Northeast - Route in Clark/ Cranford NJ

My commute takes me from Union to Edison, and passes through Clark and Cranford. There's a nasty mile that takes me on Raritan Road where it's two lanes each way with no shoulder. I generally take the right lane, but it would be nice to not have to deal with this.

Trouble is, I can't see a way around a nasty bit on this route is on Raritan Road between Walnut and Westfield avenues - miles 6.1 and 7.0 respectively. At least not a way that won't be a lot longer.

http://www.bikely.com/maps/bike-path/Work-to-Home-7

Anyone have any thoughts on how I could deal with this?

Thanks!

Instead of making a left off South Ave onto High St., go 1 or 2 blocks further west and turn onto S. Union or Retford and head towards Unami Park. Get on Roger Ave near the park and go til you cross Central Ave. (might be a chore depending on time of day). A couple of zig-zag streets (Marlboro to Faulkner seems most direct) dumps you on Rahway Ave. Make a left on Rahway Ave, which turns into Westfield Ave where it connects with Lamberts Mill. This'll put you back on Raritan.

P.S. - Westfield Ave/North Ave where it passes the GSP stinks. Might be better to bang a right at the end of Clay onto Faitoute/Michigan and make the left after passing under the GSP onto Trenton, which turns into Bloomingdale. Make a right at the end onto Elizabeth and then a left onto N. Union. Once you cross under the train tracks, you'll be on S. Union, and then you can proceed as above. A little longer overall, but puts you mostly on residential streets instead of cars getting on/off the GSP.

i see you pass by my community at Talmadge ave.

Instead of making a left off South Ave onto High St., go 1 or 2 blocks further west and turn onto S. Union or Retford and head towards Unami Park. Get on Roger Ave near the park and go til you cross Central Ave. (might be a chore depending on time of day). A couple of zig-zag streets (Marlboro to Faulkner seems most direct) dumps you on Rahway Ave. Make a left on Rahway Ave, which turns into Westfield Ave where it connects with Lamberts Mill. This'll put you back on Raritan.

Thanks; I'm going to try that. I did a few things differently.

http://www.bikely.com/maps/bike-path/Work-to-Home-7-2u

I ride on High Street because its a pretty neighborhood, so I kept that. It makes more sense to skip South Union Avenue entirely, I think (it's also full of potholes under the railroad overpass).

To cross Central... I find it easier to make a right then a left onto a busy roadway, rather than the other way around, so I'll try out Clover to Summit to Faulkner. And it looks like Old Raritan Road and Featherbed Lane can cut off the Westfield/ Raritan Road intersection, which is pretty busy.


P.S. - Westfield Ave/North Ave where it passes the GSP stinks. Might be better to bang a right at the end of Clay onto Faitoute/Michigan and make the left after passing under the GSP onto Trenton, which turns into Bloomingdale. Make a right at the end onto Elizabeth and then a left onto N. Union. Once you cross under the train tracks, you'll be on S. Union, and then you can proceed as above. A little longer overall, but puts you mostly on residential streets instead of cars getting on/off the GSP.

I've done that. It's a nice ride, and you can take it to North Union Ave and stop at the Cranford Bike Shop. I take 28 because I can make better time there, and the traffic squeeze is only for a few blocks. (My old office used to be on 31st street, and I still do the Michigan-to-Trenton when going there in the AM.)

For anybody else cycling down in Edison near Grove Ave: You can take Groce Ave heading south to Bakltic, and there's a little path that takes you to the East end of Stephenville Parkway, a nice shady wide street. Lots of potholes this time of year, though; I hope they repave soon.

The route works pretty well; I tried it going into work today, and it does add a little time but it's worth it. Thanks, everybody!