Sportsman9

I'm planning a ride from the Manhattan West Side bike path up and over to the zoo.

Here is my planned route. PLease let me know if any of this is not feasible or wise -- especially the bridge at 207th/University Heights, or Fordham Rd.

Up above the George W. Bridge, above Fort Tryon Park:

Rt on Dyckman
Left on Broadway
Rt on W 207th
Cross the bridge
becomes W Fordham/E. Fordham Rd.
Rt on E 188 St.
Rt on Beaumont Ave
L on E 187
R on Southern Blvd which is the outline of the zoo.


-- Thanks.

roadiejorge 

Sounds about right though it's been a while since I rode in the Bronx. The Dyckman and Broadway intersection is usually a pretty busy area so be careful with the traffic, same goes for 207th as there are a lot of double parked cars. Fordham Ave after the bridge is ok but also a bit busy, certainly a manageable route though.

Not the Slowest

That works, but avoid riding on THE bridge grates if possible especially if you have a 23mm tire. You could ride on the sidewalk, but signs says NO BIKE Riding.

The turn at 207th is VERY VERY BUSY so proceed with caution. You could also take the Grand Concourse to the end and make a right at Fordham road, but your route is smoother with less cars until you exit the Greenway.

vincentnyc

Can you ride your bike once you are inside bx. zoo?

Stacy

I've used this route many times to get to City Island. There's a gate to the Zoo right on Fordham Rd but maybe that isn't used these days?

I've always ridden on the south side of the University Heights Bridge (207th St Bridge) on the sidewalk and never had a problem. The hill from the bridge is fairly steep with plenty of double parked cars.

The Greenway north of the GWB runs alongside the Henry Hudson Parkway with plenty of glaring headlights from cars traveling north. The downhill near the GWB to the waterfront also requires some caution. If you're returning the same way you'll probably want to complete this section before it gets dark.

jyossarian

The 207th St. bridge is pretty busy, plus it leads right into an uphill on Fordham Rd. and has entrance/exits to the Deegan so be careful.

vincentnyc

can any1 answer my previous question...are u allow to ride a bike once inside the zoo? the zoo is pretty big...and walking around can be tiring. would be nice if they allow u to ride the bike inside the zoo. i'm not talking about buildings where u need to enter.

Stacy

vincentnyc: They probably don't allow bike riding inside the zoo since they already have their own Zoo Shuttle and they'd have to provide bicycle parking at each exhibit. I wonder if they have any bicycle parking at all. Why not contact them and ask? https://www.bronxzoo.com/contact-us.aspx


According to this map it looks like the Fordham Road entrance is still in use.

https://www.bronxzoo.com/plan-your-tr...cessMap08.ashx

Sportsman9

Original Poster here:

Well I did the ride today, and had a great time. Jeez the weather couldn't be any better, I'm starting to think 60 is the ideal temp. There were a few setbacks. I'd never gone higher than 80 St. on the MUP before, and I got thrown from it at 95 St. I thought it was just 1 block on Riverside and then back on the MUP -- but eventually I realized this was a different MUP, higher up and maybe a quarter mile inland from the waterside one. And really no clear way to get down there. So I continued on that way, then when it dead-ended I got onto Riverside Drive and rode that, or its sidewalk, for a stretch.

Then I tried to get towards the river and somehow ended up on, I think, the Henry Hundson Parkway for a few blocks. I quickly realized this was going to be unfriendly, so hopped off and walked along on the gravel beside the highway. After about 10 minutes I found a ramp and some steps that led up to the streets proper (this was just at the G. Washington Bridge).

From there I rode north on Broadway, which was pretty decent though a little trafficky. Now being on Broadway sooner than planned, it led to my second mishap. The orginal route called for a right turn at Dyckman, go a few blocks, then a left on Broadway. So I reached Dyckman -- great!, major checkpoint. Turned right, enjoying the view of all the tantalizing stores and food shops, and was looking for Broadway.

After about 6 quick downhill blocks, something didn't feel right. Broadway was supposed to be only a few blocks away.

A stranger helped set me straight, and I was soon back on course (duh).

On the lower part of Broadway, there is a really sweet downhill in Washington Heights or Inwood. Then 207 St was fine -- I walked the bridge mostly, as the roadway was wall-to-wall cars. Then Fordham was okay but, having left late, it was starting to get dark. Should I stop and get pizza? Yeah, better. Back on the road, once it veers off to 188 St the rest is a breeze.

Total of about 22 miles from Brooklyn Heights. Arrived too late to go into the zoo and visit with my cousins the apes, but that wasn't really the point.

Subway home from there, as I didn't want to ride more in the dark.

roadiejorge 

I can see how you got confused on how to get back on the Greenway once you get on the detour. Once you make the right and go up the small hill to the promonade just ride it straight until the round about where you'll turn left and go down the hill which bears left and takes you back onto the Greenway.

noglider 

How was Fordham Rd? I rode it many years ago, and it was many miles of hellish traffic. And this was when I lived near Dyckman St, which is bad enough! (We called it Dyckperson Street back then.)

Sportsman9

Fordham Road was okay -- you start out with a pretty stiff climb which takes your attention away from the traffic anyway. Then it's a lot of traffic and parked cars, but it all seemed to be moving pretty slowly.
You gotta be alert but it's rideable.

Then it is a relief to hit 188 St because suddenly you're pretty much the only vehicle.

Sportsman9

Thanks, I'll give it a try next time.

Not the Slowest

Could you bring the bike inside?

Sportsman9

By the time I got around to the main entrance, the zoo was closed.

Sportsman9

Well I went again yesterday -- a bit windy with the remnants of "Windstorm 09", still a fun ride. This time I handled the west side MUP better, but did lose pavement at one point, around 160 St. I ended up on a dirt path, and then literally walked the plank at one spot.

Got to do a brief visit inside the zoo, though they close at 4:30 now. Bikes are not allowed in; at the Southern Blvd entrance, there is a serpent-shaped bike rack, inside the gate and about 30 yards away from the ticket booths.

Stacy

Around 160th Street, just after the path goes up a slight hill and passes by some ball fields, it takes a sharp, 90 degree right, a quick 90 degree turn to the left, and then runs down along the Amtrak tracks. This is one of the sections that's unlit and since its set back away from the river, with some tree cover, it can get quite dark at night. Next time if you feel you've wandered off the route just follow the cyclists. There are usually plenty along the way.