rhm

I'm planning a 24 hour ride and need to know where I can ride at night.

One of the possible routes takes me across the Ben Franklin Bridge from Camden to Philadelphia at maybe 2 AM.

Is it possible to ride the bridge at that time? The DRPA website suggests the walkway is closed at night:

DRPA :: Delaware River Port Authority

but they give phone numbers to call after hours. Does anyone have experience with this? I know, I could call the number. It'll probably come to that.

indyfabz

I believe those numbers are the ones you are supposed to call outside regular business hours and on weekends for status, not to get them to open the walkway for you. As the web sites notes, the regular number is manned 9-5 Mon.-Fri., but the walkway is normally open between 6 a.m. and 8 p.m. this time of year. The after hours phone number is for status outside of 9-5 on the weekdays.


You can take the PATCO train. Very bike friendly.


BTW...I wouldn't want to be riding through Camden at 2 a.m.

NomarsGirl

I was thinking that but didn't want to say it.

indyfabz

Back in the late 80s I rode from Philly to the Jersey shore. I was riding down S. Broadway around 6:30 a.m. when a hooker stepped out into the street from between two cars. I nearly hit her. As I rode by she asked me if I was looking for a date.

rhm

Thanks, @indyfabz, that is what I suspected; and thanks, I did not know about PATCO. That would be a ride of about 2 miles (what would be 2.2 miles of roads turns into 1.8 miles as the crow flies). I'll have to consult the rules, to see if that's permitted.

I haven't ridden through Camden, but I have ridden through other cities, and the middle of the night is a pretty good time to do that. There isn't much traffic, and the people out on the streets are generally going about their business. Granted, it's not always legitimate business, but it's not my business and I haven't had any trouble.

indyfabz

While its violent crime rate had dropped recently, Camden is still one of the most dangerous cities in America. IIRC, the murder rate is again rising. Best way though the city are the major arteries. Try to avoid small/isolated streets/enclaves.

rhm

Right! The major arteries are never completely traffic free, but in the middle of the night they aren't bad for cycling. We wouldn't be riding through Camden for the scenery, no detour to see Walt Whitman's house.

Ferdinand NYC

This is pretty cool. I have been on my bike for about 15 hours straight, but never for 24 hours.

As you mentioned, any city would be alright in the overnight hours, provided that you stay on the main streets. It's only outside big cities that you have to be worried, on account of a lack of streetlights.

During my ride from New York to Washington in the summer of last year, I was on U.S. 40 for more than 60 miles through Delaware and Maryland. And I was shocked to observe that there were several sections without streetlights. There's a place you don't want to be at night.

Maybe I shouldn't have been so shocked. When I was a kid, I lived near the eastern border of New York City; and there tended to be no streetlights on the streets over the border in Nassau County. I got caught out there once or twice. And, of course, in those days I didn't have any lights on my bike or on my (nonexistent) helmet. And, if I remember correctly, at that time after New York City's Grand Central Parkway crossed the border and became Long Island's Northern State Parkway, the lights disappeared.

But if you can stay in urban areas during the overnight hours, you will surely enjoy the benefit of civilisation's most basic good, namely nighttime lumination.

rhm

This kind of ride is called a fleche (rules here: https://rusa.org/flecherules.html). You ride it as a team of three, four or five bikes. Everyone has to have good lighting. In many ways it's easier in places where there is no street light. I like riding at night, but it gets cold, especially if you've already been riding a long time.

zacster

If you get cold, have some soup!

wschruba

This took me several days to get

zacster

I had a feeling it went over everyone's head.

And to explain it, Camden, NJ is home to Campbell's Soup.

rhm

Ah! Thanks, I get it now.