Where: between Poughkeepsie on the East side of the
Hudson River across to New Paltz in Ulster
County on the West side -- or back the other way.
11-12 miles one-way. Moderate hilliness.
Purpose: This route provides some ideas for how
to access the New Paltz - Wallkill Valley routes from the nearest
railroad station. The Poughkeepsie train station has service
by Metro North
and Amtrak (as of July
2002).
Characteristics:
Hilliness: Moderate hilliness -- about 700-800 vertical feet
of climbing West-bound from the Poughkeepsie train station to New Paltz;
and 600-700 vertical feet of climbing going back to Poughkeepsie.
the sidewalk on the Mid-Hudson
Bridge ("Franklin D. Roosevelt") is open only during
daylight hours (as of July 2002), and there is no provision for
riding or walking on the roadway of the bridge.
We know someone who was planning to take the
Poughkeepsie train home to Manhattan at the end of a great day of
riding in November 2001, but reached the bridge too late and got
trapped on the West side of the river. Check Condition
Reports, and also check with the NYS
Bridge Authority for details.
Metro North requires a special permit to bring a bicycle on board
their trains, and this permit cannot be obtained at the Poughkeepsie
station (as of July 2002).
