Red1 Posted January 3, 2015 #1 Posted January 3, 2015 I have a meeting with a friend in NYC in mid-April and was considering a ride out there. I have couple of concerns - 1. I don't really want to ride into NYC. Navigating in a city I'm totally unfamiliar with is not my idea of fun. I'd prefer to stay outside the city and take a train in. Any suggestions on possible locations (towns & motels near a train station) where I could safely leave my bike for a day or 2? How far out of the city do the trains run? And what's it cost about? Gotta factor all that crap in. 2. Weather - Not sure how the weather is out that way in mid-April. I don't mind cold rain, but freezing rain or snow scares the $tuffing out of me. I know I'd have to cross over some mountains in PA - how likely is it that I may encounter freezing temps and or freezing crap on the roads? I'm thinking I can take I-80 most of the way there & I would guess that they keep the superslabs fairly clean, yes? Any advice, suggestions, locations to be avoided, etc. would be appreciated. If the weather is decent, and I have the time - I may run up to NH to see an old buddy, then down to NC to my daughter. May as well make a real road trip out of it.
Barrycuda Posted January 3, 2015 #2 Posted January 3, 2015 Red, born, raised,worked in NYC my entire life minus last 7 years. Here's my thinking... To SAFELY keep your motorcycle safe as well as taking the train you have a few options. 1- stay someplace on Long Island. Nassau county is closer to NYC than Suffolk county. You can then take the LOng island RR takes you straight into NYC. You can park your bike and lock it in the area where vehicles park for daily commutes to and from NYC. Generally safe but is outdoors. I would be comfortable if this were my bike there, again depending on location. Some areas are just magnets for issues. Many areas on Long Island are VERY safe and VERY clean.From there you can walk, navigate other trains and or buses etc. personally I never take the yellow cabs. Dangerous, rip offs and overall just slimy 2- settle down In Queens, which is REALLY close to manhattan. You may be able to find a parking garage for the bike. They may be pricey and no guarantee on the safety without really seeing the area, but it is doable. 3- travel a bit more into NJ, or upstate NY and take the trains into the city. I'm not very familiar with what is best and available from that side of things...it's been a while since I was there. I would advise not to ride in NYC. The area is impossible under the best conditions, which I've not ever seen in my lifetime. Even if you know your way, parking, traffic, the congestion and construction would drive you to pull over and weep. I do not recall any snow in April. It may happen you get some ice or hail, but again that's far and very few also. hope this helps, and if anything else I remember, I'll chime back in. Have a safe trip and keep us posted...
jonesy Posted January 3, 2015 #3 Posted January 3, 2015 I've stayed in White Plains, NY. and took train [subway] into the city a couple of times. Some hotels will shuttle you over to subway station so you could leave bike at hotel. DO NOT RIDE INTO CITY, its dangerous even if you know your way around.
Eddie Posted January 4, 2015 #4 Posted January 4, 2015 Why the danger ? Getting jacked or from traffic . I was thinking of riding through downtown NYC / central park on the bike.
Barrycuda Posted January 4, 2015 #5 Posted January 4, 2015 Why the danger ? Getting jacked or from traffic . I was thinking of riding through downtown NYC / central park on the bike. Traffic, weather, psychos, congestion, construction, parades, protests, police barricades, bomb threats, police escorts, U.N. Meetings, horse and carriages, delivery guys flying on bikes, messengers, roller bladers, tourists stopping, people watchers, drug dealers, drug users....other than all that, should be a breeze!!!
cowpuc Posted January 4, 2015 #6 Posted January 4, 2015 My daughter went to Med School in Manhatten (Cornell - corner of 1st and 68th on the east side of MANhatten) and I LOVED visiting her and cruising the city!! THAT PLACE IS A MAD HOUSE traffic wise,, as much of a fun challenge as any back road America I have ever ridden!! BUT, because of the grid NYC uses in traffic control - it is amazingly easy to get where ya wanna go! Actually, I have ALWAYS wanted to take a moped back to NYC and buzz around - sooo much to see and do and it is SO ripe for the picken on a lil moped (big bike is all most as much fun - just not as easy to cut traffic on) that ya dont mind gettin stolen LOL!! I think it would also be fun to dress up like a bag lady and camp out under the Brooklyn Bridge for a night!! Sorry Red1 - didnt mean to go off on ya there... If you decide to ride the bike in, there are some road secrets that work really good.. NYC is laid out like a grid of one way roads.. I would suggest taking the Washington Bridge across to the East side of Manhatten, jump on the FDR on the east side, follow it down to the bottom of Manhatten, go up the center of Manhatten on any of the main roads, going north, if you get caught in unmerciful traffic (you will), jump on a one way cross road, say thru China town,, go to the next one way north,, go up and catch the next cross road going the other way... If you keep in mind that you are riding a grid loaded with cars and those cars are no more than obstacles on an obstacle course AND you have the time to play - it is a RIOT!! Dont miss Times Square at night and Central Park in the day light!! NOT riding the bike and using the subway was a much bigger hassle for me,, I always took my daughter when we traveled those puppies - much smarter than I.. If you end up parking outside of the city and taking a train in,, unless you have lots of xtra cash for Taxis - PLAN on walking A LOT!! The subways will get you in general areas but you WILL do a TON of walking if you wanna see anything.. Go to Rodney Dangerfields Club down by Times Square (no idea of address - found it by accident,, stumbled in and heard some of the most AWESOME Blues music stuff you ever did hear/see).. Be sure to eat lots of NYC Hot Dogs from the street vendors.. MY GOSH THAT PLACE IS AWESOME!! I LOVE China Town and how genuine city dirty it was,, stinky fish markets with stuff you can only get in NYC - dried fish flesh,, alive fish in tanks, dead ones in racks,, real chinese who cant speak english trying to sell ya watches, vendor after vendor with stuff to sell - NEVER pay asking price... WHAT A BLAST!!! Some of the sky scrapers you can sneak up in and make it to the roofs and view the city,, others - like the big gold one owned by Donny Trump you will get kicked out of as soon as ya walk in the door LOL... Can ya tell I am envious Red? May help if you study the sattelite map of NYC just to get a feel for the road layout (I did it cold turkey and it took me a few times to figure out how really nicely they have the "grid" laid out) being a first time in and all that.. I gotta tell ya,, I had WAYYYY more trouble navigating Jersey (terrible signage and road layout made NO sense) than I ever did in NYC!! Same as traveling around Elk Grove in Sacramento California (where the girls are now) - those roads out there make NO sense as far as layout goes.. Really weird angles and corners - a LOT harder to figure out than NYC!!! Completely different adventure!!! At any rate,, HAVE FUN EXPLORING!! Oh yea,, Jersey has WAY cheaper motels than you will find on the Island, GET GAS BEFORE GOING ON THE ISLAND, you can legally park between the cars perpendically, the signs that say "NO STANDING" mean "NO PARKING" (their parking tickets arent cheap and they WILL tow your bike), bathrooms are a rarity on the Island - when you see one use it!!! Puc
cowpuc Posted January 4, 2015 #7 Posted January 4, 2015 Traffic, weather, psychos, congestion, construction, parades, protests, police barricades, bomb threats, police escorts, U.N. Meetings, horse and carriages, delivery guys flying on bikes, messengers, roller bladers, tourists stopping, people watchers, drug dealers, drug users....other than all that, should be a breeze!!! AND THATS JUST A 50 FOOT BY 50 FOOT AREA ON THE NORTH END OF CENTRAL PARK... YA GOTTA GET DOWN INTO CHINA TOWN TO SEE THE REAL ACTION!!!
Jayceesfolly Posted January 4, 2015 #8 Posted January 4, 2015 I-80 will take you right across the GW Bridge right into NYC. It's best to cross before 6:00 AM and after 9:00 PM or otherwise the traffic will cause a delay getting across the bridge. Traffic gridlock during the day will drive you crazy and the potholes on the cross bronx xway will swallow a bike whole. I drove a tractor trailer there for three years and will never do it again. BTW, Barry has got it right. Jim
Barrycuda Posted January 4, 2015 #9 Posted January 4, 2015 Puc, next time I'm in NYC, I'll bring ya with me. We can do it the old school NYC way ...
jonesy Posted January 4, 2015 #10 Posted January 4, 2015 heres a web site that shows oddities of NYC, there are a few that someday I'd like to hunt down. Favorites | Scouting NY
Eddie Posted January 4, 2015 #11 Posted January 4, 2015 Traffic, weather, psychos, congestion, construction, parades, protests, police barricades, bomb threats, police escorts, U.N. Meetings, horse and carriages, delivery guys flying on bikes, messengers, roller bladers, tourists stopping, people watchers, drug dealers, drug users....other than all that, should be a breeze!!! So sounds like a Sunday morning drive through Detroit . I had a guy try to jack my bike around the Cass Corridor a couple years ago . He was on a 10 speed . Kicked him over on the drive by and Big Mike and I laughed our butts off. I told him we need to find a new way to the casino's.
Red1 Posted January 4, 2015 Author #12 Posted January 4, 2015 Thanks, guys - useful info. Once I know the location where and when we're meeting up, and get a better idea of the weather forecast - I'll make the decision as to ride or drive. Never been a fan of big city driving. I grew up on the south side of Chicago, so I've done it - just not a bike. And these bikes are not exactly built for slow traffic, quick reaction type of riding. I will mull my options & then ..............choose wisely. :-)
cowpuc Posted January 4, 2015 #13 Posted January 4, 2015 Puc, next time I'm in NYC, I'll bring ya with me. We can do it the old school NYC way ... I am SOOOOO there compadre!!! Last time I was there was daughters graduation at Carnegie Hall,,, look familiar?
Barrycuda Posted January 4, 2015 #14 Posted January 4, 2015 I am SOOOOO there compadre!!! Last time I was there was daughters graduation at Carnegie Hall,,, look familiar? We have a time share, directly across from Carnegie hall. looking at these pics, it seems they cleaned up a bit for the event. Thankfully your daughter looks like her mom...
IronMike Posted January 4, 2015 #15 Posted January 4, 2015 I go there like weekly in my driving job, Queens, Bronx, And a few Long Island destinations. As already has been said. Not me! If you do decide you simply cannot resist, go between like 1 AM and 4 AM in the FALL. lots of a less chance someone will hit you, and if they do you will have all winter to heal and get the bike back up and running. In all my bi weekly trips there the last 15 years I see very few Motorcyclists and the ones I do see are lighter bikes. Very few Dressers. But be advised timming is everything between 1AM and 4AM they like to work on the roads and the traffic could be bad.
cowpuc Posted January 5, 2015 #16 Posted January 5, 2015 We have a time share, directly across from Carnegie hall. looking at these pics, it seems they cleaned up a bit for the event. Thankfully your daughter looks like her mom... What cha talking bout willis
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