Gay Pride & Bicycling - June 24

NYC, Sunday, June 24

Today's big event is the annual gay pride parade, which turns out a bit boring - even the Copenhagen event was much more entertaining. Only the motorcycles at the front of it offer some kind of spectacle, though of course things like former tennis star and trailblazer Billie Jean King in an open car adds a bit of celebrity status to it. A 'Stonewall Veteran' playing much the same role the Korean war veteran in the Memorial Day parade a month ago gets a lot of cheers too, as he sits in a car waving at the crowds. (See https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Stonewall_riots).

Above and below: I could have gotten better shots by muscling my way to the fence, but I wasn't going to give up the tall plastic thing I was sitting on. (Better pics here: https://www.huffingtonpost.com/entry/nyc-pride-2018_us_5b3104b2e4b00295f15f4271)

Roller skate guy in Borat outfit was posing for the crowd; sitting, lying down and probably unintentionally losing his balance.

After this I walk over to Sean on the Lower East Side, have lunch with him and borrow his bicycle. Cheaper than bicycle rental at $50 a day, money better spent treating him for lunch and dinner. While walking around town has left me and in particular my joints somewhat worn after a days excursions, the bicycle is ideal. Of course the city's car drivers can be a hassle, as they are not yet used to sharing the road or not opening car doors in the face of bicyclists. But if the painted bicycle paths aren't safe enough, then riding on the sidewalk seems to be accepted by cops and pedestrians alike. At least nobody yelled at me, when I made the ride around Chinatown, South Street Seaport and Soho, or when taking it uptown on the subway.

Guy outside the famous Strand's Bookstore on Broadway and 12th.

Sean's bicycle and wall art right next to his front door.

Above and below: Some of the new architecture of apartment buildings being erected all over the city.

Polaris Slingshot trike, just like the ones for rent in Las Vegas (except for the loudspeakers, that there wasn't room for inboards). Note the replica German WW2 helmets made of carbon fiber, placed on the hood.