http://blogs.villagevoice.com/runninscared/archives/2010/04/apparently_ever.php
Apparently, Everyone Loves a Unicycle
By Jen Doll, Monday, Apr. 5 2010
The New York Post alerts us to a group of courageous men (and sometimes women) who are planning to cross each of the 2,078 bridges in New York City on their one-wheeled wonders, "in the belief that unicycles can unite the disparate corners of the city just as its bridges do."
Rob Hickman and his "pedal partner" Keith Nelson have crossed 50 bridges so far. Next on the list, scheduled for April 7th, are the bridges of Central Park. Meet them at Columbus Circle at 11am if you're inspired to join. All people are welcome, just like all unicycles are welcome. (Scary clown wigs, not so much. And they don't juggle either.)
"A lot of people don't like bicyclists and bicycle politics, but everyone loves a unicycle," Hickman said.
Tuesday, April 6, 2010
UPI.com article
http://www.upi.com/Odd_News/2010/04/05/Unicyclists-aim-to-cross-every-NYC-bridge/UPI-14271270502374/
NEW YORK, April 5 (UPI) -- A group of New York unicycle enthusiasts said they have reached bridge No. 50 on their quest to unicycle across all of the city's 2,078 bridges.
Rob Hickman, a member of the group, said the attempt began in October with the Williamsburg Bridge and most recently involved trips across the Cropsey and Stillwell avenue bridges last week, the New York Post reported Monday.
"A lot of people don't like bicyclists and bicycle politics, but everyone loves a unicycle," Hickman said. "We even went down Bedford Avenue in Williamsburg where the Hasidic community rallied to have bike lanes removed, and they loved us there."
Keith Nelson, another member of the group, said he has been documenting the unicyclists' progress on his blog, Unicycle NYC Bridge Tour.
"Many of these are architectural masterpieces and some, well, aren't," Nelson said. "But we take a photo at the middle of every bridge and try not to pick favorites."
NEW YORK, April 5 (UPI) -- A group of New York unicycle enthusiasts said they have reached bridge No. 50 on their quest to unicycle across all of the city's 2,078 bridges.
Rob Hickman, a member of the group, said the attempt began in October with the Williamsburg Bridge and most recently involved trips across the Cropsey and Stillwell avenue bridges last week, the New York Post reported Monday.
"A lot of people don't like bicyclists and bicycle politics, but everyone loves a unicycle," Hickman said. "We even went down Bedford Avenue in Williamsburg where the Hasidic community rallied to have bike lanes removed, and they loved us there."
Keith Nelson, another member of the group, said he has been documenting the unicyclists' progress on his blog, Unicycle NYC Bridge Tour.
"Many of these are architectural masterpieces and some, well, aren't," Nelson said. "But we take a photo at the middle of every bridge and try not to pick favorites."
Gant Daily Article
http://gantdaily.com/2010/04/06/nyc-unicyclists-bridge-gap-between-cyclists-non-cyclists/
Hansen Sinclair – AHN News Reporter
April 6, 2010 at 1:37 PM by AHN
New York, NY, United States (AHN) – A group of unicyclists in New York are raising bicycle awareness and promoting tolerance by attempting to cross the city’s 2,078 bridges.
So far, the group has crossed approximately 50 bridges.
A spokesperson for the group said the journey began in October 2009 with the Williamsburg Bridge, and recently the group made its way across the Cropsey and Stillwell avenue bridges, reports stated.
The group has been documenting their tour via blog titled “Unicycle NYC Bridge Tour.”
According to group members, many people despise bicyclists and bicycle politics, but everyone loves a unicycle.
The group made its way to Bedford Avenue in Williamsburg where the Hasidic community has lobbied to remove bike lanes, but the community cheered on the unicyclists, members stated.
Physically, going up a bridge is harder, but mentally going down takes a lot of concentration because of the momentum, according to the cyclists.
The group said it does not know how long it will take to complete their bike mission.
Hansen Sinclair – AHN News Reporter
April 6, 2010 at 1:37 PM by AHN
New York, NY, United States (AHN) – A group of unicyclists in New York are raising bicycle awareness and promoting tolerance by attempting to cross the city’s 2,078 bridges.
So far, the group has crossed approximately 50 bridges.
A spokesperson for the group said the journey began in October 2009 with the Williamsburg Bridge, and recently the group made its way across the Cropsey and Stillwell avenue bridges, reports stated.
The group has been documenting their tour via blog titled “Unicycle NYC Bridge Tour.”
According to group members, many people despise bicyclists and bicycle politics, but everyone loves a unicycle.
The group made its way to Bedford Avenue in Williamsburg where the Hasidic community has lobbied to remove bike lanes, but the community cheered on the unicyclists, members stated.
Physically, going up a bridge is harder, but mentally going down takes a lot of concentration because of the momentum, according to the cyclists.
The group said it does not know how long it will take to complete their bike mission.
Epoch Times Article
http://www.theepochtimes.com/n2/content/view/32868/
NEW YORK - A group of unicyclists are determined to cross all bridges in New York City. The crew started their journey, and world record attempt, in December when they crossed the Williamsburg Bridge, according to their Web site.
Their last bridge crossing took place on Mar. 31, when they crossed the Stillwell Avenue Bridge on Coney Island. Thus far, they have done the Manhattan Bridge, the Queensboro Bridge, the Robert F. Kennedy Bridge, and the Brooklyn Bridge. Overall, they've crossed 50 bridges, a task that can be physically strenuous and hard on the nerves, documents one of the unicyclists Keith Nelson on his blog, the Unicycle NYC Bridge Tour.
Their next outing is on Wednesday, April 7, when they will attempt to cross the bridges of Central Park.
NEW YORK - A group of unicyclists are determined to cross all bridges in New York City. The crew started their journey, and world record attempt, in December when they crossed the Williamsburg Bridge, according to their Web site.
Their last bridge crossing took place on Mar. 31, when they crossed the Stillwell Avenue Bridge on Coney Island. Thus far, they have done the Manhattan Bridge, the Queensboro Bridge, the Robert F. Kennedy Bridge, and the Brooklyn Bridge. Overall, they've crossed 50 bridges, a task that can be physically strenuous and hard on the nerves, documents one of the unicyclists Keith Nelson on his blog, the Unicycle NYC Bridge Tour.
Their next outing is on Wednesday, April 7, when they will attempt to cross the bridges of Central Park.
L Magazine Article
Bicycle-Hating New York Post Loves a Good Unicycle Story
http://www.thelmagazine.com/TheMeasure/archives/2010/04/05/bicycle-hating-new-york-post-loves-a-good-unicycle-story
Posted by Benjamin Sutton on Mon, Apr 5, 2010 at 9:41 AM
The folks at the Post, normally so happy hating on human-powered transportation, are totally on board with the group of unicyclists who are in the midst of a project to unicycle every single bridge in New York City (for those of you keeping count, that's 2,078 bridges). Rob Hickman and Keith Nelson (pictured), the two unicyclists who have taken part in every expedition—which you can follow on their blog, Unicycle NYC Bridge Tour—started with the Williamsburg Bridge back in December, and on Wednesday they'll be crossing the many short spans of Central Park.
This part is probably why the Post likes 'em: "'A lot of people don't like bicyclists and bicycle politics, but everyone loves a unicycle,' Hickman said." How long before the first gang fight between bicyclists and unicyclists?
http://www.thelmagazine.com/TheMeasure/archives/2010/04/05/bicycle-hating-new-york-post-loves-a-good-unicycle-story
Posted by Benjamin Sutton on Mon, Apr 5, 2010 at 9:41 AM
The folks at the Post, normally so happy hating on human-powered transportation, are totally on board with the group of unicyclists who are in the midst of a project to unicycle every single bridge in New York City (for those of you keeping count, that's 2,078 bridges). Rob Hickman and Keith Nelson (pictured), the two unicyclists who have taken part in every expedition—which you can follow on their blog, Unicycle NYC Bridge Tour—started with the Williamsburg Bridge back in December, and on Wednesday they'll be crossing the many short spans of Central Park.
This part is probably why the Post likes 'em: "'A lot of people don't like bicyclists and bicycle politics, but everyone loves a unicycle,' Hickman said." How long before the first gang fight between bicyclists and unicyclists?
Gothamist Article
Unicyclists Attempt to Cross Every Bridge in NYC
April 5, 2010
http://gothamist.com/2010/04/05/unicyclists_attempt_to_cross_every.php
There have been plenty of nasty (and entertaining) battles over bike lanes and bicyclists, but you never hear about unicyclists liberating bike lanes from toxic cars while dressed as clowns (despite that being a kind of reasonable image to picture). Well, one reason might be that they're too busy: one group of unicyclists has been occupied trying to cross the least-cycle friendly places in NYC, its 2,078 bridges.
The group started a blog last October to chart their progress crossing each bridge on unicycle. They started with the Williamsburg Bridge, and have crossed 50 so far. We can already here the ka-ching of the cash registers on their book deal. "A lot of people don't like bicyclists and bicycle politics, but everyone loves a unicycle...We even went down Bedford Avenue in Williamsburg where the Hasidic community rallied to have bike lanes removed, and they loved us there," group leader Rob Hickman told the Post. But despite all their hard pedaling, it's never enough: "The No. 1 question we get is, 'Do you also juggle?'"
April 5, 2010
http://gothamist.com/2010/04/05/unicyclists_attempt_to_cross_every.php
There have been plenty of nasty (and entertaining) battles over bike lanes and bicyclists, but you never hear about unicyclists liberating bike lanes from toxic cars while dressed as clowns (despite that being a kind of reasonable image to picture). Well, one reason might be that they're too busy: one group of unicyclists has been occupied trying to cross the least-cycle friendly places in NYC, its 2,078 bridges.
The group started a blog last October to chart their progress crossing each bridge on unicycle. They started with the Williamsburg Bridge, and have crossed 50 so far. We can already here the ka-ching of the cash registers on their book deal. "A lot of people don't like bicyclists and bicycle politics, but everyone loves a unicycle...We even went down Bedford Avenue in Williamsburg where the Hasidic community rallied to have bike lanes removed, and they loved us there," group leader Rob Hickman told the Post. But despite all their hard pedaling, it's never enough: "The No. 1 question we get is, 'Do you also juggle?'"
NY Post Article
ONE WHEEL & 2,078 BRIDGES
Photo by GREGORY P. MANGO
ON A ROLL: Unicyclists (left to right) Harry Petersen, Kyle Petersen, Keith Nelson and Rob Hickman in Coney Island.
http://www.nypost.com/p/news/local/one_wheel_bridges_5Ik0fHIDktfALXBiv8Q6nI
April 5, 2010
By JEREMY OLSHAN
This crew is a bit clownish even by bridge-and-tunnel standards.
A group of unicyclists is determined to pedal across the bridges of New York City -- and not just landmarks like the Brooklyn, 59th Street and Manhattan -- but all 2,078 of them.
They are doing it, in part, for the glory and the absurdity, says artist and group member Rob Hickman, but mostly in the belief that unicycles can unite the disparate corners of the city just as its bridges do.
"A lot of people don't like bicyclists and bicycle politics, but everyone loves a unicycle," Hickman said.
"We even went down Bedford Avenue in Williamsburg where the Hasidic community rallied to have bike lanes removed, and they loved us there."
Beginning their journey last October, Hickman and his pedal partner, Keith Nelson, have crossed 50 spans so far, starting with the Williamsburg Bridge.
Last week, they hit the Cropsey and Stillwell avenue bridges in Coney Island, maintaining their usual pace of 6 to 10 mph.
"Many of these are architectural masterpieces and some, well, aren't," said Nelson, who has been documenting the journey on his blog, Unicycle NYC Bridge Tour. "But we take a photo at the middle of every bridge and try not to pick favorites."
Riding a unicycle in city traffic and on shaking bridges can be harrowing.
"The Bayonne Bridge, that was rough," Nelson said. "We have one or two unexpected comings-off per ride -- but, generally, you land on your feet."
But New Yorkers can be a tough audience, Nelson said.
"The No. 1 question we get is, 'Do you also juggle?' " he said.
Many of the spans feature steep inclines, which presents challenges in both directions.
"Uphill is physically more strenuous, but not by much," Nelson said. "Mentally, downhill is much harder -- holding back momentum is just not easy."
The bridge-crossing rides -- which all end at a bar -- have grown longer as the group prepares to participate in the Five Borough Bike Tour.
"That's the only way we can legally cross the Verrazano Bridge, but we'll have to ride 40 miles to get there," he said.
The group says it has no idea how long it will take to complete its mission.
"But once we're done, we can move on to the overpasses of the BQE," Hickman said.
jeremy.olshan@nypost.com
Photo by GREGORY P. MANGO
ON A ROLL: Unicyclists (left to right) Harry Petersen, Kyle Petersen, Keith Nelson and Rob Hickman in Coney Island.
http://www.nypost.com/p/news/local/one_wheel_bridges_5Ik0fHIDktfALXBiv8Q6nI
April 5, 2010
By JEREMY OLSHAN
This crew is a bit clownish even by bridge-and-tunnel standards.
A group of unicyclists is determined to pedal across the bridges of New York City -- and not just landmarks like the Brooklyn, 59th Street and Manhattan -- but all 2,078 of them.
They are doing it, in part, for the glory and the absurdity, says artist and group member Rob Hickman, but mostly in the belief that unicycles can unite the disparate corners of the city just as its bridges do.
"A lot of people don't like bicyclists and bicycle politics, but everyone loves a unicycle," Hickman said.
"We even went down Bedford Avenue in Williamsburg where the Hasidic community rallied to have bike lanes removed, and they loved us there."
Beginning their journey last October, Hickman and his pedal partner, Keith Nelson, have crossed 50 spans so far, starting with the Williamsburg Bridge.
Last week, they hit the Cropsey and Stillwell avenue bridges in Coney Island, maintaining their usual pace of 6 to 10 mph.
"Many of these are architectural masterpieces and some, well, aren't," said Nelson, who has been documenting the journey on his blog, Unicycle NYC Bridge Tour. "But we take a photo at the middle of every bridge and try not to pick favorites."
Riding a unicycle in city traffic and on shaking bridges can be harrowing.
"The Bayonne Bridge, that was rough," Nelson said. "We have one or two unexpected comings-off per ride -- but, generally, you land on your feet."
But New Yorkers can be a tough audience, Nelson said.
"The No. 1 question we get is, 'Do you also juggle?' " he said.
Many of the spans feature steep inclines, which presents challenges in both directions.
"Uphill is physically more strenuous, but not by much," Nelson said. "Mentally, downhill is much harder -- holding back momentum is just not easy."
The bridge-crossing rides -- which all end at a bar -- have grown longer as the group prepares to participate in the Five Borough Bike Tour.
"That's the only way we can legally cross the Verrazano Bridge, but we'll have to ride 40 miles to get there," he said.
The group says it has no idea how long it will take to complete its mission.
"But once we're done, we can move on to the overpasses of the BQE," Hickman said.
jeremy.olshan@nypost.com
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