Lividkoi

Looking for some good routes through out Brooklyn and Manhattan. I usually ride up the westside bike path starting from bed-sty. I noticed once you reach 125th street the path turns to rubble. Prretty much un rideable. From that point where do I continue to. I would like to head over to Jersey over the Bridge. Is that possible.

Thanks in advance.

acape

The best way to get up to the bridge is to take Riverside Drive once you get up to 72nd Street. Here's why:

- traffic is fairly light
- it's two (wide) lanes in most places
- it's the last street over, so the intersections are less hectic and more easily navigated
- it's a pretty street

Once you get uptown, take a right on 165th Street (unless you want to end up on the highway) up a steep hill. Then take the first left on Fort Washington Ave. Follow this up to about 177th or so and follow the signs to the bike path over the bridge.

Lividkoi

Acape:

What are the riding conditions once you cross the bridge? Are there bike lanes, wide shoulders? Also, once you cross the bridge where should I continue?

Thanks for the help.

gfrance

The real fun begins when you get over the bridge. You can either go north on Route 9W or go River Road all the way up to or past Nyack. 9W is shared with traffic, but it is very wide and tons of bikers all the time. River road is more parklike a scenic. Depends on mood for me. And if you really want to climb, hit Tweed Road off 9W near Nyack. If you do all that, round trip from Bed-stuy your good for over 75 miles and lots of climbing. Great stuff.

Acape is right about Riverside Drive too. Get on there at 72nd street.

timmhaan

i usually take the westside bike path all the way to 125th. then i exit and get on the road directly under the west side highway (forget the name) and ride up until the you see the bike path sign. it directs you to a weird side road and you have to ride past a security gaurd (just bypass him...he won't care about you). continue on this until you see the bike path start up again. it goes right up to the base of the bridge (not the entrance). finding the entrace requires you to follow the path (steep short climbs ) and then circle around.

it's not the best way...but it's the way that i go.

cc_rider

I have a related question for any of you NYer's.
Where the West Side path ends and detours at around 125th, do both of those parking lots belong to the supermarket or is the south one public parking? Can I leave my car there for the day or are there parking restrictions. I rode up the greenway that far last year and saw a group of cyclists loading their gear back into cars.

The reason for asking is I would like to park my car around that area for Bike NY, do a 10 mile warmup to the start and finish the day with a ride around the Manhattan Greenway. That parking lot seems like a good place to start. Or is there another good place for free parking on a Sunday?

timmhaan

actually, last time i was up there that whole area was under construction so i don't think you can park there anymore. someone jump in and correct me if i'm wrong. i'll double check next time i'm up there (i usually don't pay too much attention to parking areas ).

acape

I don't know. I don't ride the path much, as it's so crowded and is such a troublesome route up to the bridge.

cc_rider

ARRRRRRRGGGGGGGG!!!!
thanks

Since they stopped weekend ferry service from Jersey City, I need to come with another plan to get to the BNY start. I was hoping this would work.
If you find out anything, I'd be grateful for the info.

timmhaan

from jersey city you could take the PATH train. Or from hoboken or newark. the PATH runs during the weekend and you can bring your bike on. it'll let you off on the west side. only costs $1.50 as well. parking may be easier from the new jersey side anyway. just something to think about.

cc_rider

Thanks.
I'm looking at PATH out of Hoboken as a possibility but I'm not thrilled. Parking is still a problem and bike-on-train on a Sunday afternoon doesn't sound like fun.
Still thinking that driving in on the GW and parking upper west side would be best, if I can solve the parking problem. That way I can get my warmup ride in and shorten the post BNY loop. Only a little more driving and it saves about 45 min each way dealing with PATH.

Almost tempted to park in Fort Lee and ride all the way down to the start.

oboeguy

cc you can usually find parking on Claremont Ave which runs between 116th and Tiemann Place (basically 125th). There's a reason that driver's ed goes there for practice parking. Conveniently that puts you near Riverside Drive and the Hudson Greenway.

FYI, folks, the part of the Greenway by the water treatment plant (the section north of Fairway that's talked about above) is looking good -- there is finally noticeable progress on the "new" path thre, including lampposts and new fences. It's not paved yet, but it looks like it should be done by the summer if not in a couple of months.

cc_rider

Thanks. That sounds like a good plan.


(sorry for the hijack )

egonlou

Rode down the bike path this morning from the GWB. The parking lots are under construction (it would have been nice of them to give us a lip to ride up on to.)

Lividkoi

I know where you are coming from. I rode that path a few days ago, and the path just stops!! Nyc