phdezra

Hi all. Love the forums, first time I need to post.

I live in Riverdale (Bronx--zip code 10471), and need a safe and effective route to Times Square (my office is a few blocks away). Suggestions? I dont mind riding a little out of the way if it means less traffic and safer. Thanks.

Stacy

Easiest way I know from Riverdale is to take the Henry Hudson Bridge down to Inwood Hill Park, then go down the Amtrak Bridge (you'll have to carry your bike) and follow the path along the ball fields. You can catch the Westside Greenway at Dyckman Street and take that down to West 42nd St. An alternate route would be the Broadway Bridge then take Seaman Ave down to Dyckman for the Greenway. If you're on Twitter check out #BikeNYC or #NYCBikeTrain for a regular group ride along that route.

phdezra

Hi Stacy. Thanks for the detailed reply (and I'll follow those two suggested Bike twitterers). I am not new to NYC, but new to *trying* to bike from Riverdale to midtown! Since my apartment is *right near* the Henry Hudson Bridge (west of the parkway), it wouldnt make sense for me to go all the way down to the Broadway Bridge. But 1) is biking now allowed on the HH Bridge or will I have to carry it across the span (not terrible, just want to know) and then you actually lost me about going to Inwood Hill Park then to Amtrak Bridge--I am not familiar with this... where can I see a map? Thanks.

Stacy

The actual path from the HH Bridge down to the Amtrak Bridge is nearly impossible to see on a map because it's a short unmaintained path covered with trees, but you can see the Amtrak Bridge, that crosses the tracks on this map.

https://maps.google.com/maps?q=inwood...+york&t=h&z=18

Basically you exit the bridge on the west side and go south, down towards the river. The bridge is a short ways, on your right, and you just go down the steps, then follow the path that runs south along the river to Dyckman.

Then go left on Dyckman for about a block, and then right, up a hill on Staff Street. At the top of the hill, Riverside Drive, you'll see an underpass on your right. Just past that underpass there's a staircase that leads up to the Greenway. From there the Greenway runs all the way down to the Battery.

phdezra

How long would you estimate it would take from HH Bridge to midtown (42 st) for an avg cyclist in the AM? 45 mins?

Stacy

Depends on how fast you ride. 45 minutes from the HH Bridge to Midtown is probably a fair estimate. The leg between the HH Bridge and getting on the Greenway at Dyckman will probably be the most timely factor. I'd strongly suggest you try the route on a non-work day to get familiar with the streets and get a vague time estimate.

If you're going to be riding after dark you'll need lights. Several sections, north of the GWB, the stretch in Fort Washington Park, and Cherry Walk in Riverside Park are completely unlit.