zacster

I took a short ride on the east side, from Houston down to the Brooklyn Bridge. It is in terrible shape, barely rideable. Many years ago, I can't remember how many now, there was a lot of hoopla about the bike paths that circumnavigate Manhattan, so I decided to ride it. This was before I got back into cycling, and to ride that far was a big deal to me. I remember thinking that the east side was in bad shape, with construction everywhere but it was never clear what was being constructed. The west side otoh was looking pretty good, and it is a great path now.

So why is it, about 10 years later I think, it still is in such crappy shape. Can't it at least be paved smooth? Never mind that it was never a fully contiguous route but at least make what is there a decent place to ride. We all know 1st, 2nd and 3rd are too crowded to ride during the week, so make the one place at least a decent alternative.

Papa Tom

Hmmm. I rode the East Side Bikeway from the Brooklyn Bridge to 34th Street this past summer and I was pleasantly surprised by how much better it looked than it had ten years ago. Of course, it's nothing like the path along the Hudson, but I think the East Side Bikeway is a pretty neat thing to have in Manhattan.

Stacy

The East Side bike path actually has been repaved for a few blocks between 6th or 8th Street and just south of the ConEd plant. South of Houston seems worse than ever, maybe from all of those construction vehicles? Maybe once they're finished with the new esplanade they'll repave the path south of 6th Street too.

Commando303

The east-side greenway indeed is one of the City's most pathetic bike-paths. Sure, it's nice here and there, but, not only is it badly broken (i.e., it doesn't exist in midtown and uptown, and there are sections in which one must deal with long staircases), parts of it, south of 6th Street, are so riddled with pot-holes no sensible rider would occasion it unless necessary.

BrooklyntoNYC

I wonder if it can be improved at all. What Bikepath almost takes you underneath a building/hospital I always get confused in that area. They should just forget about it and make a protected bike path in the streets.

zacster

Since I only rode south of Houston that's the impression I got.

Papa Tom

Being a Long Islander and having to DRIVE to get to almost any bikeway, I guess I'm willing to put up with the few potholes I came across on the East Side. Ten or so years ago, you couldn't ride five minutes on that path without having to carry your bike over a fence or walk it along the shoulder of the FDR. At least, in my opinion, it's moved forward since then.

kninetik

It's the closest thing to cobblestoned paths of Belgium. One would imagine all the damaged sections are left there to slow down riders and keep the path safe for everyone who uses it. I appreciate the east side MUP being there at all, though I wont use it if im in a hurry.

roadiejorge 

I tried riding south on the east bike path from Inwood when I lived there and it wasn't something I'd want to do again. It would be nice to have something similar to what we have on the westside but to BrooklyntoNYC's point I don't see how they'd do it since there isn't much of a direct route along the river.

jyossarian

What I like to do w/ potholes is ride around them. Or if the FDR is moving slow, hop on the roadway and ride on that. The potholes there suck too.