Bike Friendly Neighborhoods in NY

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katmu

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tinydr

removed by author, welcome to web 2.0

cparekh

Depending on your age and what part of Manhattan you want to be near, different parts of Brooklyn would your best bet. If you are young, say in your 20s, Williamsburg would be a great options. If you are a bit older, try Carroll Gardens/Cobble Hill/Boerum Hill. If you are an "adult" Brooklyn Heights would be a great choice. All are within a 30 minute bike commute or subway commute of the city, and within a one hour walk. I live in Carroll Gardens and I ride in to work every day. I work in lower Manhattan.

katmu

I'm in my late 30s, so I would fall at least into the category of older. Thanks for the recs. Are there any decent places to stay in Carroll Gardens/Cobble Hill/Boerum Hill/Brooklyn Heights?

BrooklynRider

cparekh forgot to mention Park Slope and Prospect Park. Ditmas Park (East of Prospect Park) is a nice neighborhood to ride through on your way to Rockaway Beach.

I know there is a Marriot in Downtown Brooklyn, which puts you near the 2 bridges.

http://www.google.com/search?q=Brooklyn+Hotels&ie=utf-8&oe=utf-8&aq=t&rls=org.mozilla:en-US:official&client=firefox-a

Sportsman9

I'll second the Brooklyn neighborhoods mentioned above. Low-scale buildings, (some) quiet streets, nice neighborhood feel. Actor Paul Giamatti, who lives in the area, described it as "Mayberry."

Note the Marriott itself is not quite in Mayberry, but it is nearby and would be convenient.

katmu

The neighborhoods recommended look really nice and I think they are within my price range. Thank you all so much!

bktourer1

Hook up with Transportation Alternatives . The Bronx has serveral bike paths that will get you together the Hudson, LI sound beachs (orchard beach, city island) and the bronx river trail to e233rd st to connect to the taril in Tuckahoe to Valhalla dam. Look into the North & south county bike trails and the Putnam trail. Go to TRAILLINK for paths in the tricounty area. There is a free NYC bike routh map from any bike shop.

ED

dendawg

I am looking to relocate sometime within the next 2 years and am considering NYC. I would like to take a week this summer to come out and check out some neighborhoods, hopefully rent a bike for a day or two and see what I think. Any areas to look at or avoid? I would like to be within a 30 minute ride of Manhattan. Thanks.

Thirty minutes by bike or car, or rail? The other side of the Hudson is nice too. Edgewater, Fort Lee, Englewood, North Bergan, are close to the GWB and could be easy bike commutes, with buses available for bad weather days. Plus the road riding is nice for the days off. Astoria and LIC in Queens are also easy bike commutes to Manhattan with subway alternates.

Saintly Loser

Thirty minutes by bike or car, or rail? The other side of the Hudson is nice too. Edgewater, Fort Lee, Englewood, North Bergan, are close to the GWB and could be easy bike commutes, with buses available for bad weather days. Plus the road riding is nice for the days off. Astoria and LIC in Queens are also easy bike commutes to Manhattan with subway alternates.

I'll second Astoria. I live there. It's a very nice neighborhood, and I commute by bike almost every day to Manhattan. It's less expensive than Cobble Hill/Carroll Gardens/Park Slope/Boerum Hill, etc. And, if it matters to you, much more ethnically diverse.

zacster

If you want quiet Ditmas Park is probably the quietest, most midwest like place, except that it is surrounded by apartment buildings. We sit on our porches, have neighbors that do the same and we all know each other, just like in a small town. You won't find this anywhere else in NYC.

sox_ducati

I just moved to Manhattan from Flatbush, or what the people live there like to call it PLG ( Prospect Lefferts Gardens (http://groups.yahoo.com/group/lefferts/) ). It's a short run to Prospect Park, decent ride down to Coney Island or into Manhattan depending on where you need to go. Definitely find out where you'll be working first since not all trains are equal.

Friendly people, rent affordable and as far as riding, that area is nice.

- Also makes sure a subway isn't right outside your window...

katmu

My preference was 30 minutes by bike. Train/subway options would be great too. I am hoping that maybe I can get rid of my car. I'm not set on Brooklyn, so I will definitely check out the NJ, Astoria and Ditmas Park neighborhoods as well.

sox_ducati

Yeah I sold my motorcycle and truck to move here from upstate, Rochester, NY. Grew up with cornfields as a playgrounds. hehe But don't regret it for a second-- ok I miss the Ducati occasionally. Sold the Trek to move into Manhattan, but that will be replaced soon.

I never biked into Manhattan, since I work from home, but I do know my neighbors did.

katmu

Encouraged by this today: http://cityroom.blogs.nytimes.com/2008/04/28/its-all-about-the-bike/index.html?hp

cparekh

Encouraged by this today: http://cityroom.blogs.nytimes.com/2008/04/28/its-all-about-the-bike/index.html?hp

Regardless of the reputation, or the logic, NYC is a very bike-friendly city, at least for a large city. Drivers here are used to seeing bikes, there are lots of bike lanes, you can chain your bike to city signs (illegal, but almost never enforced). I have commuted in Chicago, and it is much worse. Because of the wider streets and lower density, cars go much faster and never are looking for bikes. Narrow streets in NYC allow you to protect yourself.

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