle World, 8916 3rd Ave, Brooklyn, NY, 11209.
  • B’s Bikes, 262 Driggs Ave, Brooklyn, NY, 11222.
  • Nelson’s Bicycle Shop, 251 Bushwick Ave, Brooklyn, NY, 11206.
  • Continuum Cycles, 199 Ave B, New York, NY, 10009.
  • Frank’s Bike Shop, 553 Grand St, New York, NY, 10002
  • Track Star, 231 Eldridge St, New York, NY, 10002
  • NYC Velo, 64 2nd Ave, New York, NY, 10003

Matt Modine’s ride concludes with an Art Show to support BFAD at Phebe’s Tavern, 361 Bowery, New York, NY 10003.

Posted In new+york

Orange bikes take Manhattan

Richard MasonerMay 28, 200814 Comments on Orange bikes take Manhattan

Do you remember the DKNY orange bikes of fashion week? A short film by Kalim Armstrong documents the backlash to DKNY’s ad campaign. “Orange Bikes Take Manhattan” screens this Friday at the Bicycle Film Festival in NYC. Here’s the trailer.

Orange Bikes Take Manhattan – Bicycle Film Festival 2008
Friday May 30th 7pm
ANTHOLOGY FILM ARCHIVES
32 2nd Ave. at 2nd St.

Orange bikes documents the reaction to a guerrilla marketing campaign during fashion week. Orange monochromatic bicycles appeared chained as part of DKNY’s “Explore your city” campaign. The bikes were reminiscent of the Ghost Bike memorial project, white painted bikes that serve as markers where cyclists have died in traffic accidents. This film explores the backlash to the marketing campaign.

Posted In new+york

If supermodels can’t save the world, I don’t know who can

Richard MasonerFebruary 12, 20086 Comments on If supermodels can’t save the world, I don’t know who can

Watch first…


…now read the commentary. These people are way too uptight. The video is obviously a spoof — who believes DKNY actually made this video? Who believes that brunette is actually a real supermodel?

And why all the hate toward DKNY? Do you really want them to end up in a marketing textbook as an example that you shouldn’t use bikes in your marketing because of backlash from fanatic true believers?

DKNY are not preaching to the choir — they’re speaking to their audience, the people who are interested in fashion and style. They should be applauded for their efforts in reaching out to a new audience in their attempt to portray bicycling as a cool, fashionable way to get around. Three years ago, only the 40 year old virgin rode his bike to work. This year, we’ll see Brad Pitt on a bike.

More at Streetsblog. Props to Carlton.

Posted In new+york

DKNY orange bicycles

Richard MasonerFebruary 4, 20087 Comments on DKNY orange bicycles

man and woman on bicycle - DKNY fashion models For Fashion Week in New York City, DKNY says to “Explore Your City” on bike. DKNY informs fashionistas of the benefits of cycling by noting New York’s high population and flat terrain make it an ideal city for cycling; informing people that May is Bike Month in New York; DKNY stores in NYC are distributing free bike maps.

DKNY also will give away what they describe as a “custom folding bike,” which turns out to be a Huffy painted in a DKNY color scheme. (Since when did Huffy have folders?)

According to Conde Naste Portfolio, DKNY has also chained about 75 orange bikes around New York City, noting that it’s a publicity stunt that’s seems to have gone awfully well for DKNY. Why else would DKNY be mentioned by Bike Snob, Streetsblog, Bike Blog, Bike Hugger, Gwadzilla and now even Cyclelicious?

woman on a bicycle - DKNY fashion model
Not all the attention has been positive, with some people thinking it’s too much like the ghost bike memorials.

Photo: “DKNY Pro Bike Campaign” from Amanda Ford in Brooklyn.

I guess I should point out that none of the female bike commuters I encounter ever look like the fashion models pictured here. They mostly look something like me — you know: a little bit dorky, wrinkly clothes, wripped and oily pant hems, smelly bike gloves, yellow jacket, helmet hair, a little sweaty — they just usually have longer hair than me. I sometimes run into sanguine cuties like Emily though, too.

Posted In girls | new+york

NYC: Huge bike boxes

Richard MasonerJanuary 9, 20082 Comments on NYC: Huge bike boxes

See what new bike facilities are available in New York City, as reported by Streetsblog:


Bike boxes are a reserved space just for cyclists at intersections. They are marked ahead of the car stop line and behind the crosswalk to improve cyclist visibility. Bike boxes allow cyclists to filter forward and get in front of motorists so they can position themselves correctly for a turn. They’re used at intersections with heavy traffic volume (cars and bikes) and frequent turning conflicts.

In New York, these bike boxes are on a one way street. Bike lanes are also marked on both sides of the one way. Read more at Streetsblog.

Posted In new+york