Steve B.

Phyoomz

AWESOME!!! I used to ride along the belt back when there was no partition, just a sidewalk. Scary stuff. Pebbles getting launched by car tires. Also never knew crossbay had a dedicated bike path (just googled it). New way to get to the beach!

I'll definitely be checking this out soon.

DynoD500_SR20-d

Thats my usual Sunday morning ride

zacster

Yea, the last time I was there it was all but done. It is really nice.

noglider 

Thanks! I'll try it someday soon.

ChiroVette

Yeah, they did a fantastic job on the segments of the path. Also, for anyone who doesn't know, they finished the path a while ago that connects Seview Park directly to the Belt Parkway, not too far south of the Paerdegat Avenue park-entrance. Very convenient to not have to take the streets to the Rockaway Parkway entrance to the path.

Now, for the love of everything holy, I so wish they would repair the chewed up path areas between Ceasar's Bay and the Verazzano.

Steve B.

In my experience, NYC can be great at finding the cash to build new (cycling) infrastructure. Not so great at maintaining it. The path on the east side of Flatbush from the Belt to the Floyd Bennett entrance, is a frost heaved mess that needs to be replaced for the most part. As well I’ve never seen the City Parks Dept. doing any cleaning on these paths.

noglider 

I've had good luck getting paths cleaned by reporting them to 311. I usually use the smartphone app, but you can use the phone, too. I once got a call back telling me the problem (mud sliding over the path) had been fixed but it will recur until they re-landscape the area. I thought that was really nice.

ChiroVette

By the way, Steve B., I like the pics you posted!

I don't agree with this. I ride that path an awful lot and its pretty smooth. Not perfect, but smooth enough. And its usually clear. I live 5 minutes from Kings Plaza, so that path is one of my main routes for many rides. Have you ridden the path from Ceasar's Bay to the Verazzano? Some parts are still okay, but many are so chewed up that riding on them turns my bicycle into a giant vibrator. lol Yes, they could do a better job of keeping the path on Flatbush clean, but as @noglider says, a phone call usually gets someone out there pretty quickly.

One path that is problematic is the route that goes from the West side of Flatbush Avenue, right behind Sam Ash, then winds its way west and north toward Marine Park. I think a lot of the motorists either resent the bike path because they feel it narrows the road or takes away parking, so oftentimes they use the bike lanes there as dumping grounds. So half the time there is garbage all over the place.

Steve B.

I think what I’m judging is that I’ve ridden the Flatbush path as my commute since the day it opened. Thus I’ve seen it slowly deteriorate a bit with frost heaves, etc.. As well I often see when they mow the grass they just leave the path covered in clippings which can make it hard to see debris and bumps. Possibly this section is maintained by the US Park Svc., not sure.

wilfried

One of my go to rides is to take the Belt path around Bay Ridge to Coney Island. If I'm so inclined, I continue on to the Rockaways. I haven't done it since the renovation; I'll have to get there soon. @noglider, care join me sometime?

noglider 

@wilfried, yes.

baronvonoz

starting in sunset park, did the path under the verazzano for the first time a few weekends ago (also forgetting it was the mermaid day parade) not realizing how bad it suddenly gets, and that road is an absolute nightmare. first part of the ride was fantastic though

Vifam7

Hey guys,

I'm thinking of doing the Floyd Bennett-Rockaway-Howard Beach loop sometime later this year. I just have one concern.

How safe is the path on the northern Cross Bay Blvd bridge (Joseph P Addbbo Bridge)?

The reason why I ask is because Google street view shows cyclists being separated from cars and trucks only by a single white line or hatched white lines. Not sure if I'd enjoy riding that section with no physical barrier between me and the vehicles.

Steve B.

There’s a separated “sidewalk” section, with a Jersey barrier separating the road and sidewalk. As well the on road section is a marked bike lane. I ride the bike lane and have had no issues though traffic does tend to fly by at a clip.

Note that when you get further south into Beach Channel, it’s painted bike lane only on the street.