Northeast - NYC Central Park - 72nd Street

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itty01
10-16-07, 02:21 PM
Hi all,
My girlfriend goes to Hunter College from the west side a couple days out of the week. Last week, I rode with her and found that she ends up going against traffic (bikes and pedestrians mainly, but still not the safest) for most of the way.

I looked at the NYC bike map and it shows that there's two way traffic here, but I think that might not be right. When I look at Google Maps, it identifies the parts we rode across as Olmstead Dr. and Terrace Dr. and shows them being only one way (from east to west).

So my question is... does anyone know of a good way to get across 72nd St. by bike?

Thanks
-Itty

adgrant
10-16-07, 02:39 PM
72nd St is two way but Olmstead Dr. and Terrace Dr do go east to west. You have two options.

1) go against traffic.
2) go around the south part of the loop road
itty01
10-16-07, 03:00 PM
Thanks. That's what I figured. They should have a one way sign on the bike map to make it less confusing.

I don't like going against traffic, especially the bike traffic in CP, but I guess we'll have to.

Bklyn
10-16-07, 03:42 PM
No, don't.
jyossarian
10-16-07, 03:50 PM
Enter the park at 72nd and CPW and take the lower loop to 72nd and 5th. Turn right on Lex for 4 blocks and you're there. The added distance in the park doesn't really that long and it's a nice ride. Safer too.
Bklyn
10-16-07, 04:19 PM
That's certainly a more helpful answer than mine was.
Not the Slowest
10-16-07, 04:23 PM
Agreed.
Don't use the walking paths with your bike, the folks don't like it, plus it can be crowded.
You could cut through partly on the bike path at 72nd, but as stated it is against traffic. You could try that when there are no cars in the park, early am, and after 7pm.

As said the park is nice, explore your way around and ther may be some other way that works.
Rob
adgrant
10-17-07, 09:46 AM
As said the park is nice, explore your way around and ther may be some other way that works.
Rob

The previously mentioned south loop is the only legal way to cycle through the park from West 72nd to East 72nd.
Bklyn
10-17-07, 12:21 PM
Well, whatever you do, please don't ride against bike traffic. Cyclists have quite enough to contend with going the right way, looking left and right and backward. An biker moving against the grain in traffic deserves his/her own special circle of hell.
Stacy
10-18-07, 01:21 PM
You might also want to make sure your girlfriend has lights, especially if she'll be riding after dark this fall or winter. Lights are always out in one part of the park or the other.She may not be able to see joggers and peds in front of her but at least they should be able to see her.