Northeast - Anyone tried biking on Governor's Island?

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bettybl
06-29-09, 10:45 AM
Anyone tried biking on Governor's Island? Do you think it's as big and fun as the Central Park loop or is the biking space pretty tiny? Worth making a trip there? Thanks.
vincentnyc
06-29-09, 10:49 AM
I've been there last year. Biking was in a tiny space. Only able to see half the island. But the houses inside are pretty cool.
jyossarian
06-29-09, 11:45 AM
It's worth the trip, but not for the biking. Only takes 10 minutes to ride around the island or at least it seems so. The part that's worth it is exploring the island's interior and a bike makes it easier to do that. The ferry is free and runs Fri-Sun. Bring friends and a picnic.
Commando303
06-29-09, 06:17 PM
As has been said, I believe the biking's not very extensive (I've been there only in the capacity of a pedestrian, though), but, if you've never done so, I'll recommend you visit Governor's Island "just for fun." Take your bike along to see if you'd like to go back for that purpose.
I think they opened up the path around the rest of the island this year.
http://www.govisland.com/images/GImap.pdf
The are towards "picnic point" was not open last year - you had to cut across by the mini golf/movie theatre. I would totally unscientifically estimate the loop to be about 2.5 miles now. Whether or not you can get a real workout in, it's still fun.
http://www.govisland.com/images/GImap.pdf
geo8rge
06-30-09, 01:17 PM
See google maps. Bike rental+Interesting stuff on the very small Island.
bettybl
07-20-09, 09:21 AM
visited this weekend. The houses and buildings were worth exploring. They also had hammocks out by the picnic area. I should have brought food there. I wish they would add some swings too. You can bike the entire island now I think and can be completed in less than 15 minutes, but worth taking a bike to bike across the inside area.
I was there just yesterday. Found a chair by Picnic Point and just watched the clouds till they threw us off the island. Took the last ferry back to Manhattan and it was really full of bikes.
roadiejorge
07-20-09, 09:51 AM
It's small so if by biking you mean riding at a decent clip then it's not really the best place to go since the path is usually crowded with people. The best thing to do is ride around leisurely and take in the sites then grab a bite to eat.
It seems like a good place for kids to ride their bikes. Also plenty of families with trailers and riding those surreys. The entire island seemed to be open yesterday and people were riding everywhere - not just on the bike path. Lots of racks outside buildings and porta potties everywhere you looked. Most people didn't seem to worry about chaining up their bikes. It was like another world :p
dendawg
07-20-09, 06:55 PM
We went last Friday. On Friday's Bike and Roll gives out free bikes, though when we left on the 12:30 ferry there was a long line of people waiting for bikes. We circled the island twice as well as rode through the interior. Then we stopped for hot dogs and beer at Water Taxi Beach. There was also free kayaking provided by the Downtown Boathouse.
vincentnyc
07-20-09, 07:41 PM
did they open the other half the island yet?
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