New York City to Newark NJ by Bicycle! It's going to happen!
#51
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The only problem with that route is that it's going to add another 20-30 miles to reach Newark! Also, going west is fine because there is a massive drop when going to Newark but it would be impossible to climb that hill going back to the city.
I really can't wait to the day they open the new Goethals bridge.
#52
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I just noticed that the East Coast Greenway has this route for the entry to Newark:
https://maps.google.com/maps?f=q&hl=...NJ.kml&ie=UTF8
Notice that it takes you on the south side of the Kearny-to-Newark bridge onto Doremus Ave., rather than on the north side, as we have been discussing here.
But, more significantly, it says that there is a sidewalk route from Doremus to the start of Raymond Blvd., amidst all the entry and exit ramps of the Turnpike and 1/9.
Has anyone ever tried this?
https://maps.google.com/maps?f=q&hl=...NJ.kml&ie=UTF8
Notice that it takes you on the south side of the Kearny-to-Newark bridge onto Doremus Ave., rather than on the north side, as we have been discussing here.
But, more significantly, it says that there is a sidewalk route from Doremus to the start of Raymond Blvd., amidst all the entry and exit ramps of the Turnpike and 1/9.
Has anyone ever tried this?
#53
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Ferdinand, that's the route my wife and I took on the 4th of July in 2012. There is supposed to be a bike lane along that whole route, but we ended up having to mix in with the trucks. It takes good nerves to do this. It was also a very hot day.
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Tom Reingold, tom@noglider.com
New York City and High Falls, NY
Blogs: The Experienced Cyclist; noglider's ride blog
“When man invented the bicycle he reached the peak of his attainments.” — Elizabeth West, US author
Please email me rather than PM'ing me. Thanks.
#54
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What's the matter with you guys, why don't you just ride the Skyway?
Just kidding. Although, with a new skyway in the works, maybe an added pedestrian/bike lane wouldn't be a bad idea.
Just kidding. Although, with a new skyway in the works, maybe an added pedestrian/bike lane wouldn't be a bad idea.
#55
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I just noticed that the East Coast Greenway has this route for the entry to Newark:
https://maps.google.com/maps?f=q&hl=...NJ.kml&ie=UTF8
Notice that it takes you on the south side of the Kearny-to-Newark bridge onto Doremus Ave., rather than on the north side, as we have been discussing here.
But, more significantly, it says that there is a sidewalk route from Doremus to the start of Raymond Blvd., amidst all the entry and exit ramps of the Turnpike and 1/9.
Has anyone ever tried this?
https://maps.google.com/maps?f=q&hl=...NJ.kml&ie=UTF8
Notice that it takes you on the south side of the Kearny-to-Newark bridge onto Doremus Ave., rather than on the north side, as we have been discussing here.
But, more significantly, it says that there is a sidewalk route from Doremus to the start of Raymond Blvd., amidst all the entry and exit ramps of the Turnpike and 1/9.
Has anyone ever tried this?
#56
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I was thinking that the other day about how much fun it would be. I could probably hit 40 mph going downhill into Jersey City. I would pay $300.00 dollars right now to be able to bike the Skyway. Seriously!
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By the way, sand is collecting alot on the sidewalk going west. It is a problem so I'm using the east bound path because it has less sand overall. It seems they destroyed the stairs for some strange reason. I'm really upset about this!
#58
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They close the BQE/Gowanus for the 5bbt, why not the Skyway for a similar event?
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Perhaps the dirt stairs were destroyed by Sandy or some other rain event.
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The west side was sandy when I rode last year. Nearly fell a couple of times, and my GF sucked up a plastic bag into her RD. We'll be riding New Hope to to Brooklyn again the Sunday before Labor Day. We'll stick to the road like we have done in the past.
Perhaps the dirt stairs were destroyed by Sandy or some other rain event.
Perhaps the dirt stairs were destroyed by Sandy or some other rain event.
Bottom line. There should be no shame in walking the sandy areas. In fact, I think there are only two such locations. Better to be safe.
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All you have to do is dismount and walk about 20 feet where the sand is located. There's no need to ride on that road at all. A couple of months ago, I saw a young man ride his bike on that road! He was not going fast at all and let me tell you, I stopped in my tracks and watched as cars were going around him, doing their best not to kill the poor guy! When a truck passed him at 40 mph, I had to watch because it really looked like he was going to be killed. I didn't stop watching him until the guy was out of sight.
Bottom line. There should be no shame in walking the sandy areas. In fact, I think there are only two such locations. Better to be safe.
Bottom line. There should be no shame in walking the sandy areas. In fact, I think there are only two such locations. Better to be safe.
#62
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Don't try any rides through there this weekend. The Pulaski Skyway will be closed, creating a traffic nightmare everywhere else. Maybe as an alternative you'll get your chance to ride the skyway!!
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I am hoping you meant the weekend that just passed and not Labor Day weekend. I ride up there once a year--for this event only.
#66
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Please explain this in some more detail.
How do you get on Rt. 7 in Jersey City? From Duffield Ave? What do you do in Kearny? Do you break off onto Belleville Tpke? On the map and in the pictures this all seems like highway hell. But if I understood the precise route better, maybe I'd give it a shot.
How do you get on Rt. 7 in Jersey City? From Duffield Ave? What do you do in Kearny? Do you break off onto Belleville Tpke? On the map and in the pictures this all seems like highway hell. But if I understood the precise route better, maybe I'd give it a shot.
#67
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Please explain this in some more detail.
How do you get on Rt. 7 in Jersey City? From Duffield Ave? What do you do in Kearny? Do you break off onto Belleville Tpke? On the map and in the pictures this all seems like highway hell. But if I understood the precise route better, maybe I'd give it a shot.
How do you get on Rt. 7 in Jersey City? From Duffield Ave? What do you do in Kearny? Do you break off onto Belleville Tpke? On the map and in the pictures this all seems like highway hell. But if I understood the precise route better, maybe I'd give it a shot.
Most of Belleville Turnpike has a big shoulder, if some rough payment, and can be a fun. You've just got to be brave to deal with the quarter or half mile or so right before Jersey City: some well-shouldered but highway-like conditions as you approach the bridge into Jersey City and then no shoulder on the bridge itself. (The crazy thing is that the bridge has a walkway over the span but it's blocked by the guard rail.)
Last edited by zowie; 10-02-13 at 08:21 PM.
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What's so ideal about Route 7 is that it connects with the Bevllle Turnpike leaving you all the way to North Arlington! However, this is a truck route folks and only the slow drivers are doing 50 mph!
Last edited by Dahon.Steve; 10-13-13 at 06:31 PM.
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I checked the status of the earthen stairs and they were destroyed. A wooden banister that was constructed was also removed. I don't know why the stairs were destroyed but I guess this forum had something to do with it. I still go down the dirt hill but very very slowly. It's sad they spent so much money constructing the greenway but they forgot to add stairs on the last bridge. Incredible.
#70
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I checked the status of the earthen stairs and they were destroyed. A wooden banister that was constructed was also removed. I don't know why the stairs were destroyed but I guess this forum had something to do with it. I still go down the dirt hill but very very slowly. It's sad they spent so much money constructing the greenway but they forgot to add stairs on the last bridge. Incredible.
I am sorry to learn that the stairs and the wooden handrail have been destroyed. This weak link in the bike accessibility of that area is definitely very annoying.
But I am not sure that I am understanding you right; why are you saying that the destruction of these things has something to do with this forum?
Last edited by Ferdinand NYC; 06-02-14 at 06:10 PM.
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My money is on the intense rain events we have experienced. Occam's Razor. Erosion is a hell of a thing.
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I am sorry to learn that the stairs and the wooden handrail have been destroyed. This weak link in the bike accessibility of that area is definitely very annoying.
But I am not sure that I am understanding you right; why are you saying that the destruction of these things has something to do with this forum?
But I am not sure that I am understanding you right; why are you saying that the destruction of these things has something to do with this forum?
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O.k. I am lost. You wrote that the earthen stairs were destroyed. I once used those stairs. I remember then as nothing more than stairs "carved" into the hill. How would they be "on the ground" if they were washed away. Seems like the dirt would be washed away/dispersed. Or maybe you are referring to a different set of stairs.
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O.k. I am lost. You wrote that the earthen stairs were destroyed. I once used those stairs. I remember then as nothing more than stairs "carved" into the hill. How would they be "on the ground" if they were washed away. Seems like the dirt would be washed away/dispersed. Or maybe you are referring to a different set of stairs.
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I just did this today, and it was great. Took the north (westbound) sidewalks all the way across both rivers in both directions. There were some challenges, but nothing my hardtail MTB with hybrid tires couldn't handle; I never even put a foot down.
The easterly bridge sidewalk had some overgrown bushes impinging on it, but I just pushed through it. There were no hard branches or thorns or stickers, just leaves that gave when I pushed through. Coming up the surface sidewalk approaching the westerly bridge, I started to run into sand, large gravel, and some trash. This got worse after I got inside the rather narrow space between the railings on the bridge proper, and more vegetation impinged. For about 50 feet I would say that very skinny slick tires would have some issue; they still might make it through but one might have to walk a road bike for a minute or so. Then it cleared right up, and the majority of the sidewalk on the westerly bridge proper was nice and clear. The former stairway is still a ruin, so I exited by just riding down the ramp with traffic. It was fine and shot me right onto Doremus.
Took the industrial roads into the Ironbound: Doremus, Roanoake, Foundry, P, Roanoake, Hawkins(?) Rome. Watched soccer and drank sangria and ate great food outside at Catas on Market Street. Rode home the same way, portaged up the ruined stairway (actually rolled the bike up the flat dirt next to it). Returned to JC watching the sunset color 1 WTC orange and then red. Great day!
The easterly bridge sidewalk had some overgrown bushes impinging on it, but I just pushed through it. There were no hard branches or thorns or stickers, just leaves that gave when I pushed through. Coming up the surface sidewalk approaching the westerly bridge, I started to run into sand, large gravel, and some trash. This got worse after I got inside the rather narrow space between the railings on the bridge proper, and more vegetation impinged. For about 50 feet I would say that very skinny slick tires would have some issue; they still might make it through but one might have to walk a road bike for a minute or so. Then it cleared right up, and the majority of the sidewalk on the westerly bridge proper was nice and clear. The former stairway is still a ruin, so I exited by just riding down the ramp with traffic. It was fine and shot me right onto Doremus.
Took the industrial roads into the Ironbound: Doremus, Roanoake, Foundry, P, Roanoake, Hawkins(?) Rome. Watched soccer and drank sangria and ate great food outside at Catas on Market Street. Rode home the same way, portaged up the ruined stairway (actually rolled the bike up the flat dirt next to it). Returned to JC watching the sunset color 1 WTC orange and then red. Great day!