Skip to Content
Streetsblog New York City home
Log In
Bicycling

Why Henriette Rides

6:38 PM EDT on October 14, 2011

Here’s the latest portrait in Streetsblog’s “Why I Ride” series.

Why I ride Bike Portrait of Henriette and Paloma by Dmitry Gudkov

Henriette lives in lower Manhattan, works in film set design and uses her bike for just about everything - commuting, errands, and child transport. She owns a car too, but only really uses it for getting out of the city. I caught up with her as she was picking up her daughter Paloma from school in the East Village. Originally from East Germany, Henriette has called New York home for the last 19 years, for most of which she's used a bike for transportation. Having had a couple of run-ins with car doors over the years, she has her guard up, even as the addition of bike lanes and increase in ridership have made her feel somewhat safer. With Paloma on the bike, she sticks to only riding in bike lanes or walking the bike on the sidewalk where necessary.

For years, Henriette rode a beloved old beater with coaster brakes. In fact, she traded up for this Biria just a couple of weeks ago. She was sad to part with the old bike, but loves the comfort and reliability of the new one. Paloma has spent most of her five-and-a-half years on the back of Henriette's bike, graduating from a small child seat to the current rear banana seat configuration.

Stay in touch

Sign up for our free newsletter

More from Streetsblog New York City

MTA: Don’t Ask Us How Much It’ll Cost to Keep This System Running Another 20 Years

Some costs were provided, but outside observers were baffled why the MTA neglected to say how much the repair and refresh part would cost.

October 4, 2023

Wednesday’s Headlines: Concerted Effort Edition

The Great Lawn will be closed to the public six weeks earlier than normal because of those damn rockers. Plus other news.

October 4, 2023

Broadway Vision: Watch 15 Years of Transformation in a Single Streetfilm

It's hard to see the big picture of just what has been accomplished between Times and Union squares. That's where Clarence Eckerson Jr. comes in.

October 4, 2023

What Do ‘Livable’ Streets Look Like in an Era of Driverless Cars?

In today's Brake podcast, Kea Wilson asks Bruce Appleyard what future livable streets have in a world of autonomous cars.

October 4, 2023

NYPD Steps Up Effort Against Illegal Mopeds, But Some Advocates Want a Different Approach

The NYPD seized some illegal wheels from delivery workers in the middle of their route on Wednesday, part of a stepped-up effort.

October 4, 2023
See all posts