Papa Tom

Tomorrow (October 11), I'll be riding over the Cuomo Bridge into Nyack for the second time; however, this time I'll be starting at the parking lot on the Tarrytown side, instead of riding there from the South County Trail.

The websites all say there is a four-hour limit on the free parking. I plan to cross the bridge then ride the Esposito/Clarke Trail to its end in what looks like Northvale. I might also take a side trip to Piermont Pier, so who knows how long I will be out on the bike.

Does anyone know what happens when four hours runs out? Can I pay for extra parking, or are they just going to ticket or tow me?

dendawg

There is a small parking lot at one section of the Joseph P Clarke trail on Oaktree Rd in Tappan, NY. You could start from there and do the ride in reverse. There is also a parking lot along the trail in Sparkill. FWIW there is another section of the trail that heads NW from Sparkill to Blauvelt where it ends near a nice little Pizza shop. From Nyack to Sparkill the trail is unpaved crushed rock above Piermont and just dirt through Grandview. The Esposito trail becomes the Clarke trail when you leave Nyack.

Steve B.

Or park on Sheldon Ave., just south of the bridge where the OCA stops at the Thruway, there are no parking limits on that street. It's 1/2 mile to the bridge path.

Papa Tom

Thanks for the tips, Dendawg and Steve. I am very familiar with the Esposito and Clarke trails, including the spur that goes to Blauvelt. I guess I thought I was going to take the Ash Street side-trip to Piermont and spend some time there, possibly pushing the four-hour time limit. However, after an hour and 40 minutes, I had been to Oak Tree Road and was back to my car in Tarrytown, having only stopped briefly to chat with some locals.

My sense of time sucks. This is why I always arrive an hour early to work and everywhere I go.

GlennR

I'd just park a mile from the bridge on a residential street.

Papa Tom

Actually, I asked the parking attendant, who was standing there with two cops, what happens after the four-hour time limit. None of them were even AWARE of a four-hour time limit, and both cops told me they have never ticketed a car unless it was left overnight. Next time, I will plan to ride further and stay for lunch.

Zebra Tempest

Yeah, I didn't know there was a time limit. They definitely won't bother you at all. But I wouldn't leave the car until too late at night.

The lot did fill up on somedays, so I've also parked over by the CVS in the mall (over in the corner, so I'm not bothering anyone) and on Paulding and Van Wart Streets.

Please be very careful crossing Broadway in Tarrytown. That street has become a free for all with all these bikes crossing all over the place.

rebel1916

What's the Cuomo Bridge?

GlennR

Tapen Zee.

https://mariomcuomobridge.ny.gov/

rebel1916

Nah, that's already called the Tap, by literally everyone. Must be something different.

Papa Tom

I'm assuming you're kidding, but yes, the Tap is now the Governor Mario Cuomo Bridge.

rebel1916

Never heard of her

Steve B.

A somewhat contentious name as the current Governor wanted it named after his Father, a former governor. What Andrew (current governor and a complete *******) wants, Andrew gets. There were few if any other name considerations if memory served. Somehow we got thru 50 years of never naming the Tappen Zee anything else, i think

Papa Tom

To get this conversation back on topic, the time limit for parking was very loose during the Fall of 2020. Has anything changed?

GlennR

Sorry but... Governor Malcolm Wilson Tappan Zee Bridge

"Official name Governor Malcolm Wilson Tappan Zee Bridge"

BTW, they tore down the original bridge and this is a totally new bridge.

Also, the "59th Street" bridge was the Queens Borough before it was renames the Ed Koch bridge. Then there's the Tri Borough now the JFK.

Steve B.

Yes, thats correct Glenn. I'd forgotten.

kaos joe

Regarding bridgehead parking, one of these days I plan on a loop incorporating crossing both the TAPPAN ZEE and the (as yet un-renamed) George Washington bridges on both banks of the (as yet un-renamed) Hudson River. I have a 46 mile route downloaded from RideWithGPS. My major concern is parking and traffic. I tend to avoid (as yet un-renamed) NYC like the (as yet un-renamed) black plague. Any experience with the logistics of this ride? I have a friend in Bronxville who might be inclined to join me, so my strong inclination is to park at his house and do it clockwise.

Steve B.

@Joe, If you are using the Old Croton Aqueduct as part of the route, theres public (paid) parking in Dobbs Ferry literally right on top of the OCA route. Its cheap enough, i parked there when I rode the OCA to the TZ and the rail trail down to Piermont.

dendawg

And the Brookly Battery Tunnel is now the Hugh L Carey Tunnel. Personally I'd like to see them go with Corporate Sponsorship and use the money to lower the tolls. :-)

dendawg

We often park in Englewood at Allison Park, about a mile north of the GWB off of Hudon Terrace. It's open from dawn to dusk.

rebel1916

And nobody, literally nobody, calls it the Ed Koch Bridge.