Dudes.

Me and a few other Chicago BFers are going to be in the NYC for Monstertrack. What do we need to know? Streets to take, streets to avoid, etc. Don't worry, sharing beta will not net us any wins; we're just looking to make a half-way decent showing. Or survival.

Spill it.

Oh come now. Nothing?

I, for one, would be interested in knowing what areas/boroughs the race will probably cover. I was telling giboyeux "Manhattan and Brooklyn" yesterday, but that was speculation.

New York 101:

Avenues go North South. Streets go East West.

Avenues (starting from the West Side, going East):
12th - uptown,
11th - downtown,
10th - uptown,
9th - downtown,
8th - uptown,
7th - downtown,
6th - uptown,
5th - downtown,
Madison - uptown,
Park - both ways,
Lexington - downtown,
3rd - uptown,
2nd - downtown,
1st - uptown.

Streets:

Even numbered streets are Eastbound
Odd numbered streets are Westbound

except for 14th, 34th, 42nd, 57th, 72nd, 79th, 86th, 96th & some more.

Broadway cuts through everything.

The East & West sides of town are separated by 5th avenue.

Central Park spans 59th St - 110th St. between 5th Ave & 8th Ave.

Bueno! I'm saving the **** out of that.


Seriously, that'll be really helpful. Now I just have to not get killed.

just remember below 14th everything gets all messed up, by the time you get to Houston (essentially 0 St) all bets are off. There is what, 2 miles or so of city below Houston. And by all means remember it's pronounced "house-ston" not "hew-ston" like the city in Texas. No worries though getting lost in NYC is mad fun.

also, if yr heading to a bridge in manhattan to get across the east river to brooklyn, STAY EAST!!!! especially on the weekend... get east as quickly as possible. it's a real pain in the ass to go all the way thru lower manhattan on the west side and then have to make it thru tourist hell to the bridges. if at all possible, get east at or north of 14th st.

for the 59th st bridge, it's not such an issue. midtown is rigidly gridded and easy to get around.

tons of potholes, construction and steel roadway plates without asphalt at the edges all over the city. be careful.

a few additions

except for when it's both ways

except for when it's both ways
(starts at 23rd st)
(below 14th st it's called 4th ave and it's uptown)
(starts at 25th st)
(below 24th st both ways)
and 61st st, 41st st (parts of 'em at least)
(downtown below 59th st, both ways above it)

The East & West sides of town are separated by 5th avenue. [/QUOTE] except below 8th st, where they're seperated by broadway)

that's second semester NYC101, boots. I haven't even given the quiz for the first semester yet.

...and to make everything go down a bit smoother, hit up a bike shop or CVS Pharmacy for one of those NYC local street maps or map books. You'll be glad you did.

The lower part of Manhattan is not as easy to navigate since it doesn't quite follow the grid-pattern. Note this on your map.

Riding in NYC isn't that bad, really. Avoid Times Square and Chinatown and it'll be fine.

o rly?

yeah but times sq is kind of fun to ride through, even if it's madness

I'd rather ride Times Square than Herald Square. Blegh. 6th Ave suuuucks.

Avoid squares in general.

hey, squares are people too.

but awkward people, who are unaccustomed to social interaction, and physical contact.