1/8/11



Marc and I went out today.



The city was a bit messy in places on the way to the GWB, but much clearer on the way home.



The GWB was plowed on the NY side, plowed on the NJ side, but not in the middle. There was a section that had icy, sloshy snow that took a minute or two to ride, much longer to walk. When we returned, there was a shoveling crew working on this. Sure seemed like a sign that the Port Authority realized they screwed up.



NJ was ok. Smaller roads were pretty messy. Busy roads were mostly clear, but narrower in sections. Portions of the 9W shoulder were barely plowed.



The low road in Piermont was pretty clear, as was Broadway in Nyack. The hills around Nyack College were pretty clear.



Things seemed better on the way back than on the way out, but maybe I was just getting used to the conditions.



JP

How are the roads today (1/12/11)?

JP

Yeah, I'd like to know too - I gotta work out on those streets tonight!

*pause*

i walked through central park this morning (1.13.2011) and the loop seemed very clear, clean and ice-free EXCEPT for the right-hand turn at the bottom of the hill by the skating rink (harlem end) which had a good amount of hard-packed snow up on it

Anyone been on River Road yet? Is it clear?

Tito,
A friend rode River Road Sunday and said it was slow and messy. He was on 25 or 28mm clinchers.

All,
I ran in riverside park today and came up the bike path from 72nd street. There were three or four cyclists on it from 72nd to 125th. The bike path is cleared a width about as wide as their plowing vehicle, which isn't quite as wide as a pickup truck. It's like each direction has about half a lane to ride in. The St. Nicholas Avenue bike path had been cleared, but the mess thrown off of parked cars and then driven over makes the bike lane just about unusable. At least there seems to be no more angled parking in parallel parking spots.

JP

1/15/11.

Rode over the bridge to Oakland, NJ and back. THe bridge was probably the trickiest section all day. Jersey roads are clear, but a bit narrower than their summer width.

Unless it snows tonight, the roads will be fine tomorrow.

JP

just rode up to rockland with tito

roads are pretty good everywhere we went (low road north, 9w south)

worst part is riverside drive - the southbound side has lots of wet snow in the right lane

quite a pleasant day - apparently the next bunch of days are going to suck: snow tomorrow, very cold the three days afterwards

Just rode Central Park. Clear enough for road riding, though there is some snow and ice on the road, particularly on the downhill to the rink.

The St. Nicholas Ave bike path and Riverside drive are pretty messy and dirty mush goes pretty far out in some places.

1/27/2011

dear lord!

i just drove through the city! what a mess!

has anyone seen the condition of the roads in central or prospect?

I was out riding in Prospect Park (on the 'cross bike) mid-day. Conditions were fine once you got into the park.* In fact, I probably didn't really need the 'cross bike.

Conditions may change by this evening/tomorrow, once today's melt starts to freeze again so use caution.

*The non-auto entrances to/exits from the Park were pretty messy.

I was out in Central Park at 3:30 today on the cx bike. At first, I was stoked, the north end was clear! But the south end, particularly going north from 59th to 74th was bad, and the descent to Harlem Meer was pretty bad, too.

considering how packed down the snow on the road was, I'd stick to the cx bike in CP for the next day or two.

JP

damn!

i'm in a tight spot!

(no cross bike)

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-dR45pdEqW4

Posted By: WilliamDCdamn!

i'm in a tight spot!

(no cross bike)

I'd suggest running, but then again. With my experience, I would suggest staying inside and riding the rollers.

I'm aaaaalll about the rollers these days. We got two more months of winter, people - plenty of days to freeze our tuchuses outdoors when the roads are better.

Myles and I met in Central Park at 8am. Since he was bringing his road bike, I couldn't turn down the challenge. We rode a lap-and-a-half and exited to see about Jersey. At 145th and Riverside, Rob Lattanzi was heading south and yelled to us that the bridge was closed. We took broadway down to 125th, then morningside, then back in the park. The south end still sucks, the drop down to Harlem Meer is still lousy, and the runners, dog-walkers, and even in-line skaters were crawling around the park by 9:30. We called it quits at 10.

BTW, If you want to get better at bike handling while riding smooth tires in the snow, ride with Myles. He says it's because he rides with 80psi in his Tufo (tubeless) tubulars.

I decided to check on the ferries. I figured take the ferry to Edgewater, then ride north. No luck. The ferry to edgewater doesn't run on the weekend and I didn't have enough cash for a roundtrip ticket to Hoboken.

I had called Strictly Bicycles in Fort Lee and Cyclesport in Park Ridge on Friday. Both reported the roads were clear but narrow.

Decided to check out the West Side Greenway. Pretty clear from 42nd down to Chambers. South of Chambers is not so good. I crashed on one of the few legit icy sections I came across. Rode north to the north end of Riverbank on the Greenway. It's not plowed well north of Riverbank. So I did another lap down to Canal and back.

The Greenway is bad in spots, like around 72nd, but otherwise the only problem is its much narrower than usual.

Think I'm going to sign up for the Port Authority's email alerts. This way I can find out when the bridge is reopened.

http://btt.paalerts.com/

not sure what this means for tomorrow. Then again, it might snow tonight.

I'd say time to strap yourself into your trainer and drown in sweat.

Ed Nolan

Thanks for the report JP. I am definitely getting antsy and was wondering if I was missing some clear sailing once I got out of my neighborhood. It seems to me that the Parks Dept has been much slower about clearing the bike path this year. Perhaps it is just the volume of snow, but I have a feeling there are fewer people on staff. I actually saw a truck plowing the 1st Ave bike lane. But then on 2nd Ave it looks like the merchants have used the bike lane for a dumping ground for clearing the snow off the sidewalk. It is definitely not worth falling. Most of the time, one will be fine after slipping on the ice. But there are occasionally freak accidents.
David

JP - If you are looking at taking a ferry to Hoboken to then ride north in NJ - take the PATH train instead - less $$ needed.
Your ok with bikes all weekend - just dont take the first car.

http://www.panynj.gov/path/security.html

And those PA email alerts are great - you can pick and choose which specific alerts you want - so no fluff alerts .

Bleh - I was hoping against hope that I'd be able to get an outdoor ride in before the snow hits again (and before classes start again). Another day on the rollers. Sigh.
Thanks JP for the report.

went a bit crazy today. Figured if I didn't get out now, there wouldn't be another chance until at least Thursday. took the ferry to Hoboken (josh, it's more expensive, but much faster). Rode north. River Road is clear. 9W is fine. Englewood is fine. Fort Lee is fine. got a ride back to the city, but if I hadn't, I would have tried the Jitney bus stop by the GWB. I heard they've taken bikes before. It's only a few bucks.

JP

half ride report \ half road conditions

Sunday 1/30/11 - road the cx bike in the outskirts of Philly + suburbs. Philly roads in general were just bad, driving Saturday was scary , they dont have money to plow, so lots of stuff left untouched. Rode some roads Sunday that sacred me in the car Saturday (but on the bike I for some reason was excited to ride them). Highlight of the weekend - riding down a 1 lane residential, unplowed. Pull over to let a little old lady drive past. She rolls her window down to tell me i have a death wish.

Monday 1/31/11 - saw the Tuesday weather report, was in CT with the car and cross bike (went straight to work in CT from the wknd away in Philly), decided I didn't want to drive home and clean the car Tuesday morning. Lightbulb - leave the car in the work garage, and ride\train home. So I did Metro North down to the Bronx and then rode home . I think Fordham station to my place is about 8 miles, so this should have been real quick. Most of the roads in the Bronx were ok, having the CX was a major help though, being able to go over small snow \ice patches that were all over the place. Had one bad spot on Bruckner Blvd where I almost slide out due to black slush. It was so nasty, I couldn't tell if it was dirt, slush, or some sort of meat packing plant refuse. Had a pretty fast ride and felt very awesome about how well my plan worked out until.....the RFK Triborough.

Had to hike from the Bronx to Randalls, then from Randalls to Queens, bike on shoulder. The bike ways on both segments of the bridge were snowy and icy. In some spots, just a drop more then desirable for riding. In some spots, 2 feet of hardpacked snow.
No warning sign to say bridge closed, crazy bikers dont come here, whatever. The segment from the Bronx to Randalls is smaller , and not well lit, it gives the impression of lower usage then the part along the main bridge from Randalls to Queens. So I was delusional enough to think "ohh, this part is bad, but the rest will be clear". Boy was I wrong. On the stretch over the East River where the bikeway is above the roadway, I did get some riding in, even perfected this technique of going faster than normally would be safe, and catching myself on the side fence if need be, then keep going. The parts near level with the roadway were much worse - I almost wonder if they plowed or dumped snow into the bike area from the road. The staircases were fully iced over as well. All in all, easily a 40 min delay , and many many almost injuries.

What do the other East River crossing look like right now ? I am guessing they are clear and the Triborough is the forgotten stepchild? That and it is the only East River bridge run by MTA B&T - who has a low regard for bikes - so I wonder how that plays into it.
The conditions on the bridge, while laughable for me , were truly atrocious, and for someone forced to walk it or ride it because they don't have other transport options (vs just being a stubborn fool) , it was a real shame.

I am going to call 311 and probably contact TA - any other suggestions ?

I think the GWB Bike Path was opened today. Read below.

Date: Thu, 03 Feb 2011 17:39:20 -0500
To: "Bridge and Tunnel Alert Message" <replyto@btt.paalerts.com>
Subject: Bridge & Tunnel Alert
From: alerts@btt.paalerts.com
Sender: btt-list-request@btt.paalerts.com
X-Modus-Audit: FALSE;0;0;0
X-Virus-Status: No

The previous alert for the GWB Sidewalk due to adverse weather is no longer in effect. There may be residual delays.

The central park roadway was almost completely clear of snow and ice. Snowbanks have narrowed the roadway, the ped way and the bike lane in sections.

Saw a NYPD cruiser run a red light, too.

have you seen any bikers getting pulled over in CP?

have you seen any cops getting pulled over by bikers?

I did not see anyone getting pulled over. It appears that the Parks Enforcement people were observing,mostly at 72nd street on the east side. I was and remain concerned that it is the NYPD giving the tickets, so when their car passed me at 87th on the east side and I saw the light at 90th red, I slowed down. The police cruiser slowed down and then once at the intersection rolled right through. I stopped, just in case.

2/6/11

river road (inside the palisades interstate parkway) is a complete mess

tito and i ended up pushing our bikes for a mile or so before pushing them most of the way up the switchbacks to reach 9w

the air is lovely and warm, the ground is wet and gross

Not sure if this will work - a photo from today.

The northern end of the Hudson River bike path was a mess. Riding south from the GWB, I gave up at 125 St. Someone riding north told me that the "bridge" (the new overwater connector north of the boat basin) was really bad and that he fell twice. South of 59th St. it was totally fine. I believe the Hudson River Conservancy takes care of the southern part and the Parks Dept takes care of the northern part (or not, as the case may be).

As of today, September 8, 2011, River Road in Palisades Park is officially closed between Englewood Cliffs and the Alpine Boat Basin.

I rode it anyways. Really messy. The road is clear of boulders and trees, but lots of dirt and branches, and a little flooding. a number of roadside boulders that served as a kind of guardrail have dropped down and in some places the road is cleaving off.