Has anyone every biked from NYC (Manhattan) to Long Island?

Question

I'm trying to find a route to bike from Manhattan to North Shore Long Island (Manhasset). Does anyone have a route out of the city? I'm obviously looking for roads that are safe for a bike, along with minimal potholes.

Thanks!

Answer 1

I've done it..

Here's my cue sheet:

- Cross the Queensborough bridge via its bike/pedestrian walkway.

- Go down Queens Boulevard to Queens Center Mall in Rego Park, make your way across Queens Boulevard to the Mall side and get on the east-bound Long Island Expressway service road.

- Go down LIE service road to Grand Central Parkway, cross Pedestrian Walkway into Flushing Meadows Park.

- Ride south in Flushing Meadows Park to Jewel Avenue, turn left onto Jewel Avenue heading east.

- Ride down Jewel Avenue's bike lane.  It will merge with 73rd Avenue.

- Ride down 73rd Avenue bike lane to 199th Street, turn right and get on the Vanderbilt Parkway Bike Path.

- Take Vanderbilt Parkway Bike Path to Alley Pond Park.

- Get out of Alley Pond Park at Winchester Boulevard and Union Turnpike, turn left onto Union Turnpike (use sidewalk on the busier stretches).

- Take Union Turnpike down to New Hyde Park Road.  Turn left onto New Hyde Park Road.

- Take New Hyde Park Road to Long Island Expressway service road, turn right.

- Take Long Island Expressway Service Road to Shelter Rock Road, turn left.

- Take Shelter Rock Road (caution, this road can have heavy motor traffic) to Northern Boulevard in Manhassett.

When I did this, it took me about 5 hours.

If you want a more direct route, you can cross the Queensborough Bridge and go down Northern Boulevard all the way to Manhassett, but there will be many stretches of heavy/fast traffic, and certain parts will be confusing (such as the interchange at Shea Stadium to cross Flushing Bay where bikes are not allowed on the Northern Boulevard roadway and the pedestrian walkway is a bit hard to find).

Hope this helps.