Bookish bikers and bikish bookers teamed up for the Brooklyn Public Library’s “Bike the Branches” event on May 9, riding to libraries in neighborhoods near and far across the borough in an attempt to see who could hit the most checkpoints, or just have a nice ride.
“Me and my buddy got 18, but I think the winner got 40,” said Casey Stockton, who came all the way from Manhattan to join his pal for the ride. “We were just kinda cruising around.”
Riders taking part in the third annual event received a bib and a map, and armed with some suggested routes, set off to explore Brooklyn library by library, which a spokesman said before the ride was expected to draw more than 1,000 bookworms. Funds from the ride will go toward free community outreach programs at Brooklyn Libraries.
Reach reporter Noah Hurowitz at nhurowitz@cnglocal.com or by calling (718) 260–4505. Follow him on Twitter @noahhurowitz
Good buy: Michael Walker and Mariel Lowe show off the bike he bought that day from the Bike Jumble flea market.
Photo by Jason Speakman
Break time: Members of the dance organization Purelements did a wide arc through Brooklyn, visiting 25 libraries during the event.
Photo by Jason Speakman
Achievement: Mary Ann Thomas and Michelle Pakonis, from Bedford-Stuyvesant, hit 25 libraries on May 9.
Photo by Jason Speakman
Cooling their jets: Casey Stockton, Molly Nestor, and Marshall Thomas relax near Grand Army Plaza after the Bike the Branches ride on May 9.
Photo by Jason Speakman
Hello, George: Sarah and Neal Kronley of Kensington hang out with Curious George.
