Northeast - Hutchinson Pkwy Paved Path

I've probably asked about this before...

At the southern end of the Hutchinson River Parkway, a nicely-paved bicycle path has materialized within the last few years. I am very curious as to where this begins and ends and why it was built. No offense to anybody, but please do not send me a link to a New York City bike map, as what I really want is to hear from someone who has actually touched his/her wheels to this path. Then, I'd like to know how to get to it, where it will lead, and why I would want to add this path to my website of great New York area bikeways.

Thanks, all.

I've probably asked about this before...

At the southern end of the Hutchinson River Parkway, a nicely-paved bicycle path has materialized within the last few years. I am very curious as to where this begins and ends and why it was built. No offense to anybody, but please do not send me a link to a New York City bike map, as what I really want is to hear from someone who has actually touched his/her wheels to this path. Then, I'd like to know how to get to it, where it will lead, and why I would want to add this path to my website of great New York area bikeways.

Thanks, all.

Papa T... You're right to request all the theoretical bike riders refrain from offering their links. You need someone who has seen and ridden it all.

As part of my obsessive compulsive marathon ride of all the official 2009 bike paths, I did ride the Hutchinson greenway. Not only did my wheels touch down on the path, but I spilled and my whole right side touched down too. (Just Joking about the spill)

I'd say the easiest way to find it is off the Pelham Bay Bike Path. As you near the Hutch, there will be a spur leading south onto it. I think it's even marked. The entire path is about 2.37 miles in each direction. The path ends around Brush ave & the Bruckner, which as I remember is near a major subway elevated train station. I remember the southern end as not being all that clearly delineated, as I was always looking for a solid white line saying "the bike path starts here" to satisfy my mind and the minds of the Guinness Book of Records people, who so far have rightfully expressed no interest in my endeavors.

I remember the ride as being a lonely stretch, with almost no other riders or walkers. Then again most of my rides were kind of lonely, as to my liking, since I generally despise most of the human race, with the feelings being mutual from most of my rare encounters with people. If I remember, the path switches sides of the parkway midway

Why anyone would ride this path? I'll give you Willie Sutton, the famous bank robber's answer, when he was asked why he robbed banks. He said: "Because that's where the money is"

Hey, if you decide to ride this with the missus, give me a shout and I'd be happy to join you and you'll learn first hand what a nut job I am.

For those who crave more of my obsessive self-absorbed writing style, I started a Yahoo group called "Brooklyn Bridge Bike Rider" which I am expanding to Brooklyn Bike Rider, which may chronicle my latest project. I've started to ride every street in Brooklyn. Just in the Sheepshead Bay area I anticipate riding 10 or 20 miles covering all the streets.

http://groups.yahoo.com/group/brooklynbridgebikerider

So it seems this is primarily a spur to the Pelham Bikeway, which I still have not ridden in its entirety. Is it designed to provide access to the Pelham Bikeway from a certain neighborhood?

i have taken this path many times, since i live right by it. its not a bad ride it was recently built because there is a college newly built and this also acts as a path to the bus for students. its a pretty flat stretch with a slight down hill. kinda boring not much to see just a chain link fence on your right and the hutch on your left. at the end it leads you towards the cross bx expwy section. its not a terrible ride but i recommend the city island pelham bay park & orchard beach trails over this. its only about a mile away in the opposite direction but with much much better scenery and just a nicer ride in general. sorry for any typos im sittin it the docs office on my phone writing this. any more bx trial questions ask away. be safe out there ...

Thanks for the responses, HeyPaul and Low.

I guess this trail is not worth putting aside a day for. I just always wonder if these little pieces of blacktop that duck out from the bushes every once in a while are pathways to some really cool place. My thought was that maybe this one starts out modestly on the Hutch but takes you all the way to Niagara Falls!

Now, what about that new path on I-95 North, just before the sign that welcomes you to Westchester County?????

I would do it if you happen to find yourself in the area 1 day, but its not worth getting excited over. You can do the stretch in about 10 mins just to turn around and go back lol. Im not sure what new path on 95 you mean exactly ? If its the city island/shore road area its pretty a pretty good ride.

>>>>Im not sure what new path on 95 you mean exactly ? If its the city island/shore road area its pretty a pretty good ride.<<<<

Nope. It's not that. And I agree that City island is a good ride. This stretch on I-95 North pops out from the trees just south of the "Westchester County" sign and then stops abruptly while still skirting the highway. It looks as if it might be associated with some type of park. Also, judging by the fencing and orange cones around it, it's still a work in progress.

Find out more about these paths next weekend on the Tour de Bronx. If you've never done it it is a worthwhile ride to do. It really takes you to parts of the Bronx you otherwise wouldn't see, good and bad. I think the Hutch path is part of the shorter ride.

Hmm papa tom im going to have to look into the path your talking about, its news to me. And yeah your def right about the tour de bx ride tried it for the 1st time last yr and thought it was very cool. Course im signed up for this yrs also :) Just hope the weather holds up.

>>>And yeah your def right about the tour de bx ride<<<

I've never done that ride. I think you meant to direct this to zacster. I thought about showing up for the Tour De Bronx as a walk-in, but I've been struggling with some kind of cold or allergy for more than a month now and I can't even THINK about getting on a bike for any extended period.

BTW, why am I the only geek with his photograph attached to each post?

Years ago when I lived off Castle Hill, this was a route I would sometimes take to the beach.
The path was never kept up as no one really used it. It goes along the southbound side and under the Hutch. When you went under the highway, it was really clogged with dirt from whenever the brook there rose. It was also quite lonely and a lot of partying went on. You could tell from the # of broken bottles. I wouldn't take this path alone. If you go down Pelham Pkway towards the Hutch and look for the nursing home (still there ?) and cross
over and watch carefully for the path north. Sorry I cant remember the street names

I suppose I've got my answer, at this point. The part that runs along the Hutch looks to be in good shape these days. But if there's no good starting point and no good destination, I'll skip it.

'Still wanna know what that new path on northbound I-95 is, though!

I used this path daily in 2008 commuting from New Rochelle NY to Astoria. It's a pretty short but decent path. If heading north it pretty much ends at Pelham Parkway.

If you head east at this point there is a beautiful ride up Shore Rd to either City Island or continue North into Westchester County.

If you head west at Pelham Parkway, you are basically on the Bronx Greenway. You can take this route west towards the Fordham Rd section of the Bronx.

The path is dark at night and some parts flood easily so if riding at night make sure you have lights and watch for puddles.

The new path on I-95 I believe is a continuation of the horse-trails in Pelham. The old path is completely over-grown and littered with broken bottles from teenagers drinking. I checked it out this summer and I would assume the old section of path sees zero use besides locals walking dogs.