Skip to Content
Streetsblog New York City home
Streetsblog New York City home
Log In
Friday Video

Friday Video: Check Out Lorde On a Bike!

The Kiwi singer is on the top of the charts — and in our bike-riding hearts.

Lorde: Out and about!

|"What Was That"

Lorde, who likes performing in the great outdoors, is back with a new video that (among other things) celebrates the feeling of being free to move about a city without those damn fucking cars all over the place.

Look, we won't offer an opinion on the song, "What Was That" — hey, our tastes are mostly limited to Jimmy and the Jaywalkers and Bob Dylan's "Jesus" period — but you gotta hand it to the 28-year-old Kiwi star: She loves to be on a bike (among other things!).

The video climaxes in Washington Square Park, where the singer did indeed film the other day (the Times even covered it; yes, when public space is being used for cool things, even the Gray Lady takes notice).

But our eyes alighted on the appearance of the Queensboro Bridge in the background of the video, which may not be a coincidence. Given how much she obviously loves biking, perhaps Lorde is saying (as we all have been saying) that the Department of Transportation must finally open the South Outer Roadway to pedestrians so cyclists can be safer.

After all, given that this entire video seems to have been shot, edited and released in two days, why has it taken the DOT six years to open a sidewalk?

Check it out:

Stay in touch

Sign up for our free newsletter

More from Streetsblog New York City

Not So Fast! We Rode NYC Ferry with Would-Be Council Speaker Amanda Farías

Council Member Julie Menin claims she has the votes to be the next Speaker, but Bronx Council Member Amanda Farías has shown a lot more interest in livable streets issues.

November 28, 2025

Book Excerpt Special: Jonathan Lethem’s ‘Program’s Progress’

Class struggle. Infirm secondary superheroes. Suicidal sheep. It’s all in Jonathan Lethem's new collection of short stories, "A Different Kind of Tension." Here's one — featuring class struggle with cars!

November 28, 2025

Special Post-Thanksgiving Friday Video: The Positive Economics of Bike Lanes

Some yahoo in Montreal said that whatever bike lanes cost, they're too expensive! Well, no they're not.

November 28, 2025

Friday’s Headlines: Curbside Slide Edition

Good-bye, streeteries, we hardly knew ye. Plus other news.

November 28, 2025

Thursday’s Headlines: Giving Thanks(ish) Edition

Yes, let's give thanks. But let us also not forget why we're so lucky. Plus other news for your holiday day off.

November 27, 2025

‘Gold Standard’ Open Street Has Two Paths Forward To Become True ‘Paseo Park’

The DOT is contemplating two options for the 1.3 mile-long linear park in Jackson Heights. Which would you choose?

November 26, 2025
See all posts