mystang52

I organize casual bike rides for a few of my college friends. We all moved from Brooklyn years ago and now live in New Jersey. We are thinking about doing a ride starting somewhere on Flatbush Avenue, crossing over the Marine Parkway/ Gil Hodges Bridge, then come back via Cross Bay Blvd and the bike path that straddles the Belt Parkway.
As best as I can tell there are no public parking lots along Flatbush Avenue. I found a lot at Plumb Beach, but that route would be some 23 miles, and a bit too far for some of the members. Anyone know where we can legally park along Flatbush Avenue, somewhere between the bridge and Avenue U?

FBinNY 

The Brooklyn end is all built up urban blocks with street parking. You might have to cruise around a bit to fins a spot, but you will.

Possibly in Mill Basin or Bergen Beach, or on one of the 150ies north of Ave U.

There are also Kings Plaza, and the Lowes parking lots, though you should save those for plan C, depending on the day of the week.

All in all, I think you're safe to wing it.

If you're not comfortable winging it, or using store lot parking lots, there's a garage at Flatbush and Ave J, less than 2 miles form the bridge.

BTW - there's always Plan D, or are we up to E. Park the cars somewhere not too far, start the ride. At the end, drop folks someplace like a donut, and send the stronger riders to fetch the cars, and come back for the rest.

I'm sure, if you put on a thinking cap, you can come up with Plans F& G or even H.

richard4993

You should be able to Park on one of the blocks just off of Flatbush in the Marine Park area. If not then you can park all day in the Kings Plaza lot for 3.00 as long as the mall is open.

Steve B.

There are a bunch of spots at Floyd Bennett Field/Gateway NRA, the lot just inside the entrance road (to the right) off Flatbush, can easily handle 35 cars. Floyd Bennett/Gateway is a mile south of the Belt Parkway and Path where the Belt Path crosses Flatbush.

The Marine Parkway Bridge path is on the west side of the bridge and is across the street from the field/gateway spot. It's obvious on Google Maps.

To ride to the Belt Path you essentially catch the bike path on the east side of Flatbush at the FBF/Gateway entrance road, and hang a right (north).

this RT is as BTW, just under 20 miles

EDIT:, And as some suggestions as to route, if heading south at the start, from the south side of the Marine Parkway bridge, head directly across Rockaway Point Blvd. onto B169, then an immediate left into the paths for Jacob Riis park, then onto the parking lot road that leads east on Route ckaway Beach Blvd. Or head down to the Riis Boardwalk, ride that a bit east, then back to RBB and east.

Take RBB east to B125 and a right to the boardwalk. The boardwalk is paved concrete the entire length (maybe completed to B9). Get off around B94, then north on B92 to the Cross Bay path.

coney462

Canarsie Pier. I may not be in your group, but I may like to do this ride with you. I grew up in Canarsie, so the bike path was my back yard and would be nostalgic for me. Please update when you plan to do this

FBinNY 

I'm still surprised that a Brooklyn native would have asked. I guess that a few years in NJ erased all the Brooklyn street savvy.

Have a great ride.

mystang52

We're Brooklyn natives, but ex-Brooklynites for 40+ years! Thanks everyone for the replies. We'll likely do the Canarsie Pier or Floyd Bennet option. It has the very real benefit of shortening the ride to a more manageable 18 miles.

zacster

you could always start on the other side of the bridge since you are doing a loop. There is a huge parking lot at Riis Park. And Plum beach is barely a mile out of the way.

Solidjake

If you guys do this on a Wed, Thurs, Fri I might be able to join in as well. Would be nice to finally ride in a large group