Author Topic: NYC to Atlantic City  (Read 15934 times)

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Offline taptap

NYC to Atlantic City
« on: March 01, 2009, 05:25:42 pm »
I am trying to map out a route from Queens or Manhattan to Atlantic City, N.J. Any suggestions would really help.

Offline bikepak

Re: NYC to Atlantic City
« Reply #1 on: March 02, 2009, 12:16:09 am »
Hi...
I too am looking for a good bike route in that area.
I'm cycling south to north...Cape May to NYC.
I have the Adv. cycling maps and the book on cycling the Atlantic Coast...but this preference to visit NYC takes me off course.
Thanks for any suggestions/guidance

Offline Westinghouse

Re: NYC to Atlantic City
« Reply #2 on: March 08, 2009, 08:47:50 am »
I went south out of NYC one time, and made it to South Florida which was my destination. I remember going through New Jersey. I don't remember the road, but it goes past Lake Manahawken near a road that goes out to Long Beach Island. The road went through Smithville. South of here was Atlantic City. AC was practically deserted. I rode along the boardwalk, and then south by roadway to the Cape May-Lewes ferry.

Leaving Manhattan by way of the Statan Island ferry, I walked over the Goethels Bridge which lets out onto US highway 1, or thereabouts. In that area, if you go west a little you will find a very long road that runs roughly near and parallel to US 1 for a long way south. Just ask around. South of there was a Naval Station Earl. My route went by there. I got out onto LBI and exited around Toms River NJ. It was a pretty good ride. then
« Last Edit: March 09, 2009, 11:10:55 pm by Westinghouse »

Offline Tourista829

Re: NYC to Atlantic City
« Reply #3 on: March 08, 2009, 12:09:45 pm »
I use to live in queens and in New Jersey. Your first hurdle will be to get out Manhattan. There are a few ways to do it.
1.  You can take a water taxi over to New Jersey from the west side of Manhattan.
2.  You can take a boat from Battery Park to Ellis Island and over to Liberty Park in New Jersey.
    ( via the Statue of Liberty, not sure if they will let you take the bike)
3.  Take the Staten Island Ferry from lower Manhattan to Staen Island.
4.  The one I would do is to take the ferry from south of South Street Seaport to Sandy Hook Area of N.J. It may 
     cut down some mileage but trust me the areas you would be riding through, you aren't missing a thing. It will
      be a whole lot safer.
If you are a purist and want to ride, all the way, you could do the following:
1. Ride over the Verazano Bridge from Brooklyn to Staten Island. (Big long hill)
    (However, I am not sure if you can or if it is safe to ride the Goethels Bridge from SI to NJ)
2. I know you could ride over the George Washington Bridge, but that will add more cycling miles.
Second hurdle is finding a safe route out of SI or Liberty Park through NJ to Sandy Hook. I will research a safer route from northern SI/NJ south.
Third hurdle will be if you want to ride along the Jersey Shore.
The problem with cycling along the coast of the NJ shore is that it doesn't always connect and then you have to go inland to navigate around the islands. I am sure you could eventually pick up the AC Atlantic Coast route. I am not yet familiar with that route and am not sure how that will affect you getting to either Atlantic City or Cape May. Good luck.

Offline taptap

Re: NYC to Atlantic City
« Reply #4 on: March 09, 2009, 03:58:43 pm »
Thanks for the reply. From maps it looks like rte9 parallels the Garden State Pkwy all the way south close to Atlantic City. Do you know if it is bike friendly. Does it have a shoulder?

Offline Tourista829

Re: NYC to Atlantic City
« Reply #5 on: March 09, 2009, 09:06:59 pm »
It has been a long time since I was living in NJ. I believe traffic is heavy in spots around English Town and possibly New Brunswick. (I some times get route 1 and 9 confused because they are together in parts) If I were you, I would go to google maps, go to satellite images, zoom in, and see if it has a shoulder. On some of the maps, if you zoom to the lowest level, it has a view as if you were on the bike riding. It is very cool. The problem is, I am not sure that Route 9 has a shoulder, all the way. The other problem, and I would check with Adventure Cycling or AAA Road Club, as to whether there is construction on parts of it. In New Jersey I think they do construction, on the roads, whether they need it or not. I would be curious what you find. 

Offline Westinghouse

Re: NYC to Atlantic City
« Reply #6 on: March 09, 2009, 11:15:40 pm »
It definitely was not safe to cycle over the Goethels bridge; in fact, it looked like a suicide mission to try to do so. There is a narrow walkway on the bridge that I used. It was so narrow the panniers kept scratching against the guard rails. There was a lot of traffic, and no room for a bike at all that I could see.
« Last Edit: March 10, 2009, 08:00:19 am by Westinghouse »

Offline JayH

Re: NYC to Atlantic City
« Reply #7 on: March 10, 2009, 09:52:35 am »
Rt 9 and the GSP actually merge just south of the Raritan river for a short bit, but then diverges. I think rt 9 would have traffic and lights and may not be that good til you get further south, but I don't really bike in that neck of the woods.

The MS society does a ride every year from Cape May to Sandy Hook, you might try to contact them (the NJ chapter) to see if they have a cue sheet for their ride. I wouldn't be surprised if they go by A.C. or close enough to get there...

You can take a ferry from NY to Atlantic Highlands, NJ which is right by Sandy Hook, from there I know you can bike down the bikepath parallel to Rt 36 for a short bit...

Jay
« Last Edit: March 10, 2009, 03:47:08 pm by JayH »

Offline bktourer1

Re: NYC to Atlantic City
« Reply #8 on: March 10, 2009, 04:41:30 pm »
You cant ride over the Verrazanno.  The only time you can go over is when they have the 5 Boro Ride ride in May on the lower level
I use to live in queens and in New Jersey. Your first hurdle will be to get out Manhattan. There are a few ways to do it.
1.  You can take a water taxi over to New Jersey from the west side of Manhattan.
2.  You can take a boat from Battery Park to Ellis Island and over to Liberty Park in New Jersey.
    ( via the Statue of Liberty, not sure if they will let you take the bike)
3.  Take the Staten Island Ferry from lower Manhattan to Staen Island.
4.  The one I would do is to take the ferry from south of South Street Seaport to Sandy Hook Area of N.J. It may 
     cut down some mileage but trust me the areas you would be riding through, you aren't missing a thing. It will
      be a whole lot safer.
If you are a purist and want to ride, all the way, you could do the following:
1. Ride over the Verazano Bridge from Brooklyn to Staten Island. (Big long hill)
    (However, I am not sure if you can or if it is safe to ride the Goethels Bridge from SI to NJ)
2. I know you could ride over the George Washington Bridge, but that will add more cycling miles.
Second hurdle is finding a safe route out of SI or Liberty Park through NJ to Sandy Hook. I will research a safer route from northern SI/NJ south.
Third hurdle will be if you want to ride along the Jersey Shore.
The problem with cycling along the coast of the NJ shore is that it doesn't always connect and then you have to go inland to navigate around the islands. I am sure you could eventually pick up the AC Atlantic Coast route. I am not yet familiar with that route and am not sure how that will affect you getting to either Atlantic City or Cape May. Good luck.
« Last Edit: March 10, 2009, 06:03:10 pm by jsieber »

Offline Tourista829

Re: NYC to Atlantic City
« Reply #9 on: March 10, 2009, 10:27:14 pm »
You know, I think you are right about the Verrazzano Bridge. I thought, like the GW bridge, there was a walkway.  I must have gotten it confused with the GW Bridge.  I have ridden it on the 5 BORO. Are they still running it?

Offline JayH

Re: NYC to Atlantic City
« Reply #10 on: March 11, 2009, 09:01:52 am »
Yeah, they are still running the 5 Boro ride and it's as crowded and insane as always. I guess it beats riding it with traffic and the closing of the bridges is unique but it's not my cup of tea.

Jay

Offline kensamoil

Re: NYC to Atlantic City
« Reply #11 on: March 17, 2009, 03:05:12 pm »
To avoid the worst of the traffic along the coast, take Route 539 through western Monmouth County and eastern Burlington County.  It has a bit of a shoulder and good visibility, and goes straight through the Pinelands.  You can take it all the way to Tuckerton, and make your way to AC from there (Route 542 west to Route 9 south).

Offline bikepak

Re: NYC to Atlantic City
« Reply #12 on: March 19, 2009, 01:01:43 am »
HI,

I'm one of the cyclists who asked for your advice about cycling from Cape May to NYC.
I plan to print all the suggestions.

So far, here's a tentative plan for the route.
I've got a basic route to Freehold using the Cycling the Atlantic Coast book.
In the town of Freehold or Freehold Borough, my research indicates there is the Monmouth bike trail...which takes the rider north to Matawan.  Then there is the Henry Hudson Bike Trail that wil take me near Atlantic Highlands for the ferry.
Has anyone any knowledge of these bike trails?

Thanks again, any info on bike friendly roads is always appreciated.

yours til the bike shops (get it?),
pk

Offline JayH

Re: NYC to Atlantic City
« Reply #13 on: March 19, 2009, 10:31:50 am »
The Henry Hudson Bike trail is fairly new, it's nice that it isn't[/i] Rt 36, but it's not exactly rural or so.  I'd be careful with road debris and stuff but it should get you in the vincinity of Atlantic Highlands and where the ferry is.  I hope the ferry allow bicycles, you may want to confirm that.   Rt 36 is not a place you want to bike on, as if I remember most of it is a two-way 4 lane either divided highway or just a barrier with no shoulder and busy.     The area around there can be windy and can flood in heavy rains (at least sea girt area).

Jay