I nearly collided with a doofus coming the other way. There are deliberate pinch spots on the path which aim to slow down the bike traffic. The doofus passed pedestrians on their left, putting him into my lane. When he saw he was on a collision course with me, he went even further left. I tried to pass him on my left, because that is my trained reflex. At the last moment, I realized it wouldn't work, and I saw his rear wheel skid in front of me. Unskilled dude. We managed to avoid hitting each other.

But that was fruitful, because the guy riding behind me struck up a conversation. He ended up accompanying me all the way to the Bronx because he lives and works in that neighborhood. He showed me the bike path over the Henry Hudson Bridge. I had been wondering how to get there, and I needed someone to show me. It's more pleasant as a route, but it is a little out of the way and much hillier, so it takes more time. I will take it sometimes but not always. He's a really nice guy, so I thanked him and handed him my card when we parted ways.