Papa Tom

>>>>Why would they be built otherwise.<<<<

Not sure if you are being sarcastic, but many of the ones I have ridden start in a desolate lot and end in a desolate lot, passing nothing but desolate woods along the way.

acidfast7

No, I'm not being sarcastic. That makes no sense and is a waste of money/space.

cybermike

Good morning Andy,
sorry for the confusion but this thread is sort of old -- i.e 2 months ago we were looking at Syosset -- but actually ended up renting in Northport....

My current concerns are:
1) If I am to bike to Huntington, Syosset or Mineola, how safe it is when it is dark (or light ) ?
2) Where to leave the bike, once I am at the train station -- I understand that huntington has lockers -- but do they give you a choice which station you can have your bike stored at or may be I should get foldable and tag it along with me ?
3) If it is not safe -- is it a better option to drive to queens/ take folder on LIRR and bike from there

I guess I will have to figure this out once I am there -- I was just hoping there are people who already do it -- or want to do it as a group -- looks like I will be a pioneer.

cybermike

Well -- for recreational use this might be useful but as a transportation alternative it is useless. I guess also because these things tend to be done in stages, the original blue print could of been excellent but then funding gut cut and you have a bike path to nowhere -- I think what could be cool is if towns build paths that lead to train stations and villages -- presenting a real alternative to car commuting --- and reducing need for multiple cars per family and then maybe connecting these paths with east to west link -- this will never happen of course.

I wounder how Westchester county was able to build such an abundance of trails that eventually lead to NYC... Can LI try the same?

TransitBiker

Mineola had racks when i was there in 2007, but that was 7 years ago. I would call 511 and get the scoop on the situation there. I can't do 511 since i'm not in NY.

Mineola is right by a hospital, so i think you should be OK. Definitely ask locals though, as i have not been there in 7 years.

This link may be helpful as well.......MTA LIRR - Bicycle Policy Information

- Andy

Papa Tom

That's where the funding came from to build a recent extension of a popular bike path here on Long Island. But, as with many government projects, the DOT designers took advantage of an opportunity to add more miles to nowhere under the guise of building a bikeway to a train station. The bikeway ends on a busy street about three miles from the rr station, then provides nothing but a striped line and some "Bike Lane" signs the rest of the way. In some places, this designated bike lane is no more than a foot wide and puts riders within inches of fast passing cars.

Anybody who is a serious cyclist or cyclo-commuter knows it's all smoke and mirrors and that NOBODY is going to commute to the railroad station this way. We're just grateful to have another ten miles of bikeway on which to take our kids, regardless of how it got there. But as far as this bikeway being "useful" or a step toward breaking our community's dependence on cars, faghettaboutit!

Vintage_Cyclist

If local security is a concern, the Floral Park RR station is 3 stops west of Mineola (probably 5 miles). The bike racks are adjacent to the ticket office and a 24/7 taxi stand. The local PD is around the corner. It's a good area. Mineola has adjacent facilities, such as state and county courts, which can draw some level of miscreants to the area. Last time I noticed the bike rack is underneath the adjacent overpass for Mineola Blvd. and is fairly secluded from view.

Papa Tom

Mike:

I think what you're asking is whether the roads between Northport and points west are safe to ride at night. I would say that the route I suggested via Pulaski Road would be a death trap after dark. In fact, there's one pretty substantial section that passes by an old farm on a two lane straightaway with no lights at all. Kids like to "open it up" on this road because there are no cops around.

Regarding your personal safety in neighborhoods you'll pass through, Huntington Station is not the safest area at any time of day. It's a small stretch, but you'll undoubtedly get stuck at the light on NY Avenue and, depending on how dorky your biking gear is (insert smirk here), you might be made to feel a little uncomfortable. Or you might not.

The more I'm thinking about this whole thing, the more I think you might want to set up your commute so you can take the train all the way home when it's dark at night. That last ten miles or so between Hicksville/Syosset/Cold Spring Harbor and Northport are probably the darkest, most dangerous miles of your proposed commute.

cybermike

That does not sound very encouraging. This is where the idea of driving to syosset then biking from syosset to the city came from... That way I can take the train on the way back ....

Papa Tom

Yeah, I guess this is a better idea. However, to park in the RR lot at Syosset, you'll need to apply with the Town of Oyster Bay for a parking permit (about $15-20) and then get to the station no later than 7:00-7:15am. The stores in the downtown area will have you towed if you try to park in one of their lots, or even on the street in front of them all day. Neighborhood street parking near the LIRR is usually restricted until after 10:00am.

The Long Island Expressway Service Road, probably your straightest, quickest route toward Manhattan, is a couple of miles south of the railroad station. Perhaps you can find parking in one of the neighborhoods near the LIE and then jump on the bike from there. If you end up taking the train back to Syosset, you'll just need to ride that short distance to pick up your car.

Before you attempt my route that uses the LIE Service Road to the Cross Island Parkway Bike Path, etc., you need to make sure that little side path off the Northern Blvd bridge in Flushing is still there. Otherwise, you're going to have to brave one of the busiest sections of Northern Blvd to get over to the Flushing Bay Promenade and onward toward the 59th Street Bridge.

cybermike

Papa Tom , thank you for the rundown... I am getting really depressed. It looks more and more that I will have to limit my biking to group rides... which I am afraid I will be too lazy to do

One question google maps lists 25A as a possible route to Cold Spring Harbor from Northport ... is it any safer traffic wise compared to Pulaski ?

TransitBiker

I have to say, that when i lived in bethpage for a few months, it strck me that long island was not very bike friendly. Even LIRR is pretty pathetic at the end of the day. Seems to be all about cars. I think we can thank robert moses for this.

If you are really dedicated to doing this 2-3 times a week, then i really suggest at the very least getting a permit so you can take the bike on the train with you. If you'd like i can do some map research for workable routes, its no biggie and would only take a day or two for a good better best result.

- Andy

Papa Tom

Mike: Sorry to be the bearer of bad news. Long Island has some great places to ride. It's just lacking in good bike routes to Manhattan. You will get to ride plenty.

As far as 25A, it's much busier - and also hillier - than Pulaski Road.

vasuvius

I started commuting with the Ridgewood Commuter Group a couple weeks ago. I go all the way to Brooklyn - 2 Bridges - 55 miles round trip.
At the moment, I'm only doing this 2 times a week as I need to do other group rides as well on non-commute days.
Most of them go to midtown which is about 23 miles one way. And some of them do commute 3-4 times a week I hear.

Yes, it is possible.
I find that the bike commute takes about the same time as public transportation - Bus + Subway.

cybermike

I am ok with hills. Whatever cant kill me will make me stronger -- I am not ok with becoming a roadkill

I need to be at work by 7:30 so I would leave at around 5:30/5 -- does it change the calculus in anyway ?

to vasuvius:

What is nice about the ridgewood group is that bunch of people do it at the same time -- I would start one but but you need at least 3 people to do it -- If It is just me -- it is one crazy mf on the road

cybermike

Thank you Andy,
unfortunately permit will be pretty useless -- as I would use LIRR during pick hours. I think that at the end my commitment will be a function of how safe I feel on the road at the early/late hour and if I can get some one to jkoin me in this madness.

I think it looks like no one is doing this so I will have to just ride the roads and see what I am comfortable with ....

TransitBiker

Yea, thats a good idea. Just take scouting rides when possible & see what your options are. Every time i'm passenger-ing i keep my eyes peeled on road conditions, speed limits etc to see if its a passable route.

- Andy

Papa Tom

I'd say it would. But in the late fall and winter, it's going to be dark at that hour!

The weather is supposed to be nice this weekend. Why don't you take the train out to one of the stations here and ride back to the city, just to get the feel of it?

alan s 

Not from the area, but was thinking about bringing my bike on my next trip to NYC. Have a friend in Port Jefferson I was thinking about visiting. Could you recommend a decent route from 59th Street out your way. I can sort of follow your directions, but not being from the area, am a little concerned about making a wrong turn or riding on dangerous roads. More detail the better. If not recommended, I could always just take a train.

Papa Tom

Alan:

My route from NYC to Flushing, Queens really depends on whether a single strip of dirt still exists off the bridge at Northern Blvd, near CitiField (Shea Stadium). Other things have likely changed since my last ride, too, so I'd rather you get directions from NYC to Syosset from someone else. Basically, though, it uses streets to get to the entrance of the Flushing Bay Promenade, which starts at Laguardia Airport, then continues into College Point and onward (via streets) to the Cross Island Parkway bike path. From there, you take some streets through Douglaston that lead to the Long Island Expressway Service Road. This will take you all the way out to Syosset.

Once in Syosset, you need to make your way over to Woodbury Road and start heading north. Then, follow these directions:

• Take Woodbury Road past the Cold Spring Harbor Long Island Rail Road station and continue straight at the top of the hill when you see Woodbury Road turn sharp left. (Do not turn left!!!) The road you were on now becomes Pulaski Rd.
• Take Pulaski13 miles to Rt. 25A in Kings Park and turn RIGHT.
• Proceed 2 miles to fork and go straight onto ROSE STREET
• Take ROSE STREET To LANDING AVENUE. Make RIGHT
• Go 2 miles to EDGEWOOD in Smithtown. Make LEFT
• 2 miles to 25A
• 4 miles to fork in Stony Brook and bear left (don't go under trestle to the right)
• Continue ½ mile and see Stony Brook Museums on left. Turn RIGHT to stay on 25A
• 5.75 miles, pass Setauket, to Port Jefferson Village

I've done Syosset to Pt. Jeff so many times that I don't carry a cue sheet anymore. Please be sure to check these against a map before you head out!

flattie

Where is your office in Manhattan? If it's in Midtown have you considered taking the LIRR to Atlantic Terminal Brooklyn and then grabbing a Citibike to finish your commute? From Brooklyn to Midtown (via Brooklyn Bridge then either West Side or East Side bike paths) it's probably 8 miles - shy of your 12 miles each way. Going home you could do the same - taking a Citibike over the Brooklyn Bridge from Manhattan to Brooklyn will certainly work on your hill climbing as you try to get that 45lb beast up hill.

Then when you hope on your road bike for weekend group rides you will appreciate the road bike all the more having ridden the equivalent of a tank for the rest of the week.

cybermike

Nice, I ride these things once in a while -- and going down the hill on a Citi bike is an exhilarating experience -- I am in midtown that is an option--- I would probably get a foldable though to have it always available ... and it is a bit l going backwards
basically it just adds on the train commute time ... i.e adds 10 mins to the train ride ... So has a bit of waste of energy feel.... may be huntspooint ave but that is only 3.5 mile ride. Still 7miles a day is better than nothing ...

alan s 

Thanks, PT. I'll do a little perusing of google maps to get a better sense of the route. Doesn't look too complicated.

Papa Tom

>>>Doesn't look too complicated<<<<

It's not at all. The trickiest part is getting from the Flushing Bay Promenade back to civilization. My route (when heading east from NYC) involves riding against traffic for a short distance and negotiating a blind turn in the industrial area adjacent to the promenade. Perhaps you can find a better way around it. Think getting off the promenade near the old bus stops (white, concrete, tent-shaped overhangs) and heading under the highways to Northern Blvd. You'll see what I mean when you look at a satellite view in Google Maps.

Feel free to contact me with any specific questions.