Why biking without cars is Awesome!

People often wonder what New York City would be like without cars. As a person who prefers to use a bike as a means of transportation, this seems like a dream. Each year in NYC, there’s one such day without cars. I hope you enjoy watching our video on the 5 Boro Bike Tour around New York City!
If you're interested in learning more about some of the bikes in this video, check out the links below:
Riese and Muller brand page:
propelbikes.com/riese-muller-...
Gazelle brand page:
propelbikes.com/gazelle-brand...
Load4 60:
propelbikes.com/product/riese...
Load4 75:
propelbikes.com/product/riese...
Timecodes:
0:00 New York City without cars
0:55 Propel bikes in Brooklyn
1:00 5 Boro Bike Tour introduction
1:30 Tour start line
1:40 Tandem bike
2:00 Start of the ride
2:30 How to get to the 5 Boro Bike Tour
2:55 Biking 40 miles
3:30 Riding a bike with health issues
4:00 Enjoying small moments with loved ones
4:30 Small interactions with strangers on bikes
4:50 Different types of bicycles
5:10 Technical difficulties with filming
5:45 Being in the present instead of thinking about the future
6:45 Community supporting bikers
7:15 Chris Sanders and Harlem
7:40 Politics and bicycles
8:30 Building a community around bicycles
9:00 Riding bikes on empty highways
10:50 Biking bringing out your inner child
11:40 Creating small communities
12:15 Rest stops and live music for 5 Boro Bike Tour
13:15 Riding across NYC bridges on a bicycle
14:20 Biking makes you feel younger
15:15 NYC community wants more bike infrastructure
16:00 Car free future in New York City
17:30 Biking is more spontaneous than driving
18:20 Propel bike service
19:00 Meeting new people on bikes
20:00 Connecting to the community
21:30 Creating better bike infrastructure in New York City
22:20 Congestion pricing in New York City
Musicbed Sync ID: MB017LGKHBAMILX
#bikingnyc #5borobiketour #bikeride

[@Propelbikes]

Thanks so much for watching!!🚲 If you guys are interested in learning more about some of these bikes, feel free to check out the links in the video description.✌

[@raykao416]

Is there a video on your camera rig setup??

[@TheHannahRichards]

When you see an event like this you just know it has to be the future. For communities, for health and general well-being it's all positive. The simple comment that your father made....."I feel 15 again"...says it all. Amazing to see. Thanks so much for sharing this. ❤❤

[@blackmail1807]

Not when it costs $112 to participate 💩

[@TheHannahRichards]

@@blackmail1807 You totally missed my point...well done 😂😂

[@buddy1155]

Next time you are in the Netherlands you should visit Schiermonnikoog, it is a car free island in the north. Residents are allowed to have a car but using the car on the island is highly discouraged, the silence is magical.

[@joshuaguenin9507]

Michigan has an Island like that

[@Lukas-bg4yn]

A bunch of German islands are like this as well

[@RealConstructor]

New York hasn’t got any islands (where people reside) that are car free, although there should be several islands that could turn in to car free islands. Like Hart Island, Ellis island, Roosevelt island, Governors island or even Rikers island for that matter. Even Manhattan would be a better place without cars. You could introduce a congestion charge for Manhattan for instance and facilitate free parking at P+R parking lots just outside Manhattan, like at metro stations, train stations, express bus stops. Start a permit system for taxis, delivery trucks etc. And ban street parking, move parking to special lots and garages. Private parking garages can turn into commercial public parking garages. A lot of people will ditch their car and transfer to public transport, because this is reasonably good in NYC. More car lanes can turn into bike lanes and pedestrian zones and there will be room for greenery in the streets. You still need car lanes but less and the remaining lanes will be less congested. You make a plan in yearly stages, because you can’t do this overnight. NYC will be a more habitable and more sustainable place.

[@jessegee179]

That sounds blissful, imagine a whole city without any motorised traffic, I wonder what kind of issues we'd face, any how we could overcome them..

[@jessegee179]

Do they mind visitors? I'd love to visit. I have a feeling it's going to become popular 😁

[@Alttabbins]

"Biking helps us connect with our inner child. It helps us feel alive and really experience the world. I can often get caught up in my adult responsibilities and forget to have these experiences." This is such a good quote and does an amazing job of expressing exactly how I feel about cycling. I've never been able to come up with an explanation to why I ride by bike that so precisely hits the mark like this quote. Very nice insight.

[@dianawilliams9470]

Love that quote!

[@theredmonkey]

This was great to watch. Cities should emphasize people and not cars. High speed roads cutting through communities making it more dangerous for everyone should be reduced, cut lanes and not add them.

[@thijsvandalsen2989]

One subject you brought up that got me thinking was cycling bringing out your inner child. To me, learning to ride a bike was a big step in gaining independence. As cycling is a way of life where I live (Netherlands), I don't associate it with childhood, necessarily. Though I do feel like stale bread or a flat, lukewarm beer whenever I've been in a car...

[@AsplundhFamily]

I watched this video after biking around multiple four+ lane stroads in my city to get to various strip malls surrounded by a sea of asphalt (ironically I was going to two outdoor sports stores...) I actually teared up a bit. Our communities could be so lovely and flourishing (not to mention more eco-friendly) if we weren't constantly surrounded by the danger and noise of cars, especially the huge SUVs and trucks which seem to make up an ever larger part of the vehicle market in North America... This was a lovely video, and a great example of how we could and should live.

[@jessegee179]

Love infrastructure discussion, wish everyone could experience the joy and freedom of car free days.

[@-Bloomingtales]

Really did not expect for this video to make me emotional but that segment where you talked about spending time with your dad and also about slowing things down because we only have one life to live? sheesh all the feels. Maybe I’m just sensitive but this mentality is literally one of the main reasons why I bought my bike in 2020 after I totaled my car. I could have died that day BUT I didn’t so I plan to enjoy all of life’s slowest and simplest moments because I’m here. No rushing. Beautiful video and mindset! Thank you 🥰

[@Maxime_K-G]

My main realisation every time there's a car-free day in my city is just how much quicker getting somewhere is. If all people within the city used bicycles and cargo bikes instead (except emergency services of course), the public space could be used a lot more efficiently and we wouldn't need traffic lights anymore. I can imagine traffic jams would become a rarity too.

[@disapearoman]

This might just be one of my favorite videos of yours so far. Thanks for sharing Chris!

[@reedreflection]

I feel young and free on my ebike. I ride it to work 27 mile round trip. It improves my attitude. I ride for fun on remote work days to get out and about. I am lucky to have 80% of my ride on a protected bike path.

[@karlahovde]

Wow, I've never been interested in visiting New York before, but I would visit just for this!

[@hzunasdfgbciw]

Yes, I'd love to be a part of this.

[@christill]

Those two younger guys really get it, which is nice to see. Although I would just add that we really need to get rid of private cars immediately. If you look at the simultaneous record heatwaves in the Arctic and Antarctic, and the exponentially rising methane in the atmosphere, time really is of the essence. We have to act decisively now to live smaller, local and more equal lives.

[@mhossen]

Really enjoyed this one Chris! You’re spot on about bikes bringing out the inner child and the community benefits and ability for people to connect at a human level when on bikes is amazing!

[@juannoval69]

Chris, this is so cool. My version of Utopia. Here in San Antonio, TX we don't have such a big event but on the 27th of this month we'll be riding in the Siclovia event in downtown San Antonio and I can't wait. No cars, lots of bikes, people out and about enjoying the streets of SA with no cars in a festival like atmosphere. Wish we could have a more permanent solution where getting around on a bike was safe and possible. Cheers.

[@SwiftySanders]

I’m from San Antonio. Amazing they have this now. That is so awesome!!!

[@pauljbird]

From across the pond - This was a lovely watch, Chris! You keep doing what you’re doing. It’s inspiring others to seek more active modes of transport.

[@hzunasdfgbciw]

A city without cars is great. In my old city we had a skating event once a month when I was young, where usually inaccessible parts of the city were "free for all". And we have a festival, where the inner city is closed for private car traffic. It is great! In my new city we have a construction site that blocks car traffic for my whole route to work since almost two years - I love it. :-)

[@goki22]

Loving these videos all the way from UK.

[@AntonKulikov]

I smiled through the whole video! It's so awesome to see people who cares and who enjoy bikes so much in a such car dependent city as NY.

[@umfilmmaker8253]

This is amazing! Nice to see your friend Chris too. He was a great interview in the prior episode. Love the connection opportunity with your Dad. 💝

[@madfx8058]

Yup, just dropped 4k on rebuilding the transmission on my truck that I commute in, by contrast, I dropped about 15 bucks on a new chain on my bike the difference is huge and with the Electronic assists that exists on bikes for folks that need assistance there is no excuse! Great video, thanks for sharing!!

[@jimpurton4944]

It's really great to see you & your dad riding together!

[@gdemorest7942]

The most important message of this video is that slow aspect i.e. enjoy where you are, not always looking where you are going.

[@Chrisb8s]

I love this. I took my ebike out today. I had 3 stents a few months ago. It mad3 me feel good to see we have the same helmet. 🤗

[@jaywagner3111]

Wonderful video. You are so right about the personal connections one makes while biking. It's just such a friendly environment between the bikers and the pedestrians. When I was living in Westchester County, NY my wife and I loved riding the Bronx River Parkway on Bike Sundays during which a substantial section of the parkway was closed for hours and dedicated to bikes, walking and alternative transportation. When people feel safe riding, they will ride no matter their age. Protected bike lanes, bike traffic signals or wide multiuser pathways would increase biking dramatically. In an earlier video you have talked about US biking being oriented toward recreation and sport but the unrealized potential is for productive transportation. Keep up the good work.

[@pedalpetter5865]

Hi, here are my 50 Cents. I do live in a small community of around 3.500 people next to Hamburg in Germany. In general I do think our bike infrastructure is better for the most parts than in other places. But also here the amount of car traffic is ridiculous high. And I do also noticed as you mentioned in your video, that a lot of people drive several times a day the same way to run erands. They do not plan ahaed. For these kind of people fuel prices are still not high enough. Meanwhile I do nearly everything with my bikes. Greetings from 🇩🇪

[@FlyingOverTr0ut]

This is amazing to see. Here in LA we get open streets every few months with Ciclavia, but I think it's usually around 6-7 miles at most. 40 miles of open streets would be a dream.

[@noisycarlos]

That Chris Nolke Sr. cut away so fast, I thought it was regular Chris. I just rewided because I read "Sr" and that peeked my attention. In fairness they look very similar and are even wearing similar colors.

[@HarryLovesRuth]

It was the Chris Ride. Chris Sr., Chris Jr., and Chris-Who-Knows-Everyone.

[@Cheezledzul]

Love this video! My dad fell in love with cycling late in life. Then he had an unexpected triple bypass. We now both have ebikes so there’s no limitation’s to where we can explore! We live in NY as well so hopefully we’ll see you on the road sometime! We also road the bike tour a few times years ago. After rewatching this I think we should do it again!

[@DiogenesOfCa]

Love this.

[@gbird5000]

I didn’t anticipate needing tissues to control my crying when I clicked on this video but this was really good and made me emotional ❤️

[@stoutdog56]

What an awesome experience that must have been. Thanks for sharing it. So happy your Dad was there. I wish my Dad was still around because it would be so much fun to be with him again with all the new things that have come about since he passed. Thanks for your service to our great country. Dad was a 30 year veteran.

[@emmyb05]

Love the self-reflection of Raul-about always being in a rush and making the shift not to be. When I ride my kids on the bike, we can stop and observe the bees on the wildflowers, stop at a little free library, check out someone's garden, pick some loquats, stop at a park, talk to the crossing guard… So many opportunities to be present. Another thought on rushing… When I have to take a lane on my bike and might slow someone down behind me in a car, I always think, I'm okay being the thing that slows this person down. They need to slow the f down-what's the rush? And if you're in a rush/are late, that's your own damn fault! You should have left earlier! 😆

[@KiranMachiraju]

Loved how easily you were going for miles and miles and miles on your little pedal-assist e bicycle 👍👍💐

[@shushuyu]

when i switched to riding my road bike compared to using my car everytime i go to and from work it's like an adventure. when you're riding on a car you just go straight onto the highway to go home. on a bike..i see SOME HILARIOUS SHIT. there's usually a story to tell. of course everything has its pros and cons. i do around 15 miles per day because our city planning is retarded by design-5 days a week, all season. unlike the dutch who do only 2-4 miles haha yeah it's a silly flex. :F

[@daveyoil]

I so love checking your videos after getting behind on the channel and catching up with your take on our industry and movement, and also your little insights on life. Viewers, Chris and I know one another IRL, and for whatever my take is worth, he really is this introspective and this willing to take work and life to real places, philosophy and politics and lifestyle. Anyway, great video.

[@Propelbikes]

Love you Davey! Thanks for being on this path with me!

[@Josukegaming]

This is such an amazing video and perspective, connecting with the community and opening up about your troubled past and dad and how bikes help you remember to enjoy life

[@Xhadp]

Portland, OR does something similar, PDX bridge pedal. Little bit disappointed it doesn't cover all of the (rideable, we have a couple of train only bridges) bridges and it is only 20 miles long, I've done even longer than that already. This summer will be my first ride on it can't wait! Luckily having it be on Sunday reduces the amount of cars naturally on the road but being able to eliminate all cars on the road during a ride like this would be a bliss to showcase just how loud cars can get.

[@chinchorrero]

Great to see people biking in the city! I believe we will see more bikes on the road

[@altriish6683]

This reminds me of Bogota, where they used to have this sort of thing every weekend I think. It was called the cyclovia? I can't remember, but it was magical being able to explore the city by bike and see thousands and thousands of other people riding bikes. Can't wait to see more of this in the US!

[@matthewshaw3747]

Great video man. In Rio they have a smaller thing like this where they shut down the road that runs along Ipanema beach every Sunday (I think) and it was amazing seeing everyone out enjoying the road. Really highlighted to me the amount of space dedicated to cars on the road. Also I use a bum bag (fanny pack) on the bike and it is amazingly useful so you can’t lose stuff out of your pockets.

[@Michael-wn4jj]

New York was once New Amsterdam. Perhaps in this manner it can share a bit from today's Amsterdam? And if NY will do so more cities will follow either.

[@martijnvangammeren1868]

I hope for you it will continue to grow.

[@ThreeRunHomer]

It is awesome! Summer Streets was great the couple of times I did it. Biking on car-free streets in NYC is great fun. 👍🏼

[@StuffOffYouStuff]

Another great video. Big rides like this are great. Over here, there's a chap called Dom Whiting, who rides on a trike while DJing drum and bass. He started with just a mate in the first few videos and now it's grown to thousands! The diversity of the crowds are fantastic, you don't get it anywhere else. He needs a US debut!

[@Roman500]

Awesome video, really liked all the spontaneous chats and smiles! Greetings from Utrecht, NL.

[@glennpettersson9002]

I have started commuting by bike a couple of times each week, 30km 99% on dual use paths that run along 4 or 6 lane main roads. The thing I didn't expect was the noise, it's confronting to me just how noisy vehicle traffic is. It would be interesting to compare the noise levels of Amsterdam and New York..

[@louwittmer5624]

What an amazing event! Love your dialogues with people. Thanks for sharing.

[@Martin_HD28]

Another fantastic upload...Thanks Chris~~~

[@PacificDark]

Dad: It's not about going fast, though. It's the freedom. 💯

[@dannygayler3164]

Hi Chris , I had a bypass in 1994 and was given 40% chance of surviving well here I am , and feeling better each and every day👍

[@johanwittens7712]

Every year on September in Flanders, Belgium, we have a car free Sunday. It's been organised since the 90s. There's over 35 cities now that take part, even the largest cities like Gent where I live. It's an entire day where you get to experience what cities are like with less cars than we already have, as Gent is one of the most bike friendly, car resistant cities in Flanders. And the day also continues to raise awareness about just how disruptive and dangerous cars are in the urban environment, especially if they're given the street without restriction. It's given politicians the incentives and support to continue building bike infrastructure and reducing the presence/dominance of cars in the city.

[@Digital.Done.Right.]

Often said you are great at spreading the lifestyle and that is so important. Seeing Chris Sr is also a jewel. Keep on riding Chris.

[@claudechopin6738]

So beautiful, thanks for sharing this

[@ashpunting]

That is so right I don't understand people who just want to go fast on a ebike ok you want enough power to get get you up steep hills but I do like taking in my surroundings and exploring new places and it's good to see you riding with your dad i still really miss my farther who passed away a few years ago plus you have those memories on video ❤🙏

[@deirdrereynolds4684]

Awww I missed it! Next year, maybe. Enjoyed watching everyone. 🙌🙌🙌

[@audi0]

Hi Cool video, always fun to see parts of the city and country you live in from a biking view. Hope everyone is well.✌

[@breazealefarmbloomsbeesand6242]

We used to live in Greenville SC. The swamp rabbit rails to trails is 29 miles of protected paths. I miss that so very much. Pensacola is getting there. Neither town is commuter friendly. However I do think they have done the order correctly. Remind people how much fun riding a bike is as cruiser. Commuting will come more naturally after that.

[@NoNameM9]

honestly very insightful video, im quite touched.

[@velokernow3696]

I rode my bikes every day during lockdown when there was almost no traffic. It was the best cycling of my life (in Britain).

[@Jacksirrom]

The riding with your parent thing is so powerful to me. I have my uncle and dad riding with me on the local rail to trail network around Chicago. My uncle has had numerous heart troubles and we all have some arrhythmia. Despite not going too fast, we loooove the feeling of freedom.

[@bflgroupieninja4370]

Fun! Thanks for sharing! I so want to do that ride!

[@jlai036]

Same. Driving with out bikes is also better

[@aurora571000]

I had no idea they would shut the cars out for one day! Amazing Thank s for sharing it with us

[@dianawilliams9470]

LOVE THIS! I have ridden, on an analog bike, Bike NY six times. This video captures the spirit better than any video I have seen! It is literally a bike festive on two wheels. This year, a friend and I are bringing our ebikes to Bike NY. I am not sure our range is quite enough, any tips on a good place to plug in for a boost on the route?

[@MsLori62]

So fun!! I would live to do this.

[@xmateinc]

that looks so fun.

[@videogamesare1]

This looks awesome!

[@albertotr1]

Looking forward to see you out there in May - and remember: when in doubt, pedal it out!

[@EmersonBenoza]

Fun video, thanks for sharing your car free day in your city. Wish my country promote car free days. Awesome. Subscribed!

[@collinshepherd1454]

Thanks for the video. You’re speaking so much my language

[@riasomers642]

From Spring to Fall the Bronx River Pkwy has a car free Sunday for a few miles. I also used to bike via a nice bike/walking path that ran next to Saw Mill Pkwy. I used it on Sundays to go one town up for coffee treat @ Sunnydale Bakery in Ardsley, NY. FLA is a disaster. I missed NY.☹️

[@Mrevolva]

awesome , love your hoodie! very nice ride. Your dad is driving on a really good looking bike!

[@10nsolly]

Can't wait to do this ride this year!

[@DOPTRICK]

When People gonna realize that People make people happy nothing else.

[@diffusesingularity2760]

Amazing content, Chris! Got me eager to check out car free events in the city this season. There are def people who want to hear your extended conversations on urban cycling infrastructure in a separate video too :)

[@cerebralpalsybiker7571]

I ride a e bike a Stromer st1 ride to work almost everyday. I'm trying to get my dad ride a e bike I think he knows he would have so much fun riding again.

[@judebrown4103]

What a great idea, shame it is only once a year, cycling is clearly popular! Great video Chris, shame you lost your stuff, I was willing you to notice things were slipping from your pocket for some time but you didn't hear!

[@perraccca]

I really enjoy this video

[@jezztech]

very nice video, so glad that people from Africa are able to participate.

[@samsei]

this is just awesome

[@lakaiguy1993]

This looked like so much fun! I would LOVE to do one of these events in Seattle. We have lots of beautiful bridge views that you can't enjoy when you're driving.

[@martijnvangammeren1868]

Well get into contact with you're local government! Try and organise or get people aboard who know how these kind of things work. I send this vid to someone I know so we can organise this in our city in Belgium. Would be fun even though our city is not as big of course but we might have a nice route if we also include smaller villages around Or we take Gent or Brussels..

[@patriciasantiago2341]

I hope I get to do this ride this year on my ebike! I’ve always wanted to ride across the Verrazano Bridge.

[@leojonkers3181]

Nice vlog, seeing everybody having fun riding in a group of biclyst. No real daily live offcourse, but New York must work hard on safe biclyst paths. Paris even doing it at this moment. I once was in New York, in 1995 and we slept in a hotel close to Harlem, 110 street. We travel with subway's and even going to a island , with a island tramway. Cost just as much as the subway. We walked a lot offcourse, talking to nice people. At that time I missed some green in the city, except of course Central Park. I have seen citys much worse then New York, where at the time I visit it a lot off people took the subway. But a small holiday is different from living in a city. But even that long time ago there were alternatives to a car. Lets hope the infrastructure will go up for biclyst! I live in Rotterdam and when I go on my bicycle I go out of the city most of the time. I love to see animals, like cows or cheeps and freedom. A lot of people do that here.

[@regularlyirregular8876]

Chris has such a genuine smile and personality, can he be my life coach?!

[@Propelbikes]

I’m not sure I’m worthy to be anyones life coach but I appreciate the kind words.

[@Newyorker000]

Amazing video Chris!! I’m sad I missed the ride last year (we were in Amsterdam so, not bad haha) but I will be doing the 5 boro again this year. 3rd time. On a non electric citibike 🤘🤘. Hope to see you out there in may. I won’t be able to keep up with your R&M 🥵

[@LifeofPrime0014]

I was wondering when I was going to find this video! I have seen you with the camera rigged bike last year and I thought it was so cool!

[@dimrrider9133]

I just love the high-rise in NY.

[@keithbrown9512]

I've said it on here before bit I think this format is awesome.

[@paulwatson-work3544]

Another great video, not so sure about the hoodie! Keep on doing your thing, love your content

[@9amStudio]

Love this video!

[@jensenhealey907efi]

Will this event happen again in NYC in 2022? If yes, are there any web pages with information about the event?

[@LifeofPrime0014]

It will, this event happens every year on the first of May. TDBank Five Borough Bike Tour.

[@HarryLovesRuth]

ETA: This comment came off more jealous and miserable than I intended. It looked like great ride. We have a much shorter local ride at Christmas time. Everyone decorates their bikes with lights, sticks tinsel on their helmets, and then rides in a loop around the older parts of town. Unfortunately, our infrastructure has gaps in it that make getting to the ride by bike treacherous. We skipped the one last year because the two previous days had seen pretty heavy rain, and we weren't sure we could get there and back without be soaked through or stranded at a washed out section of Greenway. ☹️ Infrastructure is key to making things work on a day to day basis. Even my trips to take my kid to therapy appointments in a different county are only a twenty mile round trip. But I am a fan of not being splattered on the side of what has been labeled "the most dangerous highway in the state."

[@the.communist]

Its MORE than awesome

[@in551125do]

Way to go....!!.......... Greeting to New Amsterdam from Old Amsterdam....

[@nikolasirovica3250]

There’s literally no reason why all cities around the world have to not ban all cars from their cities immediately. The only vehicles that should be allowed or buses, trolley buses, delivery trucks, ambulances, fire trucks and police cars. Nothing else.

[@martijnvangammeren1868]

I prefer big trolley buses over trams because of teh rails. You can easily fall on those tram lines.

[@nikolasirovica3250]

@@martijnvangammeren1868 That's true, from a bike perspective. I just really love trams and how they look, there's just something beatiful about getting on a mini tram in the city as a pedestrian and going from point a to point b. Much more satisfying than a metro that just goes underground. I think that if the road space was taken away from cars, then there would be more than enough room for people to just use the former car lanes for their bikes, scooters, rollerblades, skateboards etc, while the tram line would be it's own thing.

[@myronjacobs5014]

Awesome Chris, hello from Curaçao.

[@benobaars]

Amazing I was in New York in 2009. I think infra changed a lot since then. This video was sponsored by Gazelle😂. Thanks for uploading.

[@maxnewts]

I love this!! ❤️

[@maxnewts]

My grandma just had a quadruple bypass, too. Literally 3 weeks ago, now. I’m glad though, she doesn’t seem as frail or worried like she used to be, and seeing your dad ride like that makes me super inspired. ❤️

[@WeileWorld]

We have bicycle & scooters path in most towns in Denmark.

[@filipg9950]

Amazing. Great job NY. Peace