Northeast - Long Island-Jones Beach (Warning)

I recieved this email yesterday, from George at the Long Island Bicycle Club:

"Hi Gang.

We have a minor technicality regarding our planned ride to Jones Beach this Saturday. The center section of the second bridge (of 3 bridges) is being replaced. While some of our friends were able to sneak past the closed bike path by walking on the closed roadway a few days ago, that part of the roadway has now been removed. I rode there today, and was able to do 25 miles round trip. But somehow, without getting to the boardwalk, it just wasn't the same. In place of the Jones Beach ride this Saturday, we'll probably do the Commack ride, with some possible extension to what we normally do. Watch for details, and hope for good weather.

George."

The word is "Bridge Out".

Ride report:

Bridge is still out at about 2.5 miles into the path south. Rode the mtb to check out the path. Snow covering the path, a couple of walkers on runners on the path, and from the snow tracks, could see there was only one other cyclist on the path since the last snow fall. The road loop is clear of snow, but is dusty. I did see one road cyclist on the loop.

Going to check out the Bethpage Green Trail (paved) tomorrow with the mtb.

Ride report:

Rode the Bethpage Green Trail (paved) starting at Sunrise Hwy. Snow was mixed of fresh (giving) and older packed lumpy snow. From the tracks, I didn't see any other bicycle tracks, but SUV and walker tracks. Rode by several walkers, bird watchers (w/ camera's) and one very enthusiastic runner.

Yesterday the snow was packed and lumpy, but felt safer. Today, with the fresh snow, it was slipping and needed to slow down.

Cedar Creek - Jones Beach MUP

Loop and MUP path is mostly clear of snow and ice. BRIDGE IS STILL OUT, they were actually workers there today on the bridge. One section on first bridge has a little ice, and about a 30 ft section of road has dried mud. All and all it's road bike rideable, just keep an eye out for small spattering of ice/snow. I'll be riding my road bike on the MUP Sunday.

Has anyone rode the Bethpage Greenbelt trail recently? Wondering how the conditions were?

From what I saw at BP yesterday, the parks folks have barricades up to block path access at where the MUP crosses the access road to the picnic area and indeed, there's a ton of ice all over sections of the path here. And that area's in the sun, so I would expect that in any of the wooded area's it's mostly frozen ice with occasional pavement.

SB

Cedar Creek and Jones Beach Path (up to 2nd bridge) is clear of ice. Still a little sand and grit, but not too bad.

DOT says it will be open, in its entirety, after May 31st, 2009 and will remain open until autumn, with scattered closures likely throughout the summer.

I hope they have something finished by Memorial Day weekend since many people ride their bikes to see the air show.

How much is the air show? And how long the show usually last? May want to go check it out this year.

The air show is free, the parking is $12 (?) just as though you were going to the beach any other day. Air show lasts about 3 hours. Getting out of the parking lot takes another 3 hours.

If you get lucky you can park at Cedar Creek (for free) and ride/walk/roller blade to the beach, but parking fills up pretty early on that day, the MUP is pretty crowed just like Wantagh, Meadowbook, and Ocean Parkways, and you have to lock your bike in the bike area - they are very strict about bikes past that point.

Ran the MUP (or tried) on Sunday. The 2nd bridge is completely closed to MUP users. All traffic is routed to the North bound bridge, so you can cross on the South bound bridge if you don't mind going around warning signs that warn you not to.

The 3rd bridge is also closed to MUP users, but it can be run on if you duck under the signs. That one has much stronger warning signs.

I saw lot of people stopping at the 2nd bridge and just standing there confused. I also saw serveral serious runners/bikers do exactly what I did, so if you decide to ignor the signs you will not be breaking new ground.

While running on the 3rd bridge a SP car drove by and honked at me, but didn't slow down.

If what the NYDOT says is correct and this thing is opening in a month they had better get a lot busier than they have been in the last 5 years. They have a long way to go.

I give up. What does "MUP" stand for?

Multi-Use Path.

Sorry about that, thought it was a common acronym.

>>>>Multi-Use Path.

Sorry about that, thought it was a common acronym.<<<<

It probably is a common acronym. I'm just an uncommon cyclist. The funny thing is that I spend a good part of my time advocating multi-use paths (MUP's) !

One year I rode to the air show via Loop Parkway from Long Beach.

Nobody bothered me about riding my bike, although a State Trooper saw me and just shook her head while going back to her paperwork.

Not sure I'd wanna do that one again, it was a scary ride...