Northeast - Brooklyn to Delaware

I have been looking for possible routes heading from Brooklyn to the Newark Delaware area. Delaware itself seems pretty easy to figure out and has nice bike maps, and also seems bike friendly. The part of the ride that seems difficult to figure out is getting over to Northern Jersey and then out of Northern Jersey moving south and west to areas that are more conducive to enjoyable riding. The Greenway maps seems to have you taking the Path to Newark, NJ and then leaving through the streets of Newark. Somehow there has to be a better way and I hope someone here has some good suggestions.

Thanks

Bill

The only cycling friendly route would require taking the George Washington bridge, which is way out of your way.

One of these days, I'll explore the Newark, NJ area. I really should. My town borders Newark. You can take a ferry to Weehawken but getting through the industrial areas will be tough. You can also take the Staten Island ferry and then the Bayonne bridge, but you have the same problem.

Brooklyn Bridge to downtown Manhattan, then a ferry to Sandy Hook.

SB

Brooklyn Bridge to downtown Manhattan, then a ferry to Sandy Hook.

SB

Bingo...then you are in Monmouth county and can head down the coast....

Brooklyn Bridge to downtown Manhattan, then a ferry to Sandy Hook.

SB

Brilliant. Never been on that ferry. I bet it's a spectacular ride.

The only cycling friendly route would require taking the George Washington bridge, which is way out of your way.

One of these days, I'll explore the Newark, NJ area. I really should. My town borders Newark. You can take a ferry to Weehawken but getting through the industrial areas will be tough. You can also take the Staten Island ferry and then the Bayonne bridge, but you have the same problem.

Once you get on the George Washington Bridge it's fine. But I HATE the approach to the bridge from the manhattan side.

It's been a long time since I rode over that bridge, but I used to do it every day. Either I was a tough rider or it has changed, because I don't remember any bad spot there. And it can't be as bad as ten miles over an industrial highway with gigantic potholes and most of the vehicles being gigantic trucks. That's what you would face in Hudson county, NJ.

billm45s, is one of your requirements to use your own power the whole trip? If so, then is a ferry out of the question? If a ferry is out of the question, then your best bet is the GW bridge. Second best is the Bayonne bridge from Staten Island. But hmm, there's no way to cycle onto Staten Island from Brooklyn. Bikes are not allowed on the Verrazano bridge that goes from Brooklyn to Staten Island.

It's been a long time since I rode over that bridge, but I used to do it every day. Either I was a tough rider or it has changed, because I don't remember any bad spot there. And it can't be as bad as ten miles over an industrial highway with gigantic potholes and most of the vehicles being gigantic trucks. That's what you would face in Hudson county, NJ.

billm45s, is one of your requirements to use your own power the whole trip? If so, then is a ferry out of the question? If a ferry is out of the question, then your best bet is the GW bridge. Second best is the Bayonne bridge from Staten Island. But hmm, there's no way to cycle onto Staten Island from Brooklyn. Bikes are not allowed on the Verrazano bridge that goes from Brooklyn to Staten Island.

The "genius" who designed the verazanno forgot to include a pedestrian walkway of some sort. The fool!

The "genius" who designed the verazanno forgot to include a pedestrian walkway of some sort. The fool!

Wouldn't it be cool if they put a pedestrian walkway on top of one of the suspension cables? Imagine the view!

I vote for the ferry to Atlantic Highlands. I've been meaning to try it for years.

Wouldn't it be cool if they put a pedestrian walkway on top of one of the suspension cables? Imagine the view!

I vote for the ferry to Atlantic Highlands. I've been meaning to try it for years.

A walkway on one of the suspension cables would be nice but I wouldn't want to try to ride it with a bike. So unless we can go back into time and have the Verazanno redesigned we're left with the options of the ferry or the george washington bridge.

I vote for the ferry too because....well...because I haven't ridden the ferry yet.

Thanks for the replies and the ferry idea. I had looked at that previously and know that a ferry is often used for NYC to Washington bike trips. I am coming to the conclusion that the ferry is the best idea.

I am looking for a a good route that I could potentially travel with my kids who attend UD. It does not require my own power the whole way, which was why I was looking at the Path out to Newark, NJ. Once in Newark, NJ, the possible routes don't look so appealing and this from someone who rides in under the Gowanus as my commute to Manhattan.

My primary question I guess can be boiled down to "are there any good/decent routes that lead you from Newark, NJ or similar area most likely accessible by the Path through the urban/industrial areas of New Jersey????

The ferry is looking more and more as the best option.

Thanks

Bill

A walkway on one of the suspension cables would be nice but I wouldn't want to try to ride it with a bike. So unless we can go back into time and have the Verazanno redesigned we're left with the options of the ferry or the george washington bridge.

I vote for the ferry too because....well...because I haven't ridden the ferry yet.

I don't know exactly how they do it but it IS possible to make improvements to these bridges. When I rode across the GWB back in the '70s the pedestrian walkway was about half as wide as it is now, and it was open grate - you could see the water below. I'm sure if the MTA wanted to, they could find a way to add a pedestrian path. On the other hand, if you've ever ridden across the Verrazzano during the Five Boro Bike Tour the crosswinds are pretty powerful. That might be one of the reasons why there's no bike/pedestrian access.

Nowadays crossing the GWB isn't bad at all - at least not when the south side is open. Which part of the approach do you hate so much?

You can definitely ride out of Newark, NJ and onto better roads. Once you're in Newark, you're pretty much home free.

Here is a route (http://maps.google.com/maps?f=d&source=s_d&saddr=Raymond+Plaza+W,+Newark,+NJ+07102&daddr=32+Plymouth+Ave,+Maplewood,+NJ+07040+(home)&hl=en&geocode=FTaPbQIdu1SU-w%3B&gl=us&mra=ls&dirflg=w&sll=40.73781,-74.213875&sspn=0.084545,0.130806&ie=UTF8&ll=40.730999,-74.214706&spn=0.084553,0.130806&z=13) from Newark, Penn Station (where the Path train stops) to my home. Stop by!

I went a different way to Delaware.. and an entirely different part of Delaware too.
http://www.williamtorres.com/dogfish/ (http://www.williamtorres.com/dogfish/)

That seems like a great route down to Cape May. Once you were in Delaware did you do any additional riding? I love the Delaware beach area and this August did a round-trip from Lewes, by the Ferry down to Ocean city Maryland, with lots of detours, especially around Bethany. An excellent area for biking.

Yesterday, I had a meeting at my daughter's school in Hoboken. I didn't want to wait for the train back, and I had taken my bike on the train with me, so I rode back. I was inspired by this thread and others that ask the same question.

It was a heck of an adventure, and I can't recommend this route except to cyclists with nerves of steel. There were industrial areas, all-out highways, and some dangerous neighborhoods. But I made it, and I'm glad I did it, too. I took the Newark Turnpike. Next time, I'll try the Lincoln Highway.

My route (http://maps.google.com/maps?f=d&source=s_d&saddr=Sinatra+Dr,+Hoboken,+NJ+07030&daddr=Hamilton+St+to:Central+Ave+to:Norfolk+St+to:S+Orange+Ave+to:Eastern+Pkwy+to:Irvington+Ave+to:M idland+Blvd+to:40.728007,-74.260798+to:32+Plymouth+Ave,+Maplewood,+NJ+07040+%28home%29&hl=en&geocode=FYuybQIdAHqW-w%3BFfHHbQIdEpSU-w%3BFZS6bQIddg-U-w%3BFeaabQId3P2T-w%3BFXi4bQIdOH-T-w%3BFYyLbQIdOCWT-w%3BFUCCbQId8R6T-w%3BFSWAbQIdFemS-w%3B%3B&mra=dpe&mrcr=0&mrsp=8&sz=15&via=1,2,3,4,5,6,7,8&dirflg=w&sll=40.733568,-74.252214&sspn=0.025332,0.03562&ie=UTF8&ll=40.749858,-74.145012&spn=0.20261,0.284958&z=12)