We could have some rain later today:

Friday A 40 percent chance of rain, mainly after noon. Mostly cloudy, with a high near 73. Northeast wind 11 to 16 mph.
Friday Night A 40 percent chance of rain. Mostly cloudy, with a low around 61. Northeast wind 15 to 17 mph.
Sunrise 6:28am
Sunset 7:20pm
But the sun should return over the course of the weekend:

So while you'll still be able to pretend it's summer (which it technically is), you might as well come to terms with fall by heeding the Brooklyn Brewery Weekend Beer Forecast and switching over to...


With a little fall sliding into our evening temperatures, we're recommending Brooklyn Oktoberfest this weekend. The days are still plenty warm, but we find our brisk and slightly sweet festbier is more than capable of taking on these crossover temperatures and unsettled weather. Keep an eye out for its snazzy new lederhosen-inspired label while you're out and about.
It may not be the first beer you'd think to bring to the beach, but hey, it's worth a try:
Beach bike ride this Sunday meet 11:30 with your bicycle and your bathing suit at Grand army plaza prospect Park entrance #NYC #bikeNewYork #beaches #bikenyc #climatechangesolutionshttps://t.co/yFAPifFPvP pic.twitter.com/OTs0kwFfmu
— Time's Up! (@nyctimesup) September 4, 2019
The final NYC Century is this Sunday:

Out on the streets, the DOT is painting the Frankfort St. bike lane:
The new two-way protected #bikenyc lane along Frankfort St is going green! Once completed, this new connection will provide a new bike connection between Park Row and the #BrooklynBridge path. pic.twitter.com/JdEsN4jPIF
— NYC DOT (@NYC_DOT) September 5, 2019
They also say those Kosciuszko Bridge connections are coming:
We're working with @NYSDOT to begin implementing safety improvements this month along Driggs Ave, Nassau Ave & Meeker Ave in Brooklyn, to add #bikenyc connections to the #KosciuszkoBridge:
— NYC DOT (@NYC_DOT) September 5, 2019
🚲Protected bike lanes
🗺️New bike route
🚗Traffic calming
🚶♂️Upgrade to hi viz crosswalks pic.twitter.com/2QYM3jk8CJ
And they're bringing more bike lanes to Elmhurst and Corona, albeit unprotected ones:
New #bikenyc lanes are being added along 55th, 56th, 53rd, Martenese & Grand Aves in Elmhurst & Corona, Queens. #BigJump
— NYC DOT (@NYC_DOT) September 5, 2019
🚲More to come on 80th, 69th Sts & 41st Ave. https://t.co/eAIsSeZxqO pic.twitter.com/uLUwVeVCY5
Meanwhile, the NYPD continues to ticket you in order to save you:
Cops ticketing cyclists at W 20th and 8th Ave, just a few blocks from where Robyn Hightman was killed #bikenyc pic.twitter.com/0SnqHKam8C
— jamison ⚓️ (@jhermann) September 5, 2019
And Peter Flax's story on Robyn Hightman's life is a must-read:
Before bike messenger Robyn Hightman was killed in New York City, life was defined by perseverance and promise. In an instant, it was over. https://t.co/SObB9PDqGN
— Bicycling Magazine (@BicyclingMag) September 5, 2019
Like a lot of daily riders in New York, Leigh has concerns about how the NYPD has responded to the dangers that cyclists face on the road. And as she watched the police clear the crash site, she felt a growing frustration. “It all seemed very mechanical and quick, like they were just doing a routine operation,” she says. “I felt like they weren’t taking enough pictures, weren’t documenting the scene enough, not doing enough.”
Unfortunately, thanks to the mayor's recent comments, everyone who's working hard to make cycling safer in the city has had to take a time out to explain why mandatory helmets are a terrible idea:
Happening now: our executive director @DannyHarris_TA is talking with @MKramerTV about how helmet requirements discourage cycling and why street design is the key to making NYC safer for pedestrians and people on bikes. pic.twitter.com/DaJYbkeyYJ
— Transportation Alternatives (@TransAlt) September 5, 2019
And the local news is full of stories like this one, in which Marcia Kramer savors the heady aroma of her own scoop:
HELMET-GATE: The mayor is considering requiring helmets for Citi Bike users. Good idea or no? https://t.co/eOm4X8m8cu
— CBS New York (@CBSNewYork) September 5, 2019
Tyrell Williams, a professional bike rider doing wheelies on Park Row, says “Do as I say, not as I do.”
For people renting Citi Bikes, would he recommend helmets?
“I would recommend them, yes,” he said. “Because it would be safer for them and others.”
Yes, if you won't wear a helmet for yourself, at least wear one for others...because why, exactly?
Mayor de Blasio probably hasn’t had this much controversy since he said he was running for president, but once he folds his presidential tents, he’ll still have to deal with the bike safety issue.
Now that the mayor is taking his cues on bike policy from Marcia Kramer, it almost makes you nostalgic for the days when he was getting them from the Brian Lehrer Show.
Alas, he's moved onto the hard stuff now.