sethw

Hi all,
Wondering if anyone here has some advice for a rookie Manhattan commuter. I've been biking for years, but I've only riden from the Queensboro Bridge to 33rd and Lex a few times. Whew - it sure is intense during rush hour.

I'm okay heading into work, but going home I'm still trying to the find the best route. I made the mistake of taking 1st ave from 33rd to 59th, and that was a NIGHTMARE. Holy moly. The traffic was insane. A few time's I've taken 3rd ave, then cut across to 1st to get on the bridge, and that works well.

Any advice? Is taking 3rd ave the best bet?

pgoat

Seth, I know I mentioned 1st Ave to you in another thread - sorry it didn't work out, but i am surprised - what time of day were u riding there?

People do tend to go a bit faster on the outer perimeters but if you take the outer part of the bus lane (east side of 1st heading north) you should be okay. I used to keep on the left - no buses but everybody is in a megahurry to turn left back towards midtown, so I got tired of slowing down/speeding up for insane cabbies.

You could just do third ave up to 57th - stay on your right and watch the car doors. definitely beats sixth ave (I'm bet 7th and 8th so I've bopped up 6th on occasion, tho the bike lane is a joke, as are most nyc bike lanes.....not the idea behind them, just the way cars ignore/misuse them and how the police don't enforce violations)

sethw

It was around 5pm, or 5:15pm. I turned onto the street and it was just PACKED. Lots of people turning left to the Queens Tunnel (I think), and the cars were just packed together so tightly, making any kind of cool manuvering impossible. I saw a few bikers on the east side of the street, I was on the west side, in anticipation for the bridge entrance. I also saw these signs saying BIKE LANE and I was like, "Yea right!"

But im new at this, so im sure i'll learn how to get around easier. Coming up 3rd was intense last night. I learned that rain makes manholes slippery! I had my rear tire skip across one, but I was able to stay upright

pgoat

yes, not sure why 1st ave was THAT packed, but the time prolly had a lot to do with it - I typically get out of work 5:45 - 6:15ish so maybe it's less hellish then......maybe third ave is a better bet at that time. But there may also have been something going on? UN? other? One or two big events can totally mess up your route for those days. (I commmute to MSG so you know I was loving last September )

also be most careful right when the rain starts - that's when all the oils and grease in the road lifts. Wet leaves are nasty too. I described an awful fall on other threads which happened when I was on the right side of a small road and a limo cut right, right in front of me. It had just started pouring and I was only doing about 5 mph and I squeezed the front brake - wham bam - my bike just disappeared, sideways.

also for any new commuters - if you have thin tires, watch those drains on the side of the road. They will eat your front wheel and send u on a ride. Without the bike.

sethw

Yea, yea I know all that stuff! Hehe... I've been riding since I was 8 or so I think it was the years of experiance that kept me from going on that slippery manhole. That woulda majorly sucked.

Anywho - thanks big time for the advice. I took 3rd ave. to 57th again and did okay. Its weird, its not the whole "going fast and keeping up with traffic" that gets me, its the whole when things are all slow, and you gotta squeeze between an SUV and a bus or something... all that slow delicate balancing stuff...heh... I love it though.

Now if I can just get over the Queensboro bridge faster

pgoat

lol - welcome to my world......I thought I was improving a bit because lately riders were coming up on my rear but couldn't quite seem to get by me. Other days, tho, they blew by me (as usual) as if I were standing still.....odd

what was odder still was that a pattern emerged - I seemed to be more 'competitive' on days with a strong head wind......

finally I realized (since the riders hanging on my rear wheel would suddenly be able to zoom by me once we got onto the descent off the bridge) that they were drafting me......

oh, the humiliation

btw, I kinda Love the twisty through the car stuff except when it's real hot and the fumes are killing (that's bad killing). Reminds of fun days in the past mountain biking through radical gnarly singletrack, dooode. The nice thing is it really improves your riding skills and balance. I rode the 5 borough bike tour a few times and it was fun zipping through the snail peloton (finally - riders slower than me !!! ) I think all the experince commuting crosstown really helped. Pick a line, keep moving.

Enjoy and be safe!

coney

I feel your pain. That's my route every day. I go up 1st ave, but the Con Ed utility tents are all over the place and is making such a mess of traffic, it really sucks. On days when the 36st. Midtown Tunnel is backed up to 6th ave, I usually go up Park Ave for a few blocks just to get out of the fray, then cut over to 1st.

When are they going to open a greenway along the East River? Anyone know? That would ROCK.

I want to petition the city to have 5th AVe turned into a greenway from Central Park South, to Union Square. Shouldn't be too hard.

Be safe everyone. See you on the Bridge!

sethw

That's funny - all us Queensboro bridge folk. I love passing the "dewds" on the fat tire mountain bikes, all in a big gear, standing up and huffing along. I usually hit a low gear and spin past 'em. Of course, someone on a slick road bike and in full lycra will blow by me then.

But I tell you - I had to come into work early today, so I rode down 2nd ave at like 6:15 am and it was nearly EMPTY! It was soooo nice

monsterkidz

I'm in Times Square and I take 6th Ave. up to 58th, take 58th across town to 1st to the bridge. I don't find 6th Ave to be to bad, I've heard from others that it is a nightmare, maybe I am just used to it. Good Luck though

oboeguy

This is a good thread for me too. I once tried 3rd to get the the QBB from 45th/Madison for a (mild) TimesUp ride and it was murder. Of course I was on my road bike with Look pedals and carbon-soled shoes... not the best setup for rush hour in Midtown. So I say stay away from 3rd. <shudder>

The building only let me bring the road bike that one time on Bike-to-Work Day. Anyhow, I will soon be folder-enabled and will need a good route to CP from where I am (45th/Madison). From CP I've done the route home a zillion times, cars or not. Madison or 6th, I guess is the question for me.

pgoat

6th is less claustrophobic than Madison but kind of insane imho.

pgoat

Do it Do it Do it Do it !!!!!!!

support TA and make yer voice heard: https://www.transalt.org/takeaction/index.html


seth I know you can't be talkin' about me - I quit using fat tires on my mtb years ago!!
besides, I'd be the guy sitting and spinning AND huffin and puffin.....