baobao

Next week, I need to go to Hastings-on-Hudson, NY from the George Washington Bridge.
I would prefer to ride north along the Hudson River, but Google Maps indicates that at some point I will have to leave Dyckman St and take stairs (0.8 miles). Is anyone familiar with these stairs? Is there a handicap ramp access? This is important because I will be riding a heavy cargo bike.
Thanks.

wilfried

If you're taking the Greenway north, yes, there's a set of stairs that you have go down just south of Dyckman. The steps are long and shallow. There are ground level "banisters" on either side, and it's possible to put your bike on them and roll down. This puts you on Riverside, then Staff St., which leads to Dyckman. Be aware, they're repaving Dyckman, so as of right now, the street is milled, and really unpleasant to ride on.

How will you continue north? Will you take the Henry Hudson Bridge? If you want to continue along the river, you can turn left on Dyckman, continue to the end, where you then enter Inwood Park. However, you then have to cross railroad tracks, which means using an footbridge and climbling a real set of stairs. It has one of those rails on the steps for bike tires, but it's steep, and quite a push.

You can avoid the overpass by turning right on Dyckman, and take Seaman north (that intersection is a bit of a mess), and enter the park at 218th St. Either way, once in the park you have to go up a very steep hill, and finding the entrance to the pedestrian path on the bridge is tricky the first time you try. Since you're in a park, you're on paths with no names and no signage, so it's hard to figure out where you are.

Anyway, I hope this helps.

noglider 

There is now a switchback ramp that goes north of Dyckman St and lets you off at Riverside Drive. Here is the commute I took this morning.

You can see at the end of the route where I work. It's only a few blocks from the trail that starts at Van Cortland Park. You can take that trail to Hastings-on-Hudson. It's a nice trail.

baobao

Google Maps tells me to go through Inwood Hill Park and cross Henry Hudson Bridge. To avoid the stairs and getting lost, I should avoid Inwood Hill park? instead, i am considering taking dyckman to seaman ave, head north, and then turn right to 218th, and then proceed on kingsbridge avenue to go through van cortland park, etc.
Are the stairs really that onerous? I'd rather keep it simple and juggle the stairs, but I am riding a 70 lb cargo bike.

baobao

"Either way, once in the park you have to go up a very steep hill, and finding the entrance to the pedestrian path on the bridge is tricky the first time you try. Since you're in a park, you're on paths with no names and no signage, so it's hard to figure out where you are." GOogle map shows that there are paths within the park from 218th st to Henry hudson bridge through park.. but are they rideable?

noglider 

If you go through Inwood Hill Park, you will need to carry your bike up and down some difficult stairs. I've done it with a 50 pound bike, and it was hard. Then there are very steep hills leading to the Henry Hudson Bridge. Then the bridge has a very narrow path. I'm able to cycle it even though the signs say we're supposed to walk our bikes. When an oncoming pedestrian comes, I grab onto a rail and stay still and let the person pass, as it's quite narrow. The view is spectacular, however. Then once you're in the Bronx, you'll have some more hills. The route I gave you above is much flatter. The worst part of it is the Broadway Bridge. The surface is a grate which makes noise. Traffic is loud, and it resonates against the upper level where the #1 train is. When the train moves overhead, it's extremely loud. All this noise is nerve wracking, but I don't think there is any big danger. It just feels like it. It is my un-favorite-est part of the commute.

Sorry, I was wrong above. I switched Riverside Dr and Dyckman St. Dyckman is the one farther north. That is where the new ramp puts you. Take Dyckman east, Left on Seaman, and turn Right at the end onto 218 St. Turn left onto Broadway. You may want to take a route parallel to Broadway once you are in the Bronx only because Broadway is so loud and unpleasant.

Here is a picture I shot from the Henry Hudson Bridge.

wilfried

I didn't mean to discourage you at all; since you asked, I though I'd offer some information. I've ridden that route a number of times, and riding through the park can be pleasant, if hilly, and crossing the Henry Hudson Bridge on the walkway is easy and low stress, once you find it. I'm not familiar with the Broadway Bridge, but by reputation, it's a mess of traffic, and rather unpleasant.

The stairs over the train tracks are about as onerous as any long flight of stairs. I carry my bike without too much trouble, but with bag, it's maybe thirty pounds, rather than 70. There's also a short flight of long, shallow steps as you come off the footbridge. I'm not sure if that counts as onerous. Entering the park from 218th St. saves you the trouble of climbing the stairs, but you ride up and down a hill instead.

Noglider, when did the switchback open? These days, when I go up to Inwood (about once a week), I take the streets, and the path along the Harlem River.

wilfried

Oops, I missed noglider's reply before I posted. What he said.

Oh, and yes, the paths in the park are rideable.

rmfnla

Wow, what terrific advice; you guys are great!

Trueblood

Are you starting at the Bridge, at bridge level, or are you coming from the greenway? Honestly, if you are coming from NJ or are in the neighborhood at street level already, I would not go down to the greenway just for that stretch to Dyckman. Although not as initially pleasant, it might be worth considering going up Broadway (either all the way to the Broadway Bridge, or at least to Dyckman where you could go over to Seaman Avenue up to 218th, then back over to B'way as noglider indicated). You could then go into Van Courtland Park at 240th street and pick up the South County trail, OR, stay on Broadway into Yonkers and then get on the Croton Aqueduct path on in to Hastings. Most of the path is nice, however, early on there are some unpleasant curbs at cross streets to the path in Yonkers. It then becomes very scenic with views of the Hudson.

Broadway Bridge is a little tense with the traffic. There is a side path, but one is supposed to walk the bike when using it.

Obviously the choice is yours, but it sounds like you are covering substantial miles to Hastings on a heavy bike. I would think that between the extremely steep climb from the greenway at the GW bridge up to the last section leading to Dyckman and the hills in Inwood Hill Park, and steps, you might want to consider a slightly less scenic but more direct route through the Manhattan part of the trip.

noglider 

I think the switchback ramp opened three months ago or so. I don't really remember. I'm grateful for it. And now I learned I can enter Inwood Hill Park at 218 St. I must try that!

wilfried

And stop in at the Indian Road Cafe right before the park. Nice place, and just about the northernmost address in Manhattan. That's where I go every Wed. for trivia night.

baobao

Here's some more information. My son is the one doing the route, and he would be using an electric bike. Point being, the hills are no issue, but stairs are absolutely out of the question. I would hope there is an easy route so he doesnt potentially get lost. It isn't clear to me whether going into Inwood Hill Park from 218th st will avoid the stairs. Perhaps it is best to go through Broadway and VanCourtland. I woudl prefer that he avoid Broadway due to traffic.. Is Bailey ave good? Also for navigation, he usually used Google, but in this case, maybe I should give him a Garmin Edge. Are you guys familiar with the Edge? Is it easy to input directions via RidewithGPS and does Garmin give easy queues on turns?

baobao

Could someone send me a file or post on RidewithGps that I can download to Garmin?
Again key criteria are 1) NO stairs (HILLS are no issue); 2) minimize dangerous traffic roads. (Longer distance to do so is perfectly fine). Route would be from Tenafly High School in Tenafly, NJ to Hastings-on-Hudson, NY.

Trueblood

Rather tricky set of criteria, so he WOULD be coming over the bridge. Tenafly is almost directly across the river from Yonkers..... Ok, can't speak for the Jersey side of things, but after crossing the bridge he will definitely have to ride in considerable traffic to get through to the top portion of Manhattan.

Hmm, 70 pound electric bike. Sorry, but I would definitely advise avoiding Inwood Hill Park. It is kind of a round about way to get to Hastings unless you think you can actually get the bike through to the approach to the Henry Hudson Bridge. Actually, with that sort of bike, once you are in the Bronx, I would probably avoid the Old Putnam Trail in Van Courtland Park as well. The OPT turns into the South County Trail, but can be muddy if there has been any rain recently (there are other threads on this trail). It is paved once it actually turns into the South County Trail.

The most direct route is to come over the bridge and then stay on Broadway which turns into 9 all the way to Hastings. Not the safest in terms of traffic or the most scenic. I think the best mix might be B'way to 240th in the Bronx, then into Van Courtland parrallel to B'way until the park ends, then back onto B'way until Yonkers and then the Old Croton Trailway. You can pick that up slightly north of Ashburton Avenue in Yonkers.

Trueblood

Also, some types of e-bikes are technically illegal in NYC, although the rules are as clear as mud - The Controversy Surrounding Illegal E-Bikes in New York Relies on Stereotypes and Inconsistent Enforcement - CityLab
I see delivery people riding them all the time in the city.

noglider 

Trueblood

hmm, that embedded google map renders with car directions in my browser, showing a route right up the Henry Hudson Pkwy, off ramp of the GW, etc., which obviously wouldn't work on a bike. Funnily enough, if you switch google maps to 'bicycle' it takes a route pretty much directly across Manhattan and into the Bronx, then up University Ave. The bottom line is, you really can't avoid lots of traffic until you get into Van Cortlandt Park.

The Putnam trail runs right up the middle of the park. Here is someone's ride starting in the northern part of the park and leading on to the South County Trail It must of been dry for a while when this was shot. I have had some unpleasant rides on the Old Putnam Trail leading up the SCT.

My recommendation remains B'way to Yonkers, then the Old Croton Trailway to Hastings.

baobao

We managed to do a test ride. Set Google Maps as follows:
Starting: Tenafly High School
Destination 1: Starbucks (803 W 181st)
Destination 2: Tread Bike Shop (250 Dyckman St)
Destination 3: Hastings-on-Hudson, NY
So we avoided the dreadful stairs.
Nevertheless, going through Van Courtland (after some rain) was kind of tricky cause of the Old Putnam Trail/South County Trail. However, it is probably the best choice cause safety is key and I want him to avoid traffic to maximum extent. Bronx taxi drivers are horrible and make U-turns with no consideration for law.

baobao

Of course set Bike Option on Map
For this route it is crucial to use a bike with fat tires or a hard-tail mountain type bike cause the trail is tricky: a mixture of road, gravel(!), and mud.