5 Boro Bike Tour 2011

Sunday, May 1st. Over 30,000 cyclists. 42 miles of road closures.

It starts in Battery Park at 8 am. Here is a link to the list of streets forming the route. Basically, it slices all of Manhattan in half (along Church and Sixth Avenue) all the way up to Central Park. It pops back out on the northern end at 110th in Harlem and continues up along A.C. Powell Blvd (Seventh Av) to 135th, makes a right, then a left unto the Madison Avenue Bridge into The Bronx. Then it's 138th to Third and right back into Manhattan. Down the FDR Drive to 63rd, over the Queensboro Bridge, up 21st to Astoria Park, back down Vernon and over the Pulaski Bridge. McGuinness. Greenpoint. Franklin. Kent. Flushing. Navy. York. Gold. Front. Old Fulton. Columbia. BQE at Atlantic. Belt Parkway. Exit Fourth Ave. 101st. Fort Hamilton. 92nd. Verrazano Bridge. Fort Wadsworth. Bay. Hylan. Edgewater. Hulbert. Hannah. Bay. Staten Island Ferry back to the starting point. Steer clear of these areas all day long. Before you begin each fare, look at your map and negotiate a route with your passenger that will avoid getting you both stuck in traffic.

summer time- closures commence.

many parades, etc..

International Gospel Uptown closes 6th av from 42-56 sts 10am-3pm Saturday. Street fair also closes 8th av from 14-23 sts 10am-7pm Saturday.

that's avoiding 6th avenue i'm guessing it'll get shut down at 40th street or 38th, only one option really seems appropriate stay east when heading uptown for rides. if you pick up under 23rd at 6th avenue make your turns before 23rd, like 20th street perhaps, the earlier the better, just avoid it all together, try to be uptown and do crosstown trips, and when you get a ride going downtown make the crosstown trips well above 56th street (like 79th) or well below (like houston) i'd go back uptown empty on the fdr drive or 12th avenue and work for a straight trip downtown again with a fare.

if you feel bold there will be heavy demand for rides from penn station to the javits center, but really that won't be too profitable, at around 10am up to 1pm i guess. when 6th avenue opens up again, or depending on how much this closure blocks up crosstown traffic, there will again be a lot of demand for passengers at javits center again.

VVanderbilt Ave. bet 42-46 sts closed 10am-7pm Saturday for Day 2 of Earth Day Fair. so i;d forget about going to grand central station to get fares, because turning is illegal on madison avenue, and 6th avenue is closed at 42nd, wow, your not going to even get to grand central, and you're not going to get out either.

so the plan: upper west, upper east, do crosstown trips there. take anything on the downtown avenues for a relatively smooth ride, but that crosstown traffic will be a nightmare in chelsea and midtown. once downtown, head uptown on the highways to get fares uptown going downtown again, or perhaps try your luck with lower east side, eeast village getting something uptown staying on the east side, but chances could be they could go to midtown and with 6th avenue closed it'd be tough.

Javits Center

had a good day today: The Javits Center appears to be having 3 shows through tuesday, all ending at 4ish on tuesday, monday's show ends later. this is a good idea for pick-ups perhaps to the airports. or they're going to their hotels, but tuesday? mixing of a bad day normally with the possibility for a lot of people who need to go to the airport, sounds like that's worth checking out. Pier 94 had something going on too, wouldn't be surprised if it also ends on tuesday.

Courtesy of Gridlock Sam

THIS WEEK LOOK OUT FOR:

• FIFTH AVE.: Right turn bans in effect at 55th, 53rd, 51st and 47th Sts. through New Year's. Fifth Ave. closed between 48th and 52nd Sts. 4 p.m. to 11 p.m. Tuesday for tree lighting. Also, 48th to 51st Sts. closed between Fifth and Sixth Aves., at same time.

• SIXTH AVE.: Extra sluggish between 48th and 52nd Sts. from 3 p.m. to 11 p.m. Tuesday.

• GRAND ARMY PLAZA/59TH ST.: World's largest menorah lighting 5:30 p.m. Wednesday for first night of Chanukah.

• LINCOLN CENTER: Winter Eve/Tree Lighting 5:30 p.m. Monday.

• FDR DRIVE: Southbound exit ramp to Manhattan Civic Center closed 12:01 a.m. to 5 a.m. Tuesday and Wednesday morning. Ramp to Brooklyn Bridge still open.

• MAJOR SHOPPING AREAS: Jammed through New Year's.

• PENN STATION/BUS TERMINAL: Jammed for return trips home Sunday.

• MEADOWLANDS: Giants vs. Jaguars 1 p.m. Sunday.

• THE GARDEN: Events 7 p.m. Sunday through Friday.

BRIDGES AND TUNNELS

• HOLLAND TUNNEL: Because of Hudson St. closure, other approaches to outbound Holland jammed. Avoid Varick St. and use Canal St.

• LINCOLN TUNNEL: Jammed all day Sunday with 1 p.m. Giants game!

• BROOKLYN BRIDGE: Park Row and Centre St. entrance ramps to bridge closed 1 a.m. to 6 a.m. nightly Monday through Saturday morning next three weeks.

Read more: http://www.nydailynews.com/ny_local/traffic/index.html#ixzz16cjpQvTm

Don't Drive Like This

NYPD Watching

On the northeast corner of 14th and Ninth Avenue, where Chelsea meets the Meat Packing District, a cop car often sits facing westbound along 14th, right at the light. He is watching for all sorts of traffic violations. In taxis, he is especially looking for improper pick-ups and discharges, such as stopping on the cross walk. Also, left turns cannot be made from the right lane.

Fare to Roos. Isla

If someone jumps in your cab in Manhattan and requests Roosevelt Island, simply drive up Third Avenue (or down Second Ave) and over the upper level of the Queensboro Bridge.

Take the 21 Street exit (fork right) and make a right unto 21st Street, which goes under the bridge. Drive past the Queensbridge Housing Project on the left and make a left unto 36 Avenue.

Follow that straight over the little draw bridge that brings you into Roosevelt Island. There is only one way in and one way out by car.

Upon dropping off, what I like to do is go back down 21st Street, but instead of getting back on the bridge to Manhattan, I continue through the heart of Long Island City and make a right unto Jackson Avenue, or cut over to PS 1 and Courthouse Square. Sometimes there'll be a fare there. Otherwise, it's over the Pulaski Bridge into Greenpoint. Down McGuinness.

Perhaps a right on Greenpoint Ave. and a left on Manhattan Avenue, or a quick loop around the bars on Franklin. On Driggs by McCarren Park there are some bars two. If all of that yields no passengers, go down Driggs through Williamsburg and up Bedford Ave. and down Wythe Street and back up Bedford again, from down by the Willie Bridge. If none of this works, head down Metropolitan to Union or Lorimer. Something's gotta give in these parts!

Tomorrow (Saturday)

59th St. between Second and Third Aves. will be closed from 7 a.m. to 5 p.m. Saturday and Sunday. Drivers should use alternate routes or follow posted detours to access the Queensboro Bridge.

On the Manhattan Bridge two lanes in each direction will be open to traffic from 12:01 a.m. to 6 a.m. Saturday.

124th St. between Eighth and Seventh Aves. will be closed Saturday from 8 a.m. to 3 p.m.

tonight's events

10:00PM-late night

night club party

Address
SUZIE WONG
27 ST btw 11 and 12 ave
New York, NY 10001

MON, NOV 08

11:00PM-late night

club party

Address
95 SOUTH
778 FRANKLIN AVE btw eastern parkway and atlantic
Brooklyn, NY 11226

HK Lounge (Hell's Kitchen)

523 9th Avenue (Between 39th & 40th Streets)

Monday, November 8th 2010

Lux Mondays @ HK
405 W. 39TH St (Btw 9th & 10th Ave.)

Monday’s Elite Spot

NYC HORROR FILM FEST

At Tribeca Cinemas / Nov. 11th-14th on 54 Varick Street @ Canal. SCHEDULE AVAILABLE THRU THIS LINK. RUN TIMES ARE DISPLAYED, SO DO YOUR MATH FOR BEST FARE PICK-UP TIMES.

Radio City X MAS

http://www.radiocitychristmas.com/newyork/tickets.html

THE LINK ABOVE IS TO THE CALENDAR OF SHOW TIMES FOR NOVEMBER AND DECEMBER. THE SHOW RUNS 90 MINUTES WITH NO INTERMISSIONS, SO THE BEST TIME TO DRIVE BY THE RADIO CITY MUSIC HALL WITHOUT A FARE IS SIMPLE MATH. ADD 90 MINUTES TO THE START OF EVERY SCHEDULED SHOW.

FROM NYC RLC

Effective September 13, 2010, motorists who have red light camera violations that push them above the $350 scofflaw tow threshold can have their car is towed an will be subject to interest for late payments.

It has been reported that NYC has experienced a 73% drop in red light violations since 1994 when red light cameras were first installed. During this time, the city reported a 41% decline in collisions and a 35% reduction in vehicular fatalities.

FROM THE NATIONAL SPEED TRAP EXCHANGE

42nd St & 8th Ave, Manhattan New York City, New York

This is not a speedtrap, but a block the box enforcement zone at one of the busiest intersections on the planet. A platoon of cops are waiting at the north side of the intersection to catch people blocking the box, but if you do make it across, they'll still nail you for tailgating in heavy traffic, which you have to do to get across the intersection anyway because you're crawling slower than the pedestrians. I was among a bunch of people fighting the tailgate ticket from the same cop on different days, all in the same month. Most got $90 fines for not being prepared. One guy brought a lawyer and got off. I had photos, Google maps, measurements and printed out the law (which was vague). When the officer saw the materials I had brought before the judge, she claimed amnesia and said she did not recollect the facts of the case, even though she had notes for all the other cases. Case dismissed and thank the officer said the administrative judge. Pthffffft!

Clearview Expwy Southbound off Throgs Neck Bridge New York City, New York

There is almost always a cop waiting on the side of the road for speeders.

FDR / Harlem River Drive Expressway near 139 Street New York City, New York

Cop in marked Charger claims to have been posted on the 139th Street on ramp heading Northbound. Hides on the overpass/onramp and is not visible unless looking in your rearview. Uses LASER.. you will not detect this!

FDR Drive near Grand Street New York City, New York

Highway Patrol sits on the entrance ramp to Southbound FDR at the location, they are off to the side and they will have locked you in before you even know there there.

Interstate I-95Bruckner Expressway near Exit Number 9 Orchard Beach

The roadway here curves pretty good and when you hit the straight away you can see the Highway Patrol dead ahead on the exit ramp, it will be to late of course.

Riverside Drive near 170 - 125 Street New York City, New York

Riverside Drive between 158th and 125th (Grant's Tomb). The posted is 30 MPH but there are fewer lights on that stretch of road, so the tendency is to go faster.

I got two tickets in the span of 5 minutes. Don't ask...

WEST END AVE Avenue near WEST 96TH Street New York City, New York

There's a camera at the intersection of West End Avenue and 96th St.the location where you turn onto the Henry hudson Westside Highway. Be careful going and don't get caught in the yellow!

Henry Hudson9A Expressway near 57th Street New York City, New York

north bound west side highway at west 57th street, red light camera. it's the last light before the highway begins without any traffic lights, so don't get too excited and try to make it.

OLDER POSTS ON LINK FOUND TO THE RIGHT

UPCOMING JAVITS SHOW

TECHNOLOGY SHOW: GOOD TAXI STAND TIMES ARE AFTER EACH EVENT + END OF DAY Wednesday, November 10, 2010
9:00 - 10:00 AM	Keynote: Successful Strategies of Customer Engagement Technologies
10:00 AM - 5:00 PM	Exhibit Floor Open
10:30 AM - 3:45 PM	Tech Talk Theater Sessions
10:30 AM - 3:45 PM	Cooking Up Content Theater Sessions
10:30 - 11:30 AM	Conference Sessions
10:30 AM - 12:30 PM	SPEED Training Program - Part 1
11:45 AM - 12:45 PM	Conference Sessions
2:00 - 3:00 PM	Conference Sessions
3:15 - 4:15 PM	Conference Sessions
4:00 - 5:00 PM	The VUKUNET Party on the Exhibition Floor

Thursday, November 11, 20109:00 - 10:00 AMKeynote: Understand How Agencies Think About Their Brands’ Customer Engagement Technology Strategies

10:00 AM - 4:00 PMExhibit Floor Open

10:30 AM - 2:30 PMTech Talk Theater Sessions

10:30 AM - 2:30 PMCooking Up Content Theater Sessions

10:30 - 11:30 AMConference Sessions

11:45 AM - 12:45 PMConference Sessions

1:30 - 3:00 PMSPEED Training Program - Part 2

2:00 - 3:00 PMConference Sessions

3:00 - 4:00 PMThe MINICOM DIGITAL SIGNAGE Closing Reception

TIME CHANGE CAUTION: FIRST FEW NIGHTS (courtesy of Gridlock Sam)

Monday evening is the first afternoon rush period in the dark after the clocks were set back over the weekend, and historical statistics show more pedestrian casualties between 3 p.m. and 7 p.m. the week Eastern Standard Time goes into effect. Drivers, your visibility ahead at 5p.m. on Monday will be about 100 feet less than it was at 5 p.m. on Friday, so please drive extra carefully. Pedestrians, wear brightly covered clothing, be morewary in the street and don't text while crossing

Worth St in Manhattan closed both directions between Church St and Broadway for emergency street repairs. Expect delays! Not sure how long this is for.

The West Drive (southbound) of Central Park from 110th to 59th Sts. It will not reopen until 8 a.m. on Wednesday, so drivers can expect additional delays along Fifth Ave. and Central Park West.

LONG ISLAND: NOT THAT THIS REALLY AFFECTS US

The Northern State Parkway westbound at the Route 110 Bridge in Huntington will have all lane lanes closed from 9 a.m. to 4p.m. daily through Wednesday. Westbound drivers can hop off just before the bridge at Deer Park Ave. and follow signs to the westbound Long Island Expressway.

ALL WEEK IN SPANISH HARLEM AND THE UES
E. 106th St. and E. 92nd St. between Fifth Ave. and the FDR Drive will be closed from 8 p.m. to 6 a.m. nightly through Saturday morning as both streets are repaved.

U.S. Secretary of State Clinton mtg w/ Israeli Prime Minister Netanyahu 9am this Thurs morning at United Nations. Avoid 1st ave 42-48 Sts!

Holiday gridlock is almost upon us. Follow it all at www.twitter.com/GridlockSam.