GRVR6

I have a feeling that it's too cold to pave. We may have to wait till spring.

johnnywhale 

Went in late today during daylight, only part of path is bedded, about a mile is not. Next spring!

Papa Tom

New Year's Day looks like a cold one. If the weather is bearable, though, I will probably take my Tomos folder to the boardwalk for my "conditionally-annual" ride. While I'm there, I'll try to get a look at the progress

johnnywhale 

Papa Tom

Wow! That's close to the roadway! And Ocean Parkway is known to be a drunken speedway in the summer time. I hope they plan to install a fence similar to the one along Ocean Parkway.

Steve B.

That's a very good question. They closed an entire lane on the north bound Wantagh, from the theater lot to Merrick Rd., just to gain a break down lane. That was needed as once the cable barrier was installed to protect path users from errant motor vehicles, there was no place to pull a vehicle off on the grass.

I am totally not seeing in that picture, how they would be able to install a cable barrier as well as have room on the grass to pull a vehicle off the road.

Found this on the web., it's seemingly the original 14.4 mile plan. I would assume it's now just a scaled back version. It does show a barrier in sections, but not in others.

https://www.dot.ny.gov/regional-offi...0Slideshow.pdf

Papa Tom

By the way, I meant "similar to the one on the Wantagh Parkway," not "Ocean Parkway."

Anyway, yah, that was my first reaction seeing how close to the roadway the bike path is.

GRVR6

Most of the path along Ocean Parkway is further from the road from what's in the picture above. I think there's ample room for a pull off area and a cable type barrier.

johnnywhale 

Yes in most places it is further away - up to 50'. And there are cable barriers at underground crossings already, and in between roadways at both of the Gilgos, but I think those may be to stop waterborne debris, not cars.

csi56

So is it done? Are we ready to go? If so, tomorrow I'm THERE.

johnnywhale 

Still traffic cones / debris as of Friday 2nd

Papa Tom

I hope this one doesn't go the same route as the Bethpage Bikeway extension, which still isn't finished two years later.

johnnywhale 

Its paved, looks like just about all of it, maybe fencing etc. is what's left. Crews work almost every day.

GRVR6

They were working on it this morning.

Papa Tom

May 11, 2014

Rode down to the beach today hoping that they may have opened the extension to TOBAY in time for Mother's Day. As shown in the attached photo, it still looks a few weeks away from completion. Good ride anyway, though my legs and lungs are still way out of shape from such a dormant winter.

Has anybody seen the new bronze statue near the entrance to the bikeway in Cedar Creek Park? It's in memory of "Matt Scarpa," who I think may have been the cyclist killed by an out-of-control car on the bikeway a few years back. If I am correct, he's directly responsible for the new safety rails all along the bikeway.

Steve B.

All correct, that is indeed the statue to Matt. It's a terrific memorial, IMO.

I suspect that as they did with the BP extension, they will not lay down the last 100 yards of asphalt at the start in JB, until the *entire* path is completed, guardrails, signage, etc..... They did this at BP, leaving a rough surface for a bit, as well as a lot of orange netting.

As BTW, have you (Tom) ridden the BP extension and have they yet finished the curb cuts at Washington, Old Country or Suunyside ?

Papa Tom

>>>>>As BTW, have you (Tom) ridden the BP extension and have they yet finished the curb cuts at Washington, Old Country or Suunyside ?<<<<<<

I rode a piece this past weekend. Washington & Old Country are done, but I'm not sure about the part on Sunnyside, adjacent to the Holiday Inn. In fact, I don't even know what they have planned for that section. The trailhead at Sunnyside and Woodbury Road was still sealed with an orange net.

Overall, the path seems to be getting sort of seedy before it's even complete. For example, the cuts you mentioned are open, but they are still littered with sand, rocks, and other debris. Likewise, the aprons that looked like they were waiting for some colorful plantings last year are all overgrown with weeds, just as the areas around the various parking fields are. I don't get the impression that there is a lot of pride taken in this project, and I don't think we can expect any sort of "grand opening" to show it off.

Back on topic, I hope you are right about the extension to TOBAY. I've been looking forward to riding it this year. Any word about rebuilding the first (most northern) bridge? While crossing it this past weekend, I suddenly felt unsafe, as if the skinny little bike lane is about to snap off any minute!

Lightingguy

As per the BP extension, Maintenance is the state, not the contractor, and any bodies guess if the state is doing any. I'm certain the contractor has written off the stuff they consider completed and it's questionable if the state will force them to do a complete cleanup.

NYC is a case of being good at finding the money to hire contractors to build stuff, then not wanting to pay to hire city employees to maintain. The MUP along the Belt, from Floyd Bennett up to The Belt and east to Howard Beach is an example of nice path left to nature. No maintenance by city parks dept., and I suspect the Bethpage path will be that same.

johnnywhale 

Fence is done the whole length
Maybe for the Air Show!

Papa Tom

>>>Fence is done the whole length. Maybe for the Air Show!<<<

When's the air show? I want it open THIS WEEKEND!!!! (And finish the Bethpage Bikeway while you're at it, guys!)

johnnywhale 

Next weekend, great day to be on the boat in Zach's bay.
Friday is practice day

GRVR6

The new section is still not open, but I saw someone riding on it this morning.

kaos joe

It's still blocked by netting on either end, but it is finished, although it looks like additional grass/flower plantings are still to be done, and there are white dots painted down the middle to locate a center stripe.

Rumors still abound regarding an extension to Captree.......anyone know anything?

Vifam7

Does anyone know how badly crowded the Jones Beach bikeway is on Memorial Day weekend? I've ridden the path before but it was during the Fall season.

The reason I ask is because I'm thinking of going to Jones Beach to see the airshow on Sunday. But rather than sitting in traffic on the Wantagh or Ocean pkwy, I figured I could park at Cedar Creek and casually ride down to the beach.

Papa Tom

I've never done it on Air Show Weekend, but I plan on riding down there from Cedar Creek with my wife on Sunday. It will be her first ride of the season, so if it IS crowded, blame it on everyone waiting for her to get up the hills!