Why Bob Rides

Here’s the latest installment — and first-ever January edition — of Streetsblog’s Why I Ride series.

You never know who you’ll meet on a bike in New York. Yesterday it was famous illustrator/designer Bob Gill.

“It’s called a ‘butcher’s basket.'” he says in answer to my question. “It’s the biggest one I could find.”

I ask Mr. Gill, who rides his bike all over New York, why he chooses that mode of transport. He has the slightly exasperated bearing of someone giving an obvious answer to a stupid question: “It’s faster, it’s cheaper than a cab, I get exercise. It’s better in every way.” No argument here.

It turns out I photographed him on his 82nd birthday. Happy birthday, Mr. Gill –  May your butcher’s basket always be full!

Streetsblog will be offline Monday in observance of Martin Luther King Jr. Day, and will be back publishing on Tuesday.