Commuting - George Washington Bridge late night crossing, any experience?

BFers,
It looks like I'm going to be crossing the GWB (from NY to NJ) late tonight. Its possible i may get to the bridge at 11pm or even 1am. I know from the posted signs that the walk/bikeway closes at 12 midnight.
My questions:
a) How reliable is this closing time? I've heard from others that they sometimes close it as early as 11pm
b) Has anybody tried to cross (on the walk/bikeway) after its closed? I have heard from some hardy commuters that they just jump a fence (or 2) and that its no big deal.
I don't have much concern over jumping over a fence as long as it doesn't involve me hanging off the side of the bridge 400 ft over the river or get me arrested.
So anybody have any experiences?

i haven't been there in a while, but according to


GW bridge (http://www.panynj.gov/CommutingTravel/bridges/html/gwb.html)

the pedestrian\bicycle part will be closed at 9pm during the week except friday (which is 12am).



see below:

The Port Authority is preparing to begin construction on a project that will enhance the safety and security of the George Washington Bridge.

Effective on or about September 12, through summer 2006, the following sidewalk hours of operation will be in effect:

Monday to Thursday, 6 a.m. until 9 p.m.
Friday, 6 a.m. until midnight
Saturday and Sunday, 8 a.m. until midnight

Please note:

* The North sidewalk will be open from Monday, September 12, through Saturday, October 15.
* The South sidewalk will be open from Sunday, October 16 through Friday, November 19.

BFers,
It looks like I'm going to be crossing the GWB (from NY to NJ) late tonight. Its possible i may get to the bridge at 11pm or even 1am. I know from the posted signs that the walk/bikeway closes at 12 midnight.
My questions:
a) How reliable is this closing time? I've heard from others that they sometimes close it as early as 11pm
b) Has anybody tried to cross (on the walk/bikeway) after its closed? I have heard from some hardy commuters that they just jump a fence (or 2) and that its no big deal.
I don't have much concern over jumping over a fence as long as it doesn't involve me hanging off the side of the bridge 400 ft over the river or get me arrested.
So anybody have any experiences?

Well, I don't know about the north side, which is what is open now, but yesterday I tried to use the south side even though it was locked. From Jersey, you have to push aside some automatic gates, which is not that hard; but then you reach a steel gate with barbed wire. You could go around it but you'd have to go into traffic for a second, which didn't look fun. I suppose if you had a light beater you could stand on the barricade and swing it around. I suspect the north side is similar--1-2 gates on either side. I wouldn't say the gates looked like cake, in any case.

Well, I don't know about the north side, which is what is open now, but yesterday I tried to use the south side even though it was locked. From Jersey, you have to push aside some automatic gates, which is not that hard; but then you reach a steel gate with barbed wire. You could go around it but you'd have to go into traffic for a second, which didn't look fun. I suppose if you had a light beater you could stand on the barricade and swing it around. I suspect the north side is similar--1-2 gates on either side. I wouldn't say the gates looked like cake, in any case.

I've never tried but it doesn't look too easy. One set of gates on the NYC side is on an elevated ramp so could be tricky. The real answer is to get the bleeping PA to go back to reasonably hours (i.e. 24 hour access :D).

If anyone is going to destroy the bridge it will be in the trunk of a motorcar not a rear rack of a bicycle.

I've never tried but it doesn't look too easy. One set of gates on the NYC side is on an elevated ramp so could be tricky. The real answer is to get the bleeping PA to go back to reasonably hours (i.e. 24 hour access :D).

That's on the south side, which is now closed for a month--but it looks like you could access it via that tiny sidewalk coming up from the HHudson, maybe? I saw a guy walking up from there once as I was going down the ramp.

i just used the north side this weekend. holy crap does that suck. up and down stairs - my cleats just the right size to get stuck in between the spaces in the metal.

it also really sucks that the only way to get to new jersey is via that bridge. i mean, what the hell? it absolutely needs to be open 24 hours. what about people that don't have cars, or people who walk to and from the city. no access for them i suppose....

i just used the north side this weekend. holy crap does that suck. up and down stairs - my cleats just the right size to get stuck in between the spaces in the metal.

it also really sucks that the only way to get to new jersey is via that bridge. i mean, what the hell? it absolutely needs to be open 24 hours. what about people that don't have cars, or people who walk to and from the city. no access for them i suppose....

Dude, why can't you drive a car like normal people? ;)

Cleat covers are the way to go for that north side path. In fact, a previous switcheroo to the north side is what got me to buy cleat covers in the first place. Now I don't leave home without them (well, unless I'm using my recessed cleat SPD shoes, duh :D).