Delaware River crossing

[tom cotter]

Between NJ and Delaware runs the Delaware River. As it runs south it empties into Delaware Bay. From that point the next stop is the Atlantic Ocean. There aren't many bike friendly ways to get across this body of water. Most either pay someone to cross one of the interstate highway bridges, or ride far to the north where small one and two lane country roads cross a much narrower river. To the extreme south is the Cape May- Lewes Ferry, which should be on everyone's list to do once. It conveniently connects a great little Jersey Shore town, Cape May, with the Delmarva Penincula. ON the Delaware side of the bay it connects just two miles north of a great state park with camping, Cape Henlopen.

All that said, there is a little known alternate route to the Delmarva that sits about ten miles south of the Delaware Memorial Bridge. It is Ft Mott State Park. Along with being a tidy little state park it happens to have a ferry that crosses the Delaware River. It's two part ride. Part A takes you to the Fort in the middle of the river. Part two takes you Delaware City DE. DE City is about 9 miles from Lums Pond State Park where there is camping. If traveling north and you need camping fac, Parvin State park in Nj is about 25 miles from FT Mott.

The Ferry is currently $11.00 and bikes are allowed. The sch'd is limited 3 crossings a day, so some forward planning is needed. lastly, a megatropolis of hotels, restaurants etc is about 10 miles from the park. So many options.

So, something to help your planning if you are riding up or down the East coast this summer.

[ezdoesit]

Thanks for the information I am hoping to ride from High Point to Cap May probably sometime September when it's cooler out.

[OldZephyr]

This kind of helpful information about crossing the Delaware River would be perfect for a short article that you could post on crazyguyonabike -- if it hasn't been done already.

[raybo]

This kind of helpful information about crossing the Delaware River would be perfect for a short article that you could post on crazyguyonabike -- if it hasn't been done already.

I agree. In a couple days when this is off the first page of the forum, no one will look for it or find it again.

I've added a link to it, and the underlying 3 Forts ferries website, to biketouringtips.com.

[MAK]

On the subject of crossing from Delaware to Jersey and visa versa...the Cape May/Lewes ferry links southern Delaware and southern Jersey. It used to be free for cyclists but I don't know if that's changed. It also runs on a fairly frequent schedule based on the seasons.

[mtbikerinpa]

I never got too far south of philly, but the Frenchtown crossing up in the Easton end is quite scenic along the canal trail. That scenery never gets old.

[SkippyX]

When I was a kid my father used to take my brother and I to a cabin on the Delaware that belonged to a friend of the family. It was way up in NY, maybe 100 miles or so north of NYC (IIRC). That is a beautiful part of the country.

[Cyclebum]

Sorry. The title of this thread conjurs an image of a row boat, bicycle aboard, stalwart cyclist standing at the prow peering anxiously at the Jersey shore. Wonder why?

[tom cotter]

Good point on posting to CGOAB> I'll do that when i get a chance.

The northern crossings are part of the Adventure Cycling East Coast route. This is posted as another option. I've been to FT Mott SP several times. In fact cycling that part of Salem County, along with Cumberland County makes for some great day rides. Maybe better for spring or fall as it can get really buggy with biting flies and greenheads. depends on wind direction.

I found this crossing while planning a coast to coast loop tour. Starting from my house, ride to the Jersey shore at Brigantine. Then south to Cape May, cross on the ferry, and then north along the coast of Delaware. Once north of Delaware City the scenery becomes urban. The next self supported crossing is the Ben Franklin Bridge in Philly. Getting there without a long end around detour, a direct route takes me through highly urbanized neighborhoods and some sketchy ones as well. Plan is to avoid that, to cross at Delaware City ride to Parvin, spend the night and either head out for Bass River SP spend another night or ride home to CH from Parvin. Details still being worked out.

Cyclebum, i have no idea why that thought would come to mind!!!!

[briwasson]

You can take a bike across several (maybe even all) of the "big" bridges across the Delaware in the Philadelphia area, including the Tacony-Palymyra in NE Philly and the Ben Franklin in Center City. You don't have to go all the way up to the "smaller" bridges in Bucks County, although they are also possibilities.

[jamawani]

Most of the toll authority bridges which permit bikes on the sidewalk require that cyclists walk their bikes.
I am going to replace the posted sign to - -
"Cyclists may ride across. Motorists must push their cars."

[indyfabz]

In fact cycling that part of Salem County, along with Cumberland County makes for some great day rides. Maybe better for spring or fall as it can get really buggy with biting flies and greenheads. depends on wind direction.

I found this crossing while planning a coast to coast loop tour. Starting from my house, ride to the Jersey shore at Brigantine.

Every Memorial Day weekend I lead a day ride from Port Elizabeth to East Point to see horseshoe crabs mating. Then we go inland out to Fortescue and return via Mauricetown. Mauricetowm (pronounced like Morristown) is a neat place on the Maurice River, which used to be home to sail powered oyster dredgers. Many of the captains lived in the town, and many of their houses have been preserved. Some date back to the early 1800s.

Why would you want to go from Cherry Hill to Brigantine only to then head south? Don't care for coast riding north of Ocean City one bit. The MS City-to-Shore route is decent way to get from your neck of the woods (It starts at the PATCO Woodbridge Station) to O.C.

One neat crossing of the Delaware up north is at Dingman's Ferry. One of the worst is the walkway along I-80 to Delaware Water Gap. Not only is it a long walk) it's really noisy with the all the cars and trucks rushing buy. But I am glad it's there.

The route down the river from Port Jervis, NY to New Hope is really nice (except for Philipsburg). Just rode it in May. The DWGNRA was nearly devoid of traffic on a Friday. There was one short traffic jam consiting of a few people who were following a fish truck to see where the crew was stocking a creek with trout. Worthington State Forest is a great place to camp. It's on the AT, so there is at least one group camp site with a bear locker. NJ state parks won't take weekend reservations for just one night unless you call Saturday morning and there is space, but I was told that if you arrive at Worthington by bike they won't turn you away. Belvidere has some very nice victorian houses off the main drag.

Another tidbit: The bridge linkng Riegelsville, NJ with the PA town of the same name was designed by Roebling himself. There is a nice restaurant right at the PA end of the bridge.

Jamawani: The commision's bridge trolls takes their jobs seriously. Many years ago, before they were widened, I "skateboarded" on one of the walkways because there wasn't much room to walk a bike with large panniers. The troll came out of his cave and made me walk the last 15'.

Bri: The Walt Whitman is not rideable. Niether is the Commodore Barry in Chester. Don't know about the Burlington-Bristol.