NAME: Lyra Porras Garzon
LOCATION: New York, NY
OCCUPATION: Media Educator and Documentarian

Where do you live and what’s it like riding in your city?
I live in the Upper West Side and I commute all the way to Downtown Brooklyn. It takes me roughly an hour each way, down the Hudson Greenway and across the Brooklyn Bridge. It’s great to ride in New York City because it’s a constant test of my survival skills, instincts and reflexes, and the view is just fantastic during sunset in the Hudson Greenway. Crossing the Brooklyn Bridge is always a pain because of the tourists who choose to either stroll on the bike path or stand smack in the middle for a photo op, ignoring the cyclist going downhill. Then there’s the constant threat of getting doored or the nasty drivers who either turn without signaling or choose to park their SUVs in the center of the bike lane. And still, I opt to be a bike commuter. It’s the best way to see and experience the city—both its beauty and madness.