Bike commuting from Queens to Melville (train to Farmindale - bike to Melville)

[OwlInDaylight]

Hey all,

I'm wondering if anyone has attempted this. I'm considering to start taking taking the train from Woodside to Farmingdale LIRR with my bike on the train, then riding the 4 miles to my office in Melville. The only thing I worry about is the Melville suburban commercial traffic hell that is route 110 -- huge trucks, fast cars, unyielding suburban drivers not used to cyclists, etc.

Any suggestions?

[Lightingguy]

Hey all,

I'm wondering if anyone has attempted this. I'm considering to start taking taking the train from Woodside to Farmingdale LIRR with my bike on the train, then riding the 4 miles to my office in Melville. The only thing I worry about is the Melville suburban commercial traffic hell that is route 110 -- huge trucks, fast cars, unyielding suburban drivers not used to cyclists, etc.

Any suggestions?

Where you going in Melville ?. The actual location changes the route suggestions.

That said, North on Secatogue from the LIRR in Farmingdale to east on Melville Rd to 110. Melville is not terrible and is better then Conklin/Rt24.

That only gets you to Rt 110, which I would only use for very short distances.

Any chance the LIRR schedule gets you to the next stop east to Pinelawn ?. That area, east of 110 is a bit quieter.

But really need to know where you want to end up.

[Papa Tom]

My thought is that, depending on where you work in Melville, you ought to look at Melville Road, which you can pick up either a block east or a block north of the Farmingdale LIRR station. This will take you away from Rt. 24, onto the campus of Farmingdale University and out to Rt. 110. Then you have some options for avoiding 110, but, again, it all depends on where you work.

I'm not familiar with the Pinelawn LIRR station, but LightingGuy is usually right-on with his advice.

[FattyArbuckle]

I'd avoid Rt 110 like the plague. Depends on your ultimate destination, but maybe this is a start:

Google Map

The street views look a lot more pleasant than the maelstrom that must be Rt 110 @ rush hour, and only adds a half a mile or so...

[DSchlichting]

To consider a solution out of left field . . . depending on where exactly in Melville is your destination, you might take a look at taking LIRR to Cold Spring Harbor. Very nice routes possible almost anywhere between Cold Spring Harbor and anyplace north of L.I.E. A lot of club and event rides pass through this area.

[Papa Tom]

My guess is that he works in the industrial/commercial area along the Rt. 110 corridor, which is really a haul from the Cold Spring Harbor station. My other guess is that OwlInDaylight has lost interest in this idea and isn't going to come back and tell us where he needs to go!

[Beckdgc]

I ride 110 to work 6 days a week, but im on the south shore and only go as far north as east farmingdale. 110 is a decent ride, well paved, wide shoulders, obviously you have to watch for turning traffic.

Pinelawn station is essentially useless. The schedule is very limited, and it puts you on wellwood ave/pinelawn road. This is road I also ride 6 days a week, and its basically a death trap. No shoulders, 55 mph speed limit, 4 lanes undivided.

Personally, I would take the farmingdale Lirr, then ride melville rd, cut through the university and take 110 the remaining distance.

Im pretty familiar with that whole area. I work just east of 110, and my LBS is right on Main st by the farmingdale LIRR.(adventure cycles and sports, great shop by the way) If you want me to check out any roads in the area let me know, Im usually through there pretty often.

[OwlInDaylight]

Thanks for all the help --

I actually work near baylis road (so south Melville). How would riding on the sidewalk during the Rt. 110 portion sound? I know riding on the sidewalk is illegal, but almost seems safer on this busy, commercial street.

[Steve B.]

Thanks for all the help --

I actually work near baylis road (so south Melville). How would riding on the sidewalk during the Rt. 110 portion sound? I know riding on the sidewalk is illegal, but almost seems safer on this busy, commercial street.

Riding the sidewalk in only illegal in NYC, not the rest of NY State. Can't say it's advisable though, as most motorists turning into or out of parking lots tend to not watch for or yield to cyclists on the sidewalk, especially if you are riding against traffic.

As Beck stated, 110 has a decent shoulder, especially the mile from Smith St across from the SUNY Farmingdale entrance. I'd ride that and use Melville Rd from the Farmingdale LIRR thru the SUNY campus. The entire route from LIRR to Bayliss Rd., is under 4 miles, so 30 minutes ?.

[Papa Tom]

What about crossing 110 at Farmingdale University, continuing on Milbar Blvd to New Highway. Left on New Highway to Ruland Place. Right on Ruland Place to Maxess Road. Left on Maxess Road to Baylis Road. Of course, this leaves you on the east side of 110. If you're on the west side, I'm sure there's a similar network of roads between Melville Road and 110 that will get you to Baylis Road.

[Steve B.]

. If you're on the west side, I'm sure there's a similar network of roads between Melville Road and 110 that will get you to Baylis Road.

There aren't, unfortunately.

The option to avoid 110 completely is to go north out of Farmingdale on Round Swamp (that's a nice annoying climb, as BTW), right on Spagnoli to 110, then a left, OR, head all the way up to the LIE service road, then east to Whitman Rd., then south to Bayliss. That's a lot of extra miles, IMO and un-needed.

I think Beck has it correct that 110 has a decent shoulder and as long as you ride smart, stay visible, the OP would be OK for a mile on 110.

[NVanHiker]

Just had a look at the huge shoulders on 110 - I'd take that commute any day over mine!

[Papa Tom]

Test. I have been trying to add to this thread for three days, but I keep getting bumped off.

[Lightingguy]

I think the site has been having some server issues, having read thru other groups where folks are noticing slowdowns, myself included.

SB

[Papa Tom]

How come these short posts keep making it, but the ones I spend twenty minutes producing get wiped out?

[Lightingguy]

Maybe try on a different browser

[Stacy]

I've been considering a similar trip but had planned on taking the LIRR to Hicksville, and then Old Country Road and the LIE Service Road, to Walt Whitman Road. Now I see the Farmingdale Station is two miles closer. Is it a safer route too?

[Papa Tom]

No. Hicksville Station makes no sense as a starting point. Also, there is a huge hill you'll have to deal with each day on the LIE service road between Old Country Road (Round Swamp Rd) and Walt Whitman Rd (Rt. 110). Use Farmingdale, take Melville Road to 110, take 110 to where you need to go, and be done with it!

[Stacy]

THanks Papa Tom. There's nothing better than saving a couple miles and avoiding hills