Northeast - Alternate northbound route to GWB?

Last week I rode the Greenway for the first time - what a magnificent ride! I started in Fort Lee, NJ and rode across the GWB and down to 36th St. I took the A train going back home because it was too dark to ride the Greenway back.

When days get longer I can foresee wanting to ride my way back up to the GWB, but I would like to avoid having to make that climb back up to the bridge at 181st St.

I'm wondering what alternate northbound routes other bikers might recommend to avoid that brutal climb, ie. perhaps cutting up to Riverside Drive or Broadway farther south?

The area around the east tower of the GWB has been under construction all winter by Port Authority so DOT mapped out a detour that avoids the Little Red Lighthouse and steep climb up to the bridge. The recommended route for cyclists is to use the ramps around 158th Street and then, I think, the detour continues up Broadway. Pedestrians and more adventurous cyclists can take the bridge around 172nd Street, where the comfort stations are. The path eventually leads to Riverside Drive.

Unfortunately the 172nd Street access point is unpaved, and unlit, so you probably won't want to use it after dark.

http://www.streetsblog.org/wp-content/pdf/HRGREENWAYDETOURrev3.pdf

Many Options
If you take the greeway,
Exit at 96th St instead of going back to the greenway and take Riverside Drive.
make a right at 168th St, by the Hospital, next left and go staright to the GWB.
This works best NOT during Rush hour, but its okay.

Other routes through Central Park, to the bike lane on Adam Clayton Powell, through to 135th St, turn left and a Right at St Nick, taking Bike lane to GWB.
I use it on my commute from Jamaica to Riverdale.

As stated the Greenway works when its light out and when it gets warm the area around the Park after the filtration plant in the 140's-155 gets crowded.

Good luck

Rob

Good point Rob. If Jerrys88 doesn't want to climb the hill to the bridge after dark he probably doesn't want to ride Cherry Walk either

Thank you Stacy and Rob - this will be very useful.

Many Options
If you take the greeway,
Exit at 96th St instead of going back to the greenway and take Riverside Drive.
make a right at 168th St, by the Hospital, next left and go staright to the GWB.
This works best NOT during Rush hour, but its okay.

Other routes through Central Park, to the bike lane on Adam Clayton Powell, through to 135th St, turn left and a Right at St Nick, taking Bike lane to GWB.
I use it on my commute from Jamaica to Riverdale.

As stated the Greenway works when its light out and when it gets warm the area around the Park after the filtration plant in the 140's-155 gets crowded.

Good luck

Rob

I'd also suggest using Riverside. I usually take it to 158th, make a right, a left and then the 3rd left at the light on to Riverside - the one that heads up hill ( a weird 5 way intersection). Then the first right onto 160th, and a left onto Ft Washington. I do this to avoid making the left by the hospital. Riverside is mostly easy rolllers and the traffic is suprisingly light except for rush hours. You can also exit the greenway at 72nd and pick up Riverside at its current start.