Route over GWB to Bronx

M

map111158

Well-Known Member
Hello, I commute from NJ to Fordham at Rose Hill everyday and am getting sick of riding my motorcycle in considering I almost get hit daily or driving and sitting in traffic. Im going to get a road bike and start parking in Fort Lee (probably, open to suggestions) and riding in. Can anyone suggest a route to get into the Bronx from the GWB?

Oh and if anyone knows is there a GPS that I can use on the bike where I can enter an address to get too and also use in the woods with my mtb? Thanks
 
Your first issue will be parking. Fort Lee streets are residential permit parking. There are other options like Fort Lee Historical Park, but I don't know how they'll feel if they see your car there 8hrs a day everyday. There is a municipal lot that has metered parking, but I think the max is 8hrs (will check when I go get my haircut). You can probably park in residential streets of Englwood Cliffs. There's no permit signs there. You can park in front of my house if you don't want to leave it in front of a random place, but that will add a steep climb to your ride.

I haven't ridden in the Bronx, but I don't see too many bike lanes in that NYC map. From the looks of the the best (safest) option is:

Take GWB across, Get on to the West Side Green Way (via 181st Street), Go North, East toward 207th Street Bridge, then take Fordam Road all the way down.


I think Garmin 705 includes base maps of roads or you can purchase them ( or some other source 🙄 ). They also have free topo maps which have streets with abbreviated names - that's what Norm told me.
 
Don't quote me on the Garmin 705 stuff .. I don't have one (yet) so don't know how it all works. I think the free topo maps that Norm mentioned (link in mtbnj wiki) has free NJ maps .. not sure about NY.

I have read roadies using base maps on their 605/705 (one of main reasons they choose it over 305), so I know road maps are available .. just don't know if they're free.
 
ft lee park is free during week, opens around 6 am. the bridge often closes south walkway and north walkway has 200-300 steps. high bridge mtbing is en route to bronx, but rumor has it crackers are back.

From bronx sprain ridge park is close and blue not much further:popcorn:
 
I have about the same commute and have my considered options-
Soundz laid out the direct route, if you want a more bike-friendly route,
heading north to Van Cortland park and then riding the greenway along the Mosholu gives you a pretty protected ride, though it adds a little distance.
 
jmanic said:
I have about the same commute and have my considered options-
Soundz laid out the direct route, if you want a more bike-friendly route,
heading north to Van Cortland park and then riding the greenway along the Mosholu gives you a pretty protected ride, though it adds a little distance.
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Dont really care about the distance so much. I was thinking of riding along Mosholu if it was possible as it has to be better than riding down E Fordham RD from the other direction. Ill definitely check this route out, thanks
 
Yeah, you should be good to go-
Looking at the map- the bold green lines are greenways or multipurpose trails separate from the roadways.
That covers your route from the GWB to Inwood park,
and then from Van Cortland Park to Southern Blvd.
It looks like you only have a bit of road exposure to connect the 2.

And I second the thought about parking in Englewood Cliffs.

Keep us posted on your commute
 
Ya I will probably be taking soundz up on the offer of parking in front of his house. Waiting for my motorcycle to sell on CL, already have my eye on a CX bike and Garmin 705 at my lbs. If anyone wants to try this route out with me before I do it for real let me know, classes dont start again for me until Jan 18th so anytime before that Ill be looking to do a test ride
 
I might be able to join you on Sunday if you want to give it a go
 
I can maybe join you depending on day/time. I usually ride early mornings though.
 
K Ill post up when I get the bike and we can set a date, maybe well do it on a Sunday morning if thats good for everyone. Less traffic than too
 
i head to union square on sunday mornings (7:30am'ish) .. but can at least go across the bridge with you's if the timing works out .. don't schedule it based on me .. my schedule is usually all over the place
 
Hmm. Ft Lee to Bronx. Seems like about 10 miles. Did you want a road bike for other uses, or just for this? I'm not crazy about road bikes in NYC. I used to commute from Queens to Manhattan using a road bike and I backed off after my 3rd car on bike accident. If you think you get hit lot on your motorcycle... well.....I don't want to discourage you, just wondering, since it seems like you are making the purchase just for the commute, could you possibly use some kind of junker mtb or hybrid thing where you are riding in a more stable position rather than locked onto the pedals and in the drop position.

I've had a lot better luck commuting around here using a crappy mtb It is sturdy , nobody wants to steal it, and if a car gets in my way I can detour right over anything without worrying will my skinny tires get stuck. JMO.

I agree that Mosholu is probably the way to go. I haven't done that route in a while but when I used to ride from Queens - Westchester we would ride up the Bronx on the west side of it and then cross on Mosholu. You could check out www.nycc.org for some routes...they even have a message board you can post on, that doesn't require sign-in, just post away.

Sorry to sound like such a worry wart. One of my teammates from running, Liz Padilla, was a fine rider and she died a gruesome death from a car on bike accident, she had no chance at all. She was the recipient of the first Ghost Bike here in NYC :-/

Have fun but ride safe!!! I still commute too but just want you to know what you're dealing with. On the bright side, I haven't heard of a real bad accident in Northern Manhattan or Bronx in a long time. They are mostly on 9w or in midtown. Heidi
 
I sometimes park in the Fort Lee plaza parking lot down by the CVS (shhhh) however I think your best bet would be to park by the Strictly Bicycles shop on Hudson terrace. Read the signs as some of the street parking is by resident permit however directly across the street from the shop I believe is legal. You can always ask Nelson who owns the shop to be sure. Then it is an easy short ride right under the bridge to the riding paths that take you over.
 
Rutli1291 said:
I've had a lot better luck commuting around here using a crappy mtb It is sturdy , nobody wants to steal it, and if a car gets in my way I can detour right over anything without worrying will my skinny tires get stuck. JMO.
Heidi
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+1 on an old beater mtb with slicks
 
Ive been meaning to get a bike I can ride on the road for a while. And I also only have one mtb :/ so I dont know.
 
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