í am looking for a scenic ride with my wife around the city . I will be coming from southern nj. On nj transit and getting off at penn station. Looking not to ride in the mass confusion of the city nor looking to board other trains to get to other parts of the city. I need to keep it as simple as possible.
Thank you

dude, you live you southern jerz, the pine barrens are a hell a lot more scenic than anything you can find here. if you insist, follow the greenway all the way to the top of manhattan & stop by fort tryon where the cloister museum is

If you insist on making Manhattan the site of your scenic ride, you're going to have to either take a subway from Penn Station to another station OR brave New York City traffic to get to one of the paths on the east or west sides of the island. The west side bikeway is much nicer. If you exit Penn Station on the 8th Avenue end, ask someone how to get to the West Side Highway. Strap your helmet on tight, keep your eyes and ears wide open and you should be able to make it to the path in one piece. I've done it many times. My wife is not such a seasoned rider, so I wouldn't even think of taking her through the city streets.

The Central Park loop is a great ride, but very hilly in some spots. You said you want to keep it simple.

If you live in South Jersey - and you're tired of out-of-the-way, boring "rail trail" type rides (Henry Hudson Bikeway, Edgar Felix Bikeway, etc) - why not try the new waterfront walkway from Hoboken to Liberty State Park? It must be finished or ALMOST finished by now. My wife and I rode the incomplete route twice last year and loved it. It was scenic enough for me (great views of the city and a gorgeous end at Liberty State Park) and easy enough for my wife. You can end with lunch or dinner on Washington Street in Hoboken and then grab a cannoli at Carlo's Bakery.

Bottom line: Unless you're really experienced and comfortable in city traffic, there is no simple way to reach a scenic ride in Manhattan by bicycle. For the West Side Greenway, take the #1 to the end of the line at South Street. Take a little detour through Battery Park, then work your way up to the greenway. Expect LOTS of pedestrian and bike traffic if you go on a weekend, though.

Enjoy. It's a great way to see New York!

**********???
Hey Papa Tom do you have something against adamant?

The West Side Greenway is four blocks west of Penn Station on 12th Ave. No need to take a subway. If riding in traffic scares anyone they can always use the sidewalk.

adamant: Get yourself a NYC Cycling Map and don't take directions from out-of-towners

>>>>Hey Papa Tom do you have something against adamant?<<<<
>>>>adamant: Get yourself a NYC Cycling Map and don't take directions from out-of-towners<<<<

Man, the hotter weather is sure bringing out the dark side of this group's participants.

Stacy, I guess I wasn't clear that I was addressing adamant's request for a "keep it simple" scenic ride around Manhattan. If he and his wife have never ridden in Manhattan (or, perhaps, haven't spent more than ten minutes on a bicycle in the past twenty years and thought a ride around NYC would be cute and romantic) I would be irresponsible to suggest that riding through the streets of midtown (even the few blocks between Penn Station and the West Side Greenway) is "simple" or safe.

I have done this ride many times alone and it was fine. I also tried it with an inexperienced cyclist once and the guy nearly got splattered by a bus as he was mounting his bike a few seconds after we exited Penn Station. I just thought it might be a good idea to swing to the side of caution, as I know very little about Adamant and his wife.

C'mon, Stacy. There's been enough negative energy flowing around this group lately. Pick your shots a little more judiciously, OK?

Me negative? Hey I'm not the one sending them onto the subway, up and down several flights of stairs, and through one of the City's major commuter hubs,[strike] which is actually South Ferry not South Street.[/strike] Not to forget that tourist mecca we call Battery Park where the great masses board boats to Liberty and Ellis islands.

They could probably walk the four blocks from Eighth Avenue to Twelfth Avenue in far less time than it takes to ride the subway from Penn Station to South Ferry.

Whatever...

thank you all for your posts . they are helpful.
ant