Thanks for the trip down memory lane! I left NYC around 5 years ago and now in Portland. I cannot believe how much it’s improved since I was there last, some parts I used to bike every week and are unrecognisable. Some parts are still as bad though 😂 Interestingly the exit and entrance back then on the Williamsburg bridge actually was worse than what you saw - that narrow gap for the downhill bikers was shared for both directions. It always freaked me out in peak traffic with people going though the gap so fast.
fyi, when you rode to S3rd in brookyn, you came off the bike lanes for some blocks. you actually could have stayed on the protected path all the way to the bqe and ridden under it, which also has a protected path. it would be a more direct and more protected route.
It's easier,better, and safer if you use the river bike path until you reach 10th street, then crosstown using it until you reach Avenue B, then ride downtown until you reach the Williamsburg bridge, and to go back to the west side use 9th street. Always try to avoid the main roads and use the river bike path if possible.
good advice! I realize I'm a novice navigating around, but that was part of the point of this. A great bike network shouldn't require people to know a lot about the safest routes, they should just naturally reveal themselves with wayfinding and design cues.
funny as a new yorker I am constantly infuriated by our infrastructure. It's surprising to see someone coming from a cycling mecca like portland, giving it some compliments. fwiw manhattan is better than the other boroughs. Queens is really abysmal.
Thanks for the trip down memory lane!
I left NYC around 5 years ago and now in Portland.
I cannot believe how much it’s improved since I was there last, some parts I used to bike every week and are unrecognisable. Some parts are still as bad though 😂
Interestingly the exit and entrance back then on the Williamsburg bridge actually was worse than what you saw - that narrow gap for the downhill bikers was shared for both directions. It always freaked me out in peak traffic with people going though the gap so fast.
Thanks for sharing. I was last there 11 year ago and also noticed a massive difference in quality and connectivity.
fyi, when you rode to S3rd in brookyn, you came off the bike lanes for some blocks. you actually could have stayed on the protected path all the way to the bqe and ridden under it, which also has a protected path. it would be a more direct and more protected route.
It's easier,better, and safer if you use the river bike path until you reach 10th street, then crosstown using it until you reach Avenue B, then ride downtown until you reach the Williamsburg bridge, and to go back to the west side use 9th street.
Always try to avoid the main roads and use the river bike path if possible.
good advice! I realize I'm a novice navigating around, but that was part of the point of this. A great bike network shouldn't require people to know a lot about the safest routes, they should just naturally reveal themselves with wayfinding and design cues.
funny as a new yorker I am constantly infuriated by our infrastructure. It's surprising to see someone coming from a cycling mecca like portland, giving it some compliments. fwiw manhattan is better than the other boroughs. Queens is really abysmal.