MaskedRider

Hi everyone,

I'm a new bike commuter from Queens to downtown Manhattan. I would like to get suggestions on choosing best route to downtown after I cross the 59th Bridge. I work near the Charging Bull on Broadway.

I tried the East Greenway, but the road condition was not something I had imagined; there were some rough pavements and it gets too narrow that people can barely pass each other. Is it better to get to the West Greenway after the Queensboro Bridge, or use some local streets to go down to the tip of Manhattan?

Thanks!

sukram

When I worked by Union Square I used to just head straight down 2nd from the QBB. Most direct, relatively fast, but not terribly bike friendly. I don't know of any decent east side corridors for bikes.

You could head over to the west side greenway since you're heading all the way downtown, but just heading crosstown from the QBB to the west side can be slow. The west side greenway can be busy during warmer weather, but it's certainly better developed than the east side.

If I were doing it I'd probably do 2nd Ave down to just before Houston, head west on some quieter street, then hang a left and head straight down B'way.

Certainly not a serene ride.

Stacy

I'm less comfortable in heavy traffic than sukram so I really prefer the West Side Greenway over Second Avenue. It usually isn't too crowded on weekdays and I can do a comfortable 15mph or so, nonstop, to Houston Street. There is some detour going on in Battery Park City so that might slow you down a bit. Or you could just cut over to Broadway, or West Broadway, at that point.


Why not give the both a try and see which one suits you best? You might even want to use both routes for some variety

Avark

Once off the bridge go down 2nd ave, make a left at 34th st. Ride towards the east river there you will find a path that goes all the way down to the ferry building. Cold during the winter, some rough patches but mostly traffic free and direct, not totally continues.

MrCrassic 

Where in Queens?

2nd Ave is your best bet. Make a left on 2nd to 14th Street, then make a RIGHT to Broadway. This will bring you to Union Square. Left at Broadway and go straight down. Traffic is a bit heavy, but this helps you since you won't have to worry too much about fast moving traffic. Other option is going through the East Side Greenway (FDR Drive), which I've only done once and didn't approve of it.

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sjauch

I have a very similar commute. I head down 2nd ave till 3rd street then cross over to broadway. Once you get below 20th or so, traffic is pretty light.

MaskedRider

I live in Astoria.

I tried both 2nd Ave. & Broadway route and West Greenway route. West Greenway was well developed and very easy to ride, but cross town between Queensboro Bridge and the west side was very slow and time consuming.

I liked 2nd Ave. & Broadway better because it's more direct and the traffic was not that bad. I think I will stick with this route for a while.

There seems to be many options for the return course. Once I get to 1st Ave., I'll go up all the way to the QBB, but getting there from south end of Broadway is not so direct. I'm thinking of Church St., Centre St., Lafayette St. then 2nd St. to 1st Ave.. Is Bowery worth trying?

sjauch

For the home trip, Water St., Bowery/3rd ave. I cross over to 1st ave around 55th st so I don't have to deal with all the right turn traffic till 59th.

pgoat

I go in from Jackson heights; when I worked near city hall I actually took the Williams burg bridge - I found it to be a better commute. There are a few dicey areas, notably as you cross the JJ Byrne Bridge into Brooklyn, but other than that it's smooth sailing.

I basically took Greenpoint Ave the whole way till I got to the Driggs/Berry bike lanes leading to/from the WBB. Seeing as you are coming from Astoria, you could probably do the Pulaski and cut straight down to those lanes. If you don't have one already the new 2009 DOT bike lane maps are out now.

The nice part was having to deal with a lot less Manhattan traffic. Williamsburg was particularly calm and peaceful in the AM, which I loved, and I'll take riding over the WillyB instead of the 59th any day.

If you want to stick with the 59th, 2nd is the most direct, but hilly and tons of rush hour traffic insanity....I use 57th st. to 5th now (I'm working on 23rd street); I find 5th to be flat and fairly easy traffic wise. You'd have to do some circumnavigating once you hit Washington Sq; I'd say hit Broadway at 23rd and go down in the direction of the Bowery from there...that's kind of out of the way tho.

Stacy

I was also thinking of the Williamsburg Bridge but I use the Pulaski Bridge when I'm going to Astoria. Then you can continue north on either Vernon Blvd, which now has a bike lane, or use 21st Street which doesn't take you as far west.

nycphotography

Why not take Grand ave to the Williamsburg bridge?

But from midtown south, I prefer LEX over 2nd. It seems a better flow, but ends at 22nd st.

From there you can head west and down Broadway.

But then I dont so much mind traffic. YMMV.

pgoat

Thanks - yes, I was thinking they could take Vernon N/S between Astoria and the Pulaski, i forgot to mention that.

TA is working on getting a bike lane on the Pulaski but there are issues due to it being a drawbridge....more on this story as it develops...

Stacy

Have you been on the Pulaski when it opens? Weird.