Comments on: My First Bike Commute Over the East River http://www.streetsblog.org/2007/10/02/my-first-bike-commute-over-the-east-river/ Covering the New York City Streets Renaissance Mon, 23 Nov 2009 05:31:30 -0500 http://wordpress.org/?v=2.8 hourly 1 By: Olga http://www.streetsblog.org/2007/10/02/my-first-bike-commute-over-the-east-river/comment-page-1/#comment-38735 Olga Fri, 19 Oct 2007 14:53:43 +0000 http://www.streetsblog.org/2007/10/02/my-first-bike-commute-over-the-east-river/#comment-38735 Hi! I'd like to figure out the best way to get to Brooklyn Bridge from Flatbush (SE corner of Prospect Park, Parkside/Ocen). Can you recommend the least stressful route? I'd like to make it a leisurely ride. Thank you! - Olga Hi! I'd like to figure out the best way to get to Brooklyn Bridge from Flatbush (SE corner of Prospect Park, Parkside/Ocen). Can you recommend the least stressful route? I'd like to make it a leisurely ride.

Thank you! - Olga

]]> By: thenextstopwillbe http://www.streetsblog.org/2007/10/02/my-first-bike-commute-over-the-east-river/comment-page-1/#comment-38012 thenextstopwillbe Fri, 05 Oct 2007 14:45:05 +0000 http://www.streetsblog.org/2007/10/02/my-first-bike-commute-over-the-east-river/#comment-38012 welcome to bike commuting! i started doing it in may from g'point to the ues. moved to crown heights a couple of weeks ago and i'm still getting adjusted to doubling the distance. the w'burg bridge is kicking my butt more so than the q'boro did but i'll get used to it. bikes definitely beat the subway! welcome to bike commuting! i started doing it in may from g'point to the ues. moved to crown heights a couple of weeks ago and i'm still getting adjusted to doubling the distance. the w'burg bridge is kicking my butt more so than the q'boro did but i'll get used to it. bikes definitely beat the subway!

]]> By: Alex Marshall http://www.streetsblog.org/2007/10/02/my-first-bike-commute-over-the-east-river/comment-page-1/#comment-38006 Alex Marshall Fri, 05 Oct 2007 12:31:53 +0000 http://www.streetsblog.org/2007/10/02/my-first-bike-commute-over-the-east-river/#comment-38006 Thanks for all the nice comments and advice. I've biked in several times since writing the post, and for now I definitely prefer the Brooklyn Bridge. It's probably a bit longer in time, but it's so much prettier going across. And more importantly, I can get there through a series of small streets. I haven't figured out a way to get to the Manhattan bridge in a civilized fashion. I'll have to get out my TransAlt bike map! I keep forgetting to do so. Thanks for all the nice comments and advice. I've biked in several times since writing the post, and for now I definitely prefer the Brooklyn Bridge. It's probably a bit longer in time, but it's so much prettier going across. And more importantly, I can get there through a series of small streets. I haven't figured out a way to get to the Manhattan bridge in a civilized fashion. I'll have to get out my TransAlt bike map! I keep forgetting to do so.

]]> By: gecko http://www.streetsblog.org/2007/10/02/my-first-bike-commute-over-the-east-river/comment-page-1/#comment-37945 gecko Thu, 04 Oct 2007 11:13:04 +0000 http://www.streetsblog.org/2007/10/02/my-first-bike-commute-over-the-east-river/#comment-37945 It is amazing how the Brooklyn bridge does beckon for a trip that's more than a mere commute. It is amazing how the Brooklyn bridge does beckon for a trip that's more than a mere commute.

]]> By: Hilary http://www.streetsblog.org/2007/10/02/my-first-bike-commute-over-the-east-river/comment-page-1/#comment-37909 Hilary Wed, 03 Oct 2007 17:38:12 +0000 http://www.streetsblog.org/2007/10/02/my-first-bike-commute-over-the-east-river/#comment-37909 It would be fun to stage an all-modes citywide race during rush hour including a wide variety of origin/destination points. Data could eventually be compiled to create an "optimum mode" for different trips and purposes. Easiest way would be to do it like a Guinness book of records, with records updated as they're broken. Someone must be willing to sponsor this... Richard Branson? Bill Clinton? Michael Bloomberg? It would be fun to stage an all-modes citywide race during rush hour including a wide variety of origin/destination points. Data could eventually be compiled to create an "optimum mode" for different trips and purposes. Easiest way would be to do it like a Guinness book of records, with records updated as they're broken. Someone must be willing to sponsor this... Richard Branson? Bill Clinton? Michael Bloomberg?

]]> By: SPer http://www.streetsblog.org/2007/10/02/my-first-bike-commute-over-the-east-river/comment-page-1/#comment-37908 SPer Wed, 03 Oct 2007 17:09:49 +0000 http://www.streetsblog.org/2007/10/02/my-first-bike-commute-over-the-east-river/#comment-37908 You can definitely beat your subway door to door time on a bike. I bike Sunset Park to Gramercy Park, 35 min. door to door (including lock-up!), whereas it's 40 min. by train. I prefer the Brooklyn Bridge to the Manhattan. I can reach it largely on bike lanes, which I prefer, and I find the ride over that bridge more pleasant than the Manhattan, where you're right next to the traffic. On the other end, going up Centre to the 4th Ave. bike lane is more pleasant than hassling with the traffic snarl at Canal and Bowery. You can definitely beat your subway door to door time on a bike. I bike Sunset Park to Gramercy Park, 35 min. door to door (including lock-up!), whereas it's 40 min. by train.

I prefer the Brooklyn Bridge to the Manhattan. I can reach it largely on bike lanes, which I prefer, and I find the ride over that bridge more pleasant than the Manhattan, where you're right next to the traffic. On the other end, going up Centre to the 4th Ave. bike lane is more pleasant than hassling with the traffic snarl at Canal and Bowery.

]]> By: simon http://www.streetsblog.org/2007/10/02/my-first-bike-commute-over-the-east-river/comment-page-1/#comment-37899 simon Wed, 03 Oct 2007 15:28:02 +0000 http://www.streetsblog.org/2007/10/02/my-first-bike-commute-over-the-east-river/#comment-37899 alex - as a fellow crown heights commuter, you can totally beat the subway. i ride Washington up to Dekalb, over to Ashland, which turns into Navy, then to Sands - which will put you at the manhattan br. and i can get to times sq in about 40 mins. alex - as a fellow crown heights commuter, you can totally beat the subway. i ride Washington up to Dekalb, over to Ashland, which turns into Navy, then to Sands - which will put you at the manhattan br. and i can get to times sq in about 40 mins.

]]> By: mork http://www.streetsblog.org/2007/10/02/my-first-bike-commute-over-the-east-river/comment-page-1/#comment-37870 mork Wed, 03 Oct 2007 01:25:23 +0000 http://www.streetsblog.org/2007/10/02/my-first-bike-commute-over-the-east-river/#comment-37870 North side of Manhattan Bridge was reopened at least a few weeks ago. The DOT is also building a contra-flow bike lane from the end of the Manhattan side back up the hill to Chrystie Street (not yet completed). North side of Manhattan Bridge was reopened at least a few weeks ago.

The DOT is also building a contra-flow bike lane from the end of the Manhattan side back up the hill to Chrystie Street (not yet completed).

]]> By: gecko http://www.streetsblog.org/2007/10/02/my-first-bike-commute-over-the-east-river/comment-page-1/#comment-37856 gecko Tue, 02 Oct 2007 21:20:41 +0000 http://www.streetsblog.org/2007/10/02/my-first-bike-commute-over-the-east-river/#comment-37856 Vroomfondel, been told that german company klepper folding kayaks are the best. the explorer model has a sail and has been across the atlantic. had a store at union square for years. Vroomfondel, been told that german company klepper folding kayaks are the best. the explorer model has a sail and has been across the atlantic. had a store at union square for years.

]]> By: Baer http://www.streetsblog.org/2007/10/02/my-first-bike-commute-over-the-east-river/comment-page-1/#comment-37853 Baer Tue, 02 Oct 2007 20:59:56 +0000 http://www.streetsblog.org/2007/10/02/my-first-bike-commute-over-the-east-river/#comment-37853 I just saw that the lower deck of the Manhattan Bridge reopened, anybody know if the northside path has reopened? Access to the southside is miserable on both sides. I just saw that the lower deck of the Manhattan Bridge reopened, anybody know if the northside path has reopened? Access to the southside is miserable on both sides.

]]> By: Vroomfondel http://www.streetsblog.org/2007/10/02/my-first-bike-commute-over-the-east-river/comment-page-1/#comment-37848 Vroomfondel Tue, 02 Oct 2007 20:27:18 +0000 http://www.streetsblog.org/2007/10/02/my-first-bike-commute-over-the-east-river/#comment-37848 Gecko: > commuter kayaks and mini sailboats would be sublime I recently bought a folding bike, and I've been thinking that it would be cool to have a folding kayak as well as a watertight bag that'll hold either the bike or the kayak, for a bimodal bike/boat commute. Then again, I'm a geek. Gecko:

> commuter kayaks and mini sailboats would be sublime

I recently bought a folding bike, and I've been thinking that it would be cool to have a folding kayak as well as a watertight bag that'll hold either the bike or the kayak, for a bimodal bike/boat commute. Then again, I'm a geek.

]]> By: gecko http://www.streetsblog.org/2007/10/02/my-first-bike-commute-over-the-east-river/comment-page-1/#comment-37845 gecko Tue, 02 Oct 2007 20:02:20 +0000 http://www.streetsblog.org/2007/10/02/my-first-bike-commute-over-the-east-river/#comment-37845 mork, nice whitman. commuter kayaks and mini sailboats would be sublime. mork, nice whitman.

commuter kayaks and mini sailboats would be sublime.

]]> By: momos http://www.streetsblog.org/2007/10/02/my-first-bike-commute-over-the-east-river/comment-page-1/#comment-37842 momos Tue, 02 Oct 2007 19:20:11 +0000 http://www.streetsblog.org/2007/10/02/my-first-bike-commute-over-the-east-river/#comment-37842 This summer I rode my bike from 110th St down the Hudson River Bike Path to the City Hall area and across the Brooklyn Bridge, before pedaling on to the Gowanus Canal for a screening of the Rooftop Film Festival. I returned by the same route well after midnight. It was the most spectacular ride. I'd never been across the Brooklyn Bridge bike path. And what really blew my mind was how short the trip was (about 1hr). When you cover that distance by subway it seems extremely long. But the city is so dense that distances actually aren't that great, especially from Lower Manhattan into Brooklyn. Everyone should try it. Aaron's right, the Brooklyn Bridge is the single best commute in New York City. This summer I rode my bike from 110th St down the Hudson River Bike Path to the City Hall area and across the Brooklyn Bridge, before pedaling on to the Gowanus Canal for a screening of the Rooftop Film Festival. I returned by the same route well after midnight. It was the most spectacular ride. I'd never been across the Brooklyn Bridge bike path. And what really blew my mind was how short the trip was (about 1hr). When you cover that distance by subway it seems extremely long. But the city is so dense that distances actually aren't that great, especially from Lower Manhattan into Brooklyn.

Everyone should try it. Aaron's right, the Brooklyn Bridge is the single best commute in New York City.

]]> By: mork http://www.streetsblog.org/2007/10/02/my-first-bike-commute-over-the-east-river/comment-page-1/#comment-37841 mork Tue, 02 Oct 2007 19:19:44 +0000 http://www.streetsblog.org/2007/10/02/my-first-bike-commute-over-the-east-river/#comment-37841 1st time, sure, take the Brooklyn Bridge. After that, Manny B all the way. The extra 3 blocks in Brooklyn saves you a mile of Manhattan pedaling. Gecko: http://www.bartleby.com/142/86.html 1st time, sure, take the Brooklyn Bridge. After that, Manny B all the way. The extra 3 blocks in Brooklyn saves you a mile of Manhattan pedaling.

Gecko:

http://www.bartleby.com/142/86.html

]]> By: gecko http://www.streetsblog.org/2007/10/02/my-first-bike-commute-over-the-east-river/comment-page-1/#comment-37839 gecko Tue, 02 Oct 2007 19:02:49 +0000 http://www.streetsblog.org/2007/10/02/my-first-bike-commute-over-the-east-river/#comment-37839 ferry is better ferry is better

]]> By: Aaron Naparstek http://www.streetsblog.org/2007/10/02/my-first-bike-commute-over-the-east-river/comment-page-1/#comment-37836 Aaron Naparstek Tue, 02 Oct 2007 18:20:29 +0000 http://www.streetsblog.org/2007/10/02/my-first-bike-commute-over-the-east-river/#comment-37836 I like the idea of sending a first-time bike commuter over the Brooklyn Bridge. It really is inspiring. On a nice day, early enough in the morning to avoid the crowds of tourists, it's probably the single best commute in New York City. I like the idea of sending a first-time bike commuter over the Brooklyn Bridge. It really is inspiring. On a nice day, early enough in the morning to avoid the crowds of tourists, it's probably the single best commute in New York City.

]]> By: dood http://www.streetsblog.org/2007/10/02/my-first-bike-commute-over-the-east-river/comment-page-1/#comment-37824 dood Tue, 02 Oct 2007 16:58:38 +0000 http://www.streetsblog.org/2007/10/02/my-first-bike-commute-over-the-east-river/#comment-37824 next time i would recommend going over Manhattan bridge, to avoid the pedestrians. next time i would recommend going over Manhattan bridge, to avoid the pedestrians.

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