Sherman's Travel

Those anxious to cruise through Midtown Manhattan on a sweet city-sanctioned ride will have to curb their enthusiasm just a bit longer. New Yorkers proud to call one of the most cycle-friendly cities in the country home have been anxiously awaiting the launch of a new bike share program. After suffering a delay earlier this year, the New York City bike share program will not begin until May 2013, according to the city’s Transportation Department. The start date has been postponed because of equipment damage sustained during Hurricane Sandy.

This is not the first time the city has pushed back the opening of the pedal-program. The program’s postponement in August was due to faulty software. Following the hiccup, the city announced the initiative would feature 7,000 bikes available at 420 stations by March of 2013. Originally, the city planned to expand to 10,000 bikes and 600 stations by summer of that same year, but the surge of Hurricane Sandy made those plans a wash. The warehouse storing the equipment, located in the Brooklyn Navy Yard, took on “several feet of water,” said city transportation commissioner Janette Sadiq-Kahn. She added that, given the amount of issues the storm has caused, a spring launch is still excellent news.

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High-end wheels need not have motors. At Fairmont hotels across the globe, guests may pilot their very own BMW – a BMW Cruise Bike, that is. The brand rolled out the loaner wheels at Canadian properties in 2009, and the bikes will make their international debut at nearly all Fairmont locations in the next few weeks (only a handful of hotels are excluded). As with the German manufacturer’s cars, these cruisers (valued at $1,119 a pop) are top-of-the-line: Hydro-forming manufacturing creates a light but sturdy aluminum frame; an integrated braking system allows for quick stops; and the Suntour suspension system supplies a smooth ride on pothole-strewn city streets and dusty park trails alike.

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According to the Elysian hotel in Chicago, hotel bike rentals are so last year. So how do guests of this elegant hotel in the Gold Coast neighborhood get around? A complimentary pedi-cab service of course! Read more

Visiting and getting around a new city is never easy–but biking is fun, great exercise, and offers fantastic views of any new place. We’ve previously covered the trend of hotels offering loaner bikes for guests, and it looks like the amenity is continuing to spread like wildfire. As of this spring, Fairmont Hotels across Canada have introduced state-of-the-art BMW Cruise Bikes as the newest benefit for guests. At the Fairmont Château Whistler, guests can explore mountainside bike paths, while guests at the Fairmont Queen Elizabeth can expore  the avenues of Montreal before stopping for a coffe at a cafe. The BMW bikes are great for both busy urban streets and scenic wooded trails, and the sleek frames will have you looking hip. Other original features include an integrated brake routing system that enables you to stop on a dime—a nice comfort factor for infrequent riders! The 24-speed bikes come in red and pearl white, and they retail for $1,190, so taking one for a spin is definitely a steal. Bonus: In addition to offering a selection of BMW Cruise Bikes, each hotel will have a variety of child-size BMW bikes on hand, allowing families to take in the sights together.