 | On Bicycles: A 200-Year History of Cycling in New York City Subjects: Cycling -- Social aspects -- New York (State) -- New York; Cycling -- United States -- History; Cycling -- New York (State) -- New York -- History; Urban transportation -- New York (State) -- New York; Bicycle commuting -- New York (State) -- New York --; Friss (The Cycling City), a professor at James Madison University, traces the evolution and controversial past of bicycles in New York City in this informative history. Bicycles have been a point of contention in New York, Friss writes, since their first appearance in 1819 as velocipedes, clunky precursors to the more familiar design that were quickly derided as "whimsical inventions" and banned. Friss explores issues of race, class, and gender as cycling evolved, highlighting the discouragement of women from riding in the 19th century (the public disliked "the idea of a woman in a dress mounting a soaring bike five feet off the ground") as well as the effect the 1987 Midtown Bike Ban under Mayor Koch had on messengers of color (the ban was to prevent messengers from recklessly peddling in Midtown; its critics argued that the ban kept blacks and Latinos out of the area). Friss takes the narrative to the present day, showing how the recent Citi Bike bike share program has fueled gentrification (Friss quotes writer Jeremiah Moss, who called bike lanes "green veins that stream gentrifiers into low-income neighborhoods"). This is a thoughtful, entertaining look at an essential form of transportation in New York City. (May) © Copyright PWxyz, LLC. All rights reserved. Friss Evan : Evan Friss is an Assistant Professor of History at James Madison University. He is the author of The Cycling City: Bicycles and Urban America in the 1890s (University of Chicago Press, 2015).Evan Friss is an associate professor of history at James Madison University and the author of The Cycling City: Bicycles and Urban America in the 1890s . He used to pedal around New York City, but now lives in Virginia with his family. |
