MrLurker698 t1_j13r4oy wrote on December 21, 2022 at 1:31 PM

I enjoyed street cycling for exercise before moving to Jersey City. To gauge my interest level. I’d say I was probably averaging about 100 miles a week. I kept riding for about a month, then I decided it wasn’t worth the stress with the local drivers. I could loop the same parks, but that gets boring quick so I switched to a Peloton.

bodhipooh t1_j14jtcx wrote on December 21, 2022 at 4:52 PM

Are you me? I used to average well over 100 miles in JC and NYC, then I switched to mostly weekend riding in LSP, and some waterfront riding, but gave that up because it does get old fast, and once you get on River Road it is simply too dangerous to deal with those drivers. Not sure what it is, but the drivers all over Hudson County are positively insanely aggressive. I switched to Peloton in 2014, kept at it for 5+ years and about to start up again since I miss riding but don't feel like dealing with all the stress. I still ride along the waterfront from time to time, but even that feels stressful at times as people walk around meandering all over the place with their faces buried in their phones, while others walk their dogs in retractable leashes without keeping them close by, so I am constantly having to avoid collisions. Just too much nonsense in general. So frustrating, really.

JCwhatimsayin t1_j164h9o wrote on December 21, 2022 at 11:05 PM

I commuted by bike over the GW into NYC from JC for a few years until the pandemic, and there's a much more sedate, bike friendly, and picturesque route north if you stay up on the cliff. I tried river road a handful of times years ago and then went looking for alternatives. Anyway, just a suggestion if you are feeling like getting back out on the road at all.

bodhipooh t1_j16bkor wrote on December 21, 2022 at 11:57 PM

From time to time I do the Palisades Interstate Park route that enters just south of the GW bridge and meanders its way all the way to the Park headquarters, and then continues. It's a beautiful ride (heck, even had a first date with an Italian beauty that consisted of doing that ride and then swinging back into NYC) but getting there is the biggest headache, really. I have tried going up Central Avenue and that's just as bad. At least with River Road you can sort of avoid some of the nonsense by riding along the waterfront, though that is also not super convenient due to its haphazard layout. In any case, that whole ride through the park, all the way up to Nyack, is positively beautiful and really, really nice. I should give it a go again. It's been a long while.

JCwhatimsayin t1_j16h4op wrote on December 22, 2022 at 12:40 AM

Yeah it's the getting to Fort Lee that is hard, but I've spent a lot of time refining my route. I focus on quieter one way streets so definitely not Central . It's actually a delightful route! Not a detailed screenshot, but gives you the idea. https://imgur.com/iw6AVpC.jpg

bodhipooh t1_j16mwuh wrote on December 22, 2022 at 1:25 AM

thanks for the map! I will go get my bikes out of storage, do some basic maintenance, and then venture out at some point during the Winter break.