Route question for NYCers
 

What's the best route to get from Forest Hills/Queens Blvd to the West Village: Across the Williamsburg or across the 59th St Bridge?

And if I take the 59th St Bridge, what's the best way to go crosstown to get to the West Side Highway?

Queens Blvd. takes you to the 59th St. bridge. To get across town, I suggest going down to 57th St. to get to the West Side Highway. If you want to get to the Hudson Greenway, you can go a couple blocks north and go under the Henry Hudson Pkwy. or go south a couple blocks and cross the West Side Hwy.

You know that's the exact route I took this morning. :) I was trying to figure out if there was a better way of going crosstown since 57th St's traffic had me needling between cars.

According to my NYC bike map, there's a cautionary route on E51 St. going west and another on E48 St. going east. Cautionary routes are "limited width and/or heavy traffic" routes, but those two are the only ones marked on the map and somewhat close to the 59th St. bridge.

If you don't want to stop, zig zag.
Go west on a street until you hit a light, then make a left onto an avenue, keep going down the avenue till you hit another light, then make a right to get onto a street, etc.

You can always use this tool to post routes.

http://www.sueandpaul.com/gmapPedometer/

I am still looking for way to do the Montclair, NJ to NYC trip.

It's depends on the time of day (on a weekday). I commute everyday from Bayside (Queens), which is by Little Neck Bay, into SoHo (west side). During morning rush hour, I tried Williamsburg Brdg by way of Grand St/Av and it's not very pleasant. First, Grand St., leading to the bridge is full of warehouses and loading docks, so there are lots of trucks and rigs crisscrossing (very very bad). Also Williamsburg Brdg is wider but it has a lot more foot traffic and the speed bumps really spoil your ride into the city. Take Queensboro (59st) Brdg if you're coming in from Forest Hills, but I advice you to stay away from Queens Blvd at all costs. This Blvd. is evil. It's the accident mecca of NYC. Check out city statistics at www.transalt.org. Take 39Ave to Stillman, which takes you straight on to Queensboro Brdg. Once you cross the bridge, stay away from crossing town on 57St during morning rush. It's too packed and there's a hill. Take 61St - 5Av - 59St - Broadway. Times Square is pretty tame during morning rush. Don't be tempted to go down 7Av because it's packed.

If it's not morning rush hour, take 2nd Ave all the way down to 9St then cross town there. I don't advice taking 2nd Ave down during morning rush. It's packed from 59St down to 34St. Packed meaning, no room to even "filter" through.

Good luck.

I'd def. go 59th to the West side VS. Williamsburg/Delancey. It's HELL down there in the morning. I used to commute from Williamsburg, and except for a nice view, it's a lousy ride to, over and after the bridge.

On the flipside, TransAlt is getting those nasty bumps removed from the 'billyburg Bridge.