- - urban traffic of several kinds
- - highway traffic with merges, circles, exits, entrances
- - changes and restrictions on roads, paths, bridges
- - train rails crossing streets at sharp angles
- - unexpected bumps, holes, ruts
We suggest you consider in advance what techniques and strategies you will
use to handle these risks. Some of the items on the Resources
page may help, especially the books.
If you are not sure that these kinds of risks fits with your skills and
with your approach and strategy on risks, then choose a
different route.
Traffic: This route definitely has significant urban
traffic -- though many miles of it can be avoided by taking bicycle
paths and walkways (which have hazards of their own). It also
has some riding on a road with two lanes of traffic in each
direction and no shoulders.
Because of the traffic, we recommend doing this route early in the morning
on a
weekend day. We recommend against doing it on a weekday
any time near morning or afternoon rush hour.
There's lots more detail about traffic on this route which is
important -- see
separate page on
Traffic
Road surfaces: Some sections are off-road, with a
variety of surfaces other than smooth pavement, including dirt,
brick, plywood -- sometimes in rather bad condition (see Reports).
Consider what tires you ride on, and be prepared to walk your
bike.
Bridges and Ferry Boats: Before you decide to start this
route, it's good to check the status of the bridges for
bicycles. While making up an alternate route for a closed road
is usually not hard, it can be very difficult to find alternatives to
a closed bridge.
Sometimes in years past the Bayonne
Bridge has been open to cars, but closed to bicycles and
pedestrians -- without any notice on the official website.
Also, you may be required to walk your bike across -- see Condition
Reports.
And
while we've never run into any problem with the Staten
Island Ferry not running at all, sometimes it was not running as
often as we were wishing -- so it's good to print a schedule off the their
website.
There are several other ferry
boat routes which could be useful to create shorter variations of
this route, or as contingency plans in case you run into a problem at
a bridge crossing. But check in advance for current service
availability and for current rules or restrictions about bicycles --
see our Ferry links.
Many of the ferry routes between New Jersey and Manhattan are run by NY
Waterway 800-533-3779.
Crime? This route passes through a rather wide variety of
neighborhoods and areas. We have felt comfortable riding through them in
the morning and afternoon on weekends, without feeling afraid of criminal
attack. But that doesn't mean you will or should. If you're
concerned about this, check in advance with experts who have specific
knowledge about crime in these parts of New York and New Jersey.
Security restrictions: To enter Fort Wadsworth (near the Verrazano
Narrows Bridge) may require identification to be displayed guard
station. Or it is possible that that area might be closed at times
thought to be high-risk. But that will in no way prevent from completing
the remainder of the route.
GWB: To get to the West end of the south walkway of the
George Washington Bridge at Hudson Terrace / Route 505 in Fort Lee,
New Jersey -- From Manhattan by bicycle:
See the GWB
-- Central Park and Manhattan to
Nyack routes.
From New Jersey by car: Starting from NJ Turnpike,
I-95 Northbound, or I-80 Eastbound: Get into the Local lanes of the George
Washington Bridge approach. Keep
working into the Right-hand lanes. Exit on the Right at the "last exit in New
Jersey". Becomes Bridge Plaza South. Continue straight East to Route 505,
and find parking -- one possibility is Fort Lee Historical Park.
Alternate start points:
- - Liberty State Park (New Jersey): Take the New Jersey Turnpike
Holland Tunnel extension (I-78) to exit 14B, and follow signs
to the Park. One good place to park a car is by the Interpretive
Center. Or take a ferry from Manhattan -- see Ferry
info.
- - Hoboken station (NJ Transit railroad, Ferry boat from
Manhattan, PATH train). See Getting Around in
New York City with a Bicycle.
- - points in Manhattan along the east side of the Hudson River
reachable from Pennsylvania Station (Amtrak, Metro North
railroad, Long Island Railroad) or Grand Central Terminal (Metro
North). See Getting Around in
New York City with a Bicycle.
