Dahon.Steve

It looks like the Bayonne Bridge is closed a LOOOONG time. We are talking years and they have a shuttle that will last only for the next several months and then that's gone too! We need to complain about this and I listed a number we must call to get them to open the bridge. We saw the Goethals bridge close for good and no one said a thing. It could happen all over again if no one says anything. Please call once a week to the Bayonne Bridge HotLine

855-265-5482

coney462

I think your attitude is just plain silly. This walkway was shut down in order to install safety mechanisms needed during the raising of the bridge. This is for the safety of all who are working on this much needed project and far outweighs anyone's need/desire to use this walkway for recreational reasons

Ferdinand NYC

Steve - Is this shuttle for bikes?

Coney - It's not silly to demand that a work-around (like a shuttle) be available until the new permanent path is in place.

By coincidence, I also just learned of this closing. I had posted another thread asking if anyone knew of any nighttime closings of the Bayonne Bridge bike lane. Not having received any answers, I looked for the number for the Port Authority desk at that bridge, and called there with the question. That's when I found out about the end of bike access. (By the way, the bike lane had been open 24 hours.)

I also found out that there is no timetable -- the bike lane will be closed "indefinitely". That is also unreasonable. There should be some official estimate as to the length of time that this work will take.

Cyclerock

I know of the bridge work and have been reading about it for a while, but not everyone uses the walkway for, "recreational reason", as stated. When living on Staten Island, I biked over the Bayonne Bridge to get to work. I can see people really being upset over the path closing. Hopefully, it will reopen. That was the only way to bike off the island.

Thrasymachus

Is this being closed just for cyclists and pedestrians, but not motorists? It would not surprise me in this nation where transportation apartheid is the name of the day.

Bacciagalupe

They're raising the bridge by about 60 feet at its center. Long story short, they're building a second level above the first, and will then start removing the lower level. It's a multi-year project.

Auto traffic will be limited to single lanes for at least some of the construction. There will almost certainly be some night & weekend closures.

As far as I know, they aren't eliminating the walkways.

I recommend you check with Transportation Alternatives. They may have a pretty good idea of what's going on, and they have a depth of experience and the machinery for bicycle-related advocacy.

Dahon.Steve

I see a number of day labor workers who cross the bridge each day will be cut off from their jobs when this bridge closes. When I was waiting for the shuttle, all the passengers were not recreational riders but famalies and singles who were using the bridge to visit friends and do shopping.

Dahon.Steve

The Port Authority is providing a van with a bike rack that fits two bikes. I called and asked if they could do the same for the Goethals bridge. I've been depressed by the closing of this bridge because Staten Island was always enjoyable to visit. I would have dinner there frequently and now it's going to cost me $90.00 dollars in cab fees once they discontinue the shuttle.

I used to commute once a month over the bridge and into Manhattan. Since I'm close to the bridge, it was free. I used to also take my folding bike over the bridge and hop on a bus that would take me into Brooklyn to visit friends.

Dahon.Steve

I've seen the new angle of the bridge and it's going to be very steep for cycling. The bridge is hard enough to cross today and I can only imagine how difficult it will be in the future.

Once the shuttle is discontinued, the only public transportation S89 that provides service during rush hour in the morning and evening.

Ferdinand NYC

Thanks for the info. I see from this link https://www.nj.com/jjournal-news/inde...er_weeken.html that the shuttle is scheduled to operate on weekends only, from 8am to 8pm twice an hour, until October; and that it will then start up again next year May to October. However, a Port Authority spokesman also says that they will "play it by ear"; so it's possible that this schedule could be changed. I assume that the bike rack is on the outside of the van.

I understand that this work on the bridge is necessary; but what a shame that it comes at the cost of bike access for most of the year. (For me personally, it completely scuttles my idea of going to a location in Morris County and back home to Woodhaven on the Brooklyn/Queens border in one day, which was the reason that I posted the question about any possible Bayonne Bridge nighttime closures in the other thread, being completely unaware of this work.)


And what did they say?

General question: has the Goethals Bridge always been closed to bicyclists? In 1985, I made my first trip ever to New Jersey, starting from from Queens Village in eastern Queens; and I crossed the Goethals Bridge there and back.

I can't remember exactly now, but I believe I rode on a sidewalk or side road; I don't think I rode with the cars. Did I get away with something then? Or was that bridge accessible to bikes at that time? I can't imagine that cops wouldn't have stopped me if bikes had not been allowed.

Divtos

I don't think the Goathals bridge was accessible by bike in 1985. All of the bridges originally had paths but Bayonne is the only one that's been open since I was a child. As far as the Bayonne bridge closure goes its gonna be a long time but I'm pretty sure they are obligated by federal law to rebuild the bike lane if they are using any federal funds for the project.

Ferdinand NYC

Wow. So, I got incredibly lucky that day -- twice! That's pretty amazing that no cops stopped me.