Through dreary rain, late Monday afternoon, I dodged jammed Madison Avenue traffic to the Municipal Art Society office in exquisite remains of the Villard Mansion. There NYC’s Transportation Commissioner Janette Sadik-Khan explained her strategic plan for “Sustainable Streets.” The wine flowed, the sushi, ginger & wasabi were fresh (even without soy sauce), the tabuli tangy, the tapinade, salty.

People packed shoulder to shoulder, making dancing to the swing trio impractical. Deputy Mayor Edward Skyler was there, as was NYPC Commissioner Ray Kelly (Kelly was so freshly dressed, so creased, so unwrinkled, so calm, he glowed. I’ll bet he didn’t cycle over.) The overwhelmingly white, suited crowd had a few cycling advocates mixed in: Transportation Alternatives’ Paul Steely White in his signature vest, Straphanger Gene Russianoff in cacki chinos, Karen Overton, formerly of Recycle-A Bicycle. But, for me the big news was who was missing: I saw no elected officials at all.

It's spring, the weather has been perfect and May (which starts Thursday) is Bike Month. Middle-aged folk like me (and Room 8's Larry Littlefield ) are looking for exercise, cheap transport and global warming solutions. Bike messengers, Critical Mass riders (like my Council Member Rosie Mendez), edgy fixed-gear fanatics and teens are already out there. Join us. (For a full list of Bike Month events, click here (For Jennifer 8 Lee's NYT Bike Month Round-up, including NYC DOT plans, click here ).

It's already too late to sign up for the biggest NYC pleasure ride the Five Boro Bike Tour on Sunday May 4 which filled up at the beginning of April. The 42-mile car-free ride through NYC's streets parks and highways is an odd mob scene with a cast of tens of thousands, lots of snacks, flat tires and sweat. Because the whole ride is done with no cars, you get a little of the feeling about what a car-free-NYC might be like. Pedaling on auto-free highways is a revelation. It is definitely not for those who want to be alone. If you're going, look for me there.

Three still-open May bike rides:

The 6th Annual Brooklyn Greenway Bike Tour on Saturday May 3, 2008

Protest Saturday September 8, 10AM As part of the ongoing demands that New York and Federal authorities fund appropriate health monitoring and treatment for responders to September 11, NYC's Central Labor Council has asked people to turn out Saturday 10 AM.

HONOR, SUPPORT AND RESPECT
the contributions and sacrifices of all workers

WHEN: Saturday, September 8, 2007 at 10:00 A.M.

WHERE: West Broadway between Vesey and Barclay Streets

Sponsored by:

NYC Central Labor Council
NYS AFL-CIO
Building & Construction Trades Council

The strong positions taken by Mt. Sinai's Irving J. Selikoff Center For Occupational & Environmental Medicine on behalf on injured and ill September 11th responders has subjected them to a hail of criticism which ironically is more or less identical to that leveled at Dr. Selikoff himself when he began campaigning against reckless exposure of workers and citizens to asbestos. I've been treated by the Selikoff Center for job injuries and I've used their expertise in asbestos litigation. See you Saturday Morning.

Starting Monday, I will help put on a mass bike ride from Albany to the Battery in NYC. The Hudson Valley Pedal will go through great countryside and now more solidly Democratic Congressional districts. We'll camp out along the way, meet local elected officials, fix flats, talk politics and drink beer. (A truck brings tents, luggage, food, so we bike with minimal burdens).

In case long distance, multi-day biking feels to be too much for you, I want to alert you to two NYC opportunities:

On Sunday September 9, 2007, The NYC Century offers cycling options at every range: 100, 75, 50 , 35 & 15 mile routes. Because many fewer people go on it, than on the 5 BBC ride in the spring (6,000 vs. 42,000), the mob scene aspect of the ride is much reduced. People say the lack of crush makes the NYC Century a lot of fun. I plan to help out on the ride. Come say "hi!" The ride costs money, benefits Transportation Alternatives and fills up; register now.

On Sunday Oct 21, 2007 The Tour de Bronx (which was my first and for that reason perhaps) is still my favorite mass bike ride.

In the great meeting room of the Association of the Bar of the City of New York, Mayor Bloomberg and the chairs of many NYS Assembly Committees engaged in a snappish battle of wits in which the citizens were losers. Richard Brodsky and Denny Farrell scored imaginary talking points off the Mayor. Even if you have a horse in this race (and I do), it was difficult to declare a winner. (After the jump, a possible fatal flaw in Mr. Bloomberg's plan and a chance to lobby in Albany if you support it.)

UPDATE: Rep. Joseph Crowley, chair of the Queens Democratic Party, (whose district includes a portion of the Bronx) endorsed the Congestion Pricing Proposal. In a complete coincidence, Mayor Bloomberg promised to pay for two new Queens LIRR stations (and two Bronx Metro North Stations).

2nd UPDATE TUESDAY: Sheldon Silver is not convinced here and here .

The Mayor, of course, knew the details of the proposal and no one else did.

Friday, June 8, 2007 the pending proposal for Congestion Pricing gets an unusual test. A joint legislative committee hearing (many committees, many chairs) is set to start at 10AM at the Association of the Bar at 42 West 44th Street. If you’re interested and you can, go. It should be interesting because Assembly Member Richard Brodsky, so far an outspoken plan opponent, will have a leading role there. An interesting pro-congestion pricing coalition, The Campaign For New York’s Future is calling for people to show up by 8:15 (The doors open at 9AM). (Annie Karni's NY Sun coverage of the hearing is here .)

UPDATE:Congestion pricing supporter, Senate Majority Leader Bruno has introduced the bill says Liz Benjamin and The Albany Project's Lipris . Streetsblog has the 154 page text if you're into self-abuse. Has a deal been struck?

If you cannot make it to DMI’s Congestion Pricing forum Friday, Get free breakfast anyway while bicycling to work. Transportation Alternatives presents
National Bike To Work Day (Breakfast Served)

“Biking to work is fun, saves money and keeps you in great shape. What better time to try it out than on National Bike to Work Day? Stop by one of Transportation Alternatives' commuter breakfast stations on your way in for free coffee and pastries (you earned it!) courtesy of Birdbath: Neighborhood Green Bakeries. They'll also have bike maps, guides to Taking Back NYC Streets and tons of other useful info, no matter if you're biking to work for the first time or the five thousandth. Come say hi and meet T.A. staff, volunteers and your fellow bicycle commuters."

Friday, May 18th, 2007 8:30 - 10:00 AM – at: The Queensboro Bridge The Williamsburg Bridge, The Manhattan Bridge, The Brooklyn Bridge and the Hudson River Park's Clinton Cove Park near 51st Street on the Hudson River Greenway

In a sea of 30,000 bright spandex butts , Sunday May 6, I rode in the 42-mile Five Borough Bike Club tour. As a volunteer, my job was to help riders who were in mechanical, logistical or physical trouble (fix flats, find bike shops, offer drink & encouragement, call backup). Keep the riders safe and happy. It was a crisp bright day – perfect for a moderate ride. One rider’s story of past tours, which captured the flavor well, I thought, appeared in the NY Times City Section . See some of this year’s photos here. You can still sign up for the smaller, shorter Tour de Brooklyn on Sunday June 3, 2007 sponsored by Transportation Alternatives . It’s free, not too taxing and experience is not required. Online registration, it has been said, will close May 31, 2007 -- so do it now.

The Minimum Wage has not gone up –- it’s still stuck where it’s been all these years.