Folding Bikes - bike friendly lane/road in in nyc for my folding bike

dont know where this thread should belong...but since i have been posting here all day... here goes

any1 know any website that shown bike friendly road/lane in nyc? i know riverside drive on the west side has a bike friendly lane and so is on the fdr (bt. 125th & 86th and then i think from 70th and below), 1st ave., and then central park. i remember walking in central park during the weekend and i see all road were for bikes and no cars....does this happen every weekend in central park? thx in advance.

This mapping facility which has a safest route option appears to be very useful:

http://www.ridethecity.com/


I know is no central NYC bu some of these routes are near you and sound great fun!

http://www.ptny.org/biketourintro/

Cars are not allowed in central park on the weekends...although it's a tougher ride than west side or east side due to many hills...I'm back into biking after 15 years off, so not the greatest set of legs in the world.

I've been going to roosevelt island to ride, it has a bike path that's about 80% of the island, even the streets are very empty, occasionally a car would go by but slow (speed limit is 20 I think).

Been thinking about going down to coney island, heard that there's a nice path there.

If you find anything else, let me know since I'm in the same boat.

This thread might be better off in the northeast regional forum. Any mods out there want to move it?

Mulleady--Not bad for a Brit! I had no idea that that link existed. It did a pretty good job of plotting my route to work. But it missed the Prince Street Greenway, which is the best way to cross town.

Here are some more links:

Official map: http://www.nyc.gov/html/dot/html/bicyclists/bikemaps.shtml

http://www.nycbikemaps.com/

My favorite rides are up the West Side Greenway to 1) the Pallisaides (cross the GW bridge, follow the sidewalk north and stay on the bikeway until you enter the park--can be between 30 and 120 miles round trip from downtown Manhattan), or 2) to the Bronx, through the greenways, up to the Moshulu station at Jerome Avenue. From there, follow the greenway into the park, along the rail trail and into Weschester (freshly paved on entering the wealthier county). That one is about 40 miles from downtown Manhattan, but can be lengthened via the Bronx's excellent greenways or shortened by taking the 4 train to Moshulu Parkway.

Cars are not allowed in central park on the weekends...although it's a tougher ride than west side or east side due to many hills...I'm back into biking after 15 years off, so not the greatest set of legs in the world.

I've been going to roosevelt island to ride, it has a bike path that's about 80% of the island, even the streets are very empty, occasionally a car would go by but slow (speed limit is 20 I think).

Been thinking about going down to coney island, heard that there's a nice path there.

If you find anything else, let me know since I'm in the same boat.


yeah roosevelt island is bike friendly..i use to do my summer internship/job in the hospital there during my teenage years.

i was thinking about the govenors island they just open up for the public this year. any1 been to governor island? i remember going there once was i was a little kid during a school field trip and it is nice to bike ride there...any1 interested going as a group once i get my bike?

Mulleady--Not bad for a Brit! I had no idea that that link existed. It did a pretty good job of plotting my route to work. But it missed the Prince Street Greenway, which is the best way to cross town.

Yeah, I've stopped using it. I don't think it has enough data yet to provide routes of the usefulness it's aiming for.

Vincent, are you looking exclusively for bike lanes on streets, or are you open to MUPs as well? The greenways on both sides of Manhattan are very bike-friendly.

Here's another good central location for more info:

http://transalt.org/resources/maps

Yeah, I've stopped using it. I don't think it has enough data yet to provide routes of the usefulness it's aiming for.

Vincent, are you looking exclusively for bike lanes on streets, or are you open to MUPs as well? The greenways on both sides of Manhattan are very bike-friendly.

Here's another good central location for more info:

http://transalt.org/resources/maps

what is mups?

once i get my folding bike...i was looking to bike down from the fdr greenway from 102nd down to 42nd st. but when i look at the map...there is a greenways all the way from 125th down to 63rd on the fdr greenway. i have always walk my dog on the fdr greenway and take my dog to the dog park on 86th carl schurz park. on 90th st...the greenway start to deviate from the fdr path where this is in uphill climb...then you are biking/walking above the fdr where cars is below u...until u hit a dead end somewhere on 84th st/gracie square. i dont see how you can travel south farther..yet it is indicated a greenways down to 63rd st. i do see a little side st. by the name of "john finley way"..from 84th down to 81st. is that the continuation of greenways path? you can check out google map (satellite view) and see it for yourself if you dont believe me. someone who bike on the fdr between 77th st to 86th st...please let me know!

Multi Use Paths biking running skating etc...

....

once i get my folding bike...i was looking to bike down from the fdr greenway from 102nd down to 42nd st. but when i look at the map...there is a greenways all the way from 125th down to 63rd on the fdr greenway. i have always walk my dog on the fdr greenway and take my dog to the dog park on 86th carl schurz park. on 90th st...the greenway start to deviate from the fdr path where this is in uphill climb...then you are biking/walking above the fdr where cars is below u...until u hit a dead end somewhere on 84th st/gracie square. i dont see how you can travel south farther..yet it is indicated a greenways down to 63rd st. i do see a little side st. by the name of "john finley way"..from 84th down to 81st. is that the continuation of greenways path? you can check out google map (satellite view) and see it for yourself if you dont believe me. someone who bike on the fdr between 77th st to 86th st...please let me know!

^^^ can someone answer this?

That's the stretch of greenway I'm least familiar with, so I've been waiting for someone else to answer. (And dude, it's only been 42 minutes since you posted the question.) But it goes through in places you wouldn't necessarily think it does.

it's connected only down to 63rd street at the moment...

around the location the OP is mentioning, you have to carry the bike down / up some stairs so it a part you can ride through, no big deal as my mini is not that heavy. You don't have to go on to the street.

Scholasticny: what st. do you carry your bike up and down a stair? Is it on the 84th? What about the "john finley way" that I'm talking about?

around the location the OP is mentioning, you have to carry the bike down / up some stairs so it a part you can ride through, no big deal as my mini is not that heavy. You don't have to go on to the street.

Isn't that the place where there's a runner for bike wheels along the right side of the stairs (if you're facing North)?

i took a screenshot from google maps about what i'm talking about: the dead end on 84th.

http://img364.imageshack.us/img364/1825/deadend84thlt7.th.jpg (http://img364.imageshack.us/my.php?image=deadend84thlt7.jpg)

Isn't that the place where there's a runner for bike wheels along the right side of the stairs (if you're facing North)?

I don't remember seeing it but could have missed it.

I don't remember seeing it but could have missed it.

scholasticny: would u mind answering my question where the stairs are? close to what street? from my pix..there is a dead end where my red arrow which is on 84th st. is that were the stairs are? last time i walk my dogs there...it is a dead end with gate closed for the building behind it.

The bikeway/pedestrian promenade goes under some buildings there (co-ops & the Brearley gym, if memory serves) & thus appears to deadend in the photo. After this point, there is the stairway (with ramp for wheeling bike up on the river side) several have mentioned & the bikeway continues down to just north of the 59th st bridge.

dont know where this thread should belong...but since i have been posting here all day... here goes

any1 know any website that shown bike friendly road/lane in nyc?

Having been riding in New York City for the past five years, here's my 2 cents.

First, the best time to ride in New York City is 6:00 AM on a Sunday morning. In fact, every road at that time and day is usable. After about 8:00 AM, it starts to get crazy and stays that way for the rest of the day. Other than the Westside bike path, you really need a Take A Look mirror when riding in the city. There are plenty of people who ignore what's going on behind them and those are the people who are worried about what safe avenues to take. There are no safe avenues after 11:00 AM.

To be honest, I don't have any trouble riding in New York City traffic. I ride down any street or blvd during any time of the the day. I have this confidence because of my ability to see what's going on behind me. Without a Take A Look mirror, I would be quite scared because the cars are just insane. Without fail, the motorcars speed to make each light, even if it's just 100 feet away! When you hear these cars acclerating past you at 35-40 mph, it's terrifying because some of them come real close in those tight streets. You better know where these loons are at all times and this requires a rear view mirror of some sort. Once you know what the traffic is doing behind, you'll have the confidence to ride any street.

Having been riding in New York City for the past five years, here's my 2 cents.

First, the best time to ride in New York City is 6:00 AM on a Sunday morning. In fact, every road at that time and day is usable. After about 8:00 AM, it starts to get crazy and stays that way for the rest of the day. Other than the Westside bike path, you really need a Take A Look mirror when riding in the city. There are plenty of people who ignore what's going on behind them and those are the people who are worried about what safe avenues to take. There are no safe avenues after 11:00 AM.

To be honest, I don't have any trouble riding in New York City traffic. I ride down any street or blvd during any time of the the day. I have this confidence because of my ability to see what's going on behind me. Without a Take A Look mirror, I would be quite scared because the cars are just insane. Without fail, the motorcars speed to make each light, even if it's just 100 feet away! When you hear these cars acclerating past you at 35-40 mph, it's terrifying because some of them come real close in those tight streets. You better know where these loons are at all times and this requires a rear view mirror of some sort. Once you know what the traffic is doing behind, you'll have the confidence to ride any street.

thx..i went to google take a look mirror and it said the glass clip on your your sunglasses? i want to see how it look when you clip it onto the sunglasses w/ someone wearing it...do you have a pix of it by any chance?

thx..i went to google take a look mirror and it said the glass clip on your your sunglasses? i want to see how it look when you clip it onto the sunglasses w/ someone wearing it...do you have a pix of it by any chance?

LOL! Lets just say that it looks utlra geeky. Seriously, if you want to look cool while riding a bike, don't get a Take A Look Mirror! However, I've tried handlebar mirrors and found myself looking down all the time and the vibration made them hard to see. An eyeglass mirror is MUCH more stable and you can easily see what's coming from behind.

Some people say that I'm riding looking behind all the time. I think this is much safer.

Isn't that the place where there's a runner for bike wheels along the right side of the stairs (if you're facing North)?

Yes! That thing is so cool!

Having been riding in New York City for the past five years, here's my 2 cents.

First, the best time to ride in New York City is 6:00 AM on a Sunday morning. In fact, every road at that time and day is usable. After about 8:00 AM, it starts to get crazy and stays that way for the rest of the day. Other than the Westside bike path, you really need a Take A Look mirror when riding in the city. There are plenty of people who ignore what's going on behind them and those are the people who are worried about what safe avenues to take. There are no safe avenues after 11:00 AM.

To be honest, I don't have any trouble riding in New York City traffic. I ride down any street or blvd during any time of the the day. I have this confidence because of my ability to see what's going on behind me. Without a Take A Look mirror, I would be quite scared because the cars are just insane. Without fail, the motorcars speed to make each light, even if it's just 100 feet away! When you hear these cars acclerating past you at 35-40 mph, it's terrifying because some of them come real close in those tight streets. You better know where these loons are at all times and this requires a rear view mirror of some sort. Once you know what the traffic is doing behind, you'll have the confidence to ride any street.

And if you don't like the mirror, in time, you will learn how to look over your shoulder without falling over/turning your handlebars. I actually prefer this way, as you are not limited to what you can see in the mirror, and your depth perception is not skewed.

As far as the cars going by, you'll get used to it. You'll learn to anticipate what people are going to do based on how they drive.

Oh, and signal!! It makes a huge difference. If I see a double parked car 50 feet away, I turn my head to check the traffic behind me, signal with my left hand, and merge into traffic until I pass the parked car. If its a tight squeeze--Take the lane! The drivers will treat you with way more respect when you behave as someone operating a vehicle.

This mapping facility which has a safest route option appears to be very useful:

http://www.ridethecity.com/


I know is no central NYC bu some of these routes are near you and sound great fun!

http://www.ptny.org/biketourintro/

Nice resources; here are a couple of "official" maps:

http://www.nyc.gov/html/dot/downloads/pdf/bikemapfront2008.pdf
http://www.nyc.gov/html/dot/downloads/pdf/bikemapback2008.pdf

Been riding in NYC all my life, here's my advice. I agree with the guy who says the best time to ride is early in the morning. I commute weekdays from the Intrepid (or where it was) to Battery Park City at 7:30am. Those rides are fine, little traffic on the Westway. My commute home at 5:30pm-6:00pm is much worse, lots of runners, bladers and bikers. There are many areas of the Westway where the promenade is being reconstructed and it's a narrower shared path. The problem is that most users are reckless. Runners run in the middle of the lane or down the yellow line, bladers don't hold their line and bikers either ride many across or they think it's Talledega (those people are the biggest DBs because they know better). That's why I ride early when I can.

Secondly, while I agree that a "check your six" mirror or skills are important, you need to pay attention wherever you ride - whether bikeways or streets. This is a dense city and you need to pay attention and drive your bike like your car. Idiots who drive cars w/o shoulder checks and mirrors crash. Same thing happens if you're a bike driver except you'll DIE if you crash.

Thirdly, your biggest enemy on the streets.... Not cars, not buses, not even cabs. Pedestrians. They are unpredictable at best and at worst arrogant jackasses. Example in point, once a week my ride home involves riding up Church St/Sixth Avenue to midtown because I teach spin. Every week without fail particularly between 34th-50th Street, many pedestrians will walk in the bike lane. They will do so while there is a nice sidewalk protected from traffic by parked traffic. They will do so when the sidewalk is not crowded. They will not yield, instead insisting that I risk my safety by leaving the bike lane. Also, they will dart across streets against their light when me, cars, trucks have the light. Several pedestrians have come close to t-boning me and knocking me over.

All this is advice in that there is no safe place to ride in Manhattan if you think you can ride along "la dee da" and not worry about anything. There are plenty of safe places to ride if you pay attention and drive your bike as you would any potentially lethal vehicle. When I want to "la dee da" I pack my bike and leave the city.

NYC must be the ultimate Darwinian survival test for urban cycling in the U.S.

delete

Except on the third Saturday in August on Park Avenue:
http://www.nytimes.com/interactive/2008/08/30/fashion/20080830-street/index.html

NYC must be the ultimate Darwinian survival test for urban cycling in the U.S.

yeah and here are some proofs...here is a street view of googlemap for the map lane in nyc:

http://www.nycbikemaps.com/maps/nyc-bike-map-street-view/

if you look upper east side, where there is 2 bike lanes on 91st and 90th between fdr and central park...put the little man from google map on on 91st..you can see bike lane which is sometimes being taken by park cars or double park cars!!! and on 90th..u dont even see a bike lane!!! go figure...nyc is a dangerous place to bike even for the experience rider! i'm surprise i dont see many bike accidents/death reported on the local news!