I'm considering riding from Manhattan to Bear Mountain and then crossing the bridge and riding to Peekskill where I would catch a train home. How is the riding from the bridge to Peekskill? I'm wondering about the traffic on the 3.5-mile section of 202 south of the bridge.

Here's a link to my proposed route: https://ridewithgps.com/routes/17423182

It sucks plain and simple.

From the BMB south to the traffic circle, Rts 6/202 are 2 narrow lanes climbing up and around Anthony's Nose. Traffic is heavy, there's zero shoulder, sightlines suck.

From the traffic circle south it's Rt 9 and is essentially a limited access highway, not even sure bikes are allowed on this road.

The lack of decent roads on this side of the river south of the bridge is why most riders turn around and just head back on the west side.

The only options I can think of are to ride north from the BMB on Rt 9D to Rt 403, then south to Rt 9, then south to the old Post Rd, then Highland Ave. into Peekskill. Never done it though. Note that the obvious option to take South Mt. Pass Rd. To connect Rt 9D to Rt 9, gets you on a steep dirt road.

Thank you, Steve. If I were going to ride 9D as you suggest I would catch the train in Garrison, but I've ridden that section of 9D and I found it quite dangerous. I was hoping the ride south to Peekskill would be safer.

There was a recent thread about this on the NYCC board
https://nycc.org/message-board/help-new-route/81100

Has anything improved about the route I proposed from Bear Mountain Bridge to Peekskill since 2016? I rode 9D north to Garrison earlier this week and it was much better than two years ago, but I'd like to ride to Peekskill if Route 202 is safe.

As you can see in the route https://ridewithgps.com/trips/22744028, I rode today from Bear Mountain Bridge to Peekskill. The surface of the road was excellent and there was almost always a usable shoulder, although it was sometimes narrow. The heavy traffic on the 2-lane Route 202 made for a harrowing ride, so I probably won't take this route again. It's certainly not for the faint of heart.

Notorious for what?

I'm glad I rode south to Peekskill, but I don't recommend it and I'll probably never do it again.

Notorious for this.

It's not much farther to go north to pick up a train.

It's about the same mileage to Manitou (3 miles) and 9 miles to Cold Spring.

There are almost no trains stopping at Manitou, but Garrison is only six miles from the base of Bear Mountain.