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!st New England Trip

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Old Apr 6, 2010 | 12:46 AM
  #21  
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Default New York City

Im trying not to be a defender of New York City however after reading some of the comments im starting to wonder if being ignorant is part of owning a bike-New England especially in the fall is amazing very pretty and plenty of things to see-However to say that the New York city skyline is not worth seeing, well thats just crazy it is an amazing sight actually can be breathtaking and if possible do it-If your comfortable with riding at night it will blow your socks off to see the skyline at night however you need to be very experienced to do it. I think the problem isnt how to see it while still avoiding the City-I would come up thru Staten Island over the varizano bridge to 278 (The Brooklyn-Queens Exspessway) North it will run you across the east river side and the view of the skyline will be great however you need to do this really early like sunup or at night as this road will have traffic all day. Afetrnoon about 1:30 will be the least traffic maybe 20 to 30 miles an hour and to concentrate on the sjyline would be lost so the sunrise theory would be best-I live in LA today and I am about to embark on my 3rd cross country trip and if there is one thing I have learned is decide if your able to waste a little time in experiencing something that will stay with you a life time-One persons traffic is another persons walk thru an art exhibit
 
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Old Apr 6, 2010 | 02:14 AM
  #22  
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Originally Posted by LEGEND1964
Im trying not to be a defender of New York City however after reading some of the comments im starting to wonder if being ignorant is part of owning a bike-New England especially in the fall is amazing very pretty and plenty of things to see-However to say that the New York city skyline is not worth seeing, well thats just crazy it is an amazing sight actually can be breathtaking and if possible do it-If your comfortable with riding at night it will blow your socks off to see the skyline at night however you need to be very experienced to do it. I think the problem isnt how to see it while still avoiding the City-I would come up thru Staten Island over the varizano bridge to 278 (The Brooklyn-Queens Exspessway) North it will run you across the east river side and the view of the skyline will be great however you need to do this really early like sunup or at night as this road will have traffic all day. Afetrnoon about 1:30 will be the least traffic maybe 20 to 30 miles an hour and to concentrate on the sjyline would be lost so the sunrise theory would be best-I live in LA today and I am about to embark on my 3rd cross country trip and if there is one thing I have learned is decide if your able to waste a little time in experiencing something that will stay with you a life time-One persons traffic is another persons walk thru an art exhibit
I have traveled to virtually every part of this country and to many parts of the globe and NYC has to be near the top of the list of at the top of places I would not care to ride my bike through. NYC is a place that everyone should visit at least once in their life, like it or not it is still a place to see and experience. Even as you admit in your post there are only narrow windows of time you can make it through there without getting swamped in traffic and both of those include some night riding which if you are not familiar with NYC would be a nightmare in itself. I have sat for 5 hours at the toll booth on the G. Washington bridge on a weekend day before, not something I care to do on a Harley.

I prefer to enjoy my ride around that place, and then when i want to see NYC I will fly in and take a cab, train, bus, or subway to the city but then I must be an ignorant small town boy from Texas.
 
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Old Apr 6, 2010 | 11:53 AM
  #23  
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Originally Posted by LEGEND1964
Im trying not to be a defender of New York City however after reading some of the comments im starting to wonder if being ignorant is part of owning a bike-New England especially in the fall is amazing very pretty and plenty of things to see-However to say that the New York city skyline is not worth seeing, well thats just crazy it is an amazing sight actually can be breathtaking and if possible do it-If your comfortable with riding at night it will blow your socks off to see the skyline at night however you need to be very experienced to do it. I think the problem isnt how to see it while still avoiding the City-I would come up thru Staten Island over the varizano bridge to 278 (The Brooklyn-Queens Exspessway) North it will run you across the east river side and the view of the skyline will be great however you need to do this really early like sunup or at night as this road will have traffic all day. Afetrnoon about 1:30 will be the least traffic maybe 20 to 30 miles an hour and to concentrate on the sjyline would be lost so the sunrise theory would be best-I live in LA today and I am about to embark on my 3rd cross country trip and if there is one thing I have learned is decide if your able to waste a little time in experiencing something that will stay with you a life time-One persons traffic is another persons walk thru an art exhibit
BWAHAHAA! I've worked/travelled in/thru most every major metro area along the eastern seaboard...and, I've seen/heard NYC and its traffic referred to as many things...but, an "art exhibit" was never one of them. Oh man...think I about peed myself over that 'un.
 
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Old Apr 6, 2010 | 12:57 PM
  #24  
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Originally Posted by harleyphoenix
Planning on my first visit to the New England states this coming summer. Is it possible to see NYC from a distance? I'm not new to big city traffic but I would like to avoid it if possible. Is there any daylight hours that are less congested than others? Thanks for any help.
Hey harleyphoenix --- How 'bout a straight answer to your questions?!!! If you get up to interstate 80 in PA or NJ, you can take 80 east almost all the way to NYC. Just BEFORE you get to the George Washington Bridge, take the Palisades Interstate Parkway, north. There are some pulloffs on the northbound side of the parkway, with great views of the city, and you don't have to go into NY to see it. Stay on the Palisades Parkway north, and you can work your way up to Albany & New England. Map it out from, let's say, Englewood Cliffs NJ to wherever you're headed. It'll be real busy. Be careful --- gonna have to look in all directions at the same time over there, but you'll be able to see NY without going into NY.
 
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Old Apr 6, 2010 | 01:40 PM
  #25  
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Geezer is onto something with his suggestion. The city itself hides the "skyline" so it is best viewed from afar. I don't think anyone is trying to flame NYC as a once in a lifetime experience to visit...BUT not riding a MOTORCYCLE. Figure out a place to leave the bike if you go into the city itself and take a train or subway into the busy stuff...tour and relax... and then get back on the bike and head up to new England...there is a very good reason NYC is chock full of taxis. Just finding a place to park will consume your day. John

in case you decide against the city you can put these in your album:






Now this is a sample of what you might miss/trade for NYC

 
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Old Apr 7, 2010 | 04:26 PM
  #26  
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When I lived on that side of the country to avoid the trafic on 95 I took the Merrit Parkway in CT but I would suggest I81N from PA to route 84E into Danbury, CT. If you go through NYC think about getting a fan for you bike it may save your engine burn your right leg but save the engine. Co-pay for medical repairs to your leg are $20 and new engine much more. There is a lot of stop..............and then go a little bit then more stop traffic in and around NYC
 
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Old Apr 8, 2010 | 12:45 PM
  #27  
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84s in terrible shape from Scranton, almost all the way to Middletown. My son was on it in his car & told me bikes not advised. Pretty beat up over the winter.
 
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Old Apr 8, 2010 | 12:56 PM
  #28  
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go around,the canal routes thru northern ny is great,then thru vt,and northern nh,then western maine,u wont regret it ,much better views
 
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Old Apr 9, 2010 | 03:49 PM
  #29  
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Originally Posted by LEGEND1964
Im trying not to be a defender of New York City however after reading some of the comments im starting to wonder if being ignorant is part of owning a bike-
Ouch! Really? If someone is uncomfortable riding in a city as big as NY that's makes them ignorant? Sheesh! In my opinion, Ignorance would be to venture forth into a situation that makes one uncomfortable with ill regard to the consequences.

MJ
 
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Old Apr 9, 2010 | 04:21 PM
  #30  
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No landfills in Manhattan that Ive ever known of, looking west from the city you will be looking at the Hudson River and New Jersey is on the other side.
He wasn't in NYC if that's what he saw. You can easily stay over on the NJ side (Weehawken or Secaucus) and take the train or bus into the city.

The ferry http://www.nywaterway.com/ is great from NJ and drops you off in midtown where a van service (included in the price) will take you into the heart of NYC.

The Intrepid is a nice tour and will take the better part of a day.http://www.intrepidmuseum.org/ Theater tickets are easy to get by stopped by the Tickets kiosk in midtown. They always have tickets available at a discount.

If you want to see the skyline on the way up to New England, take the Palisades Interstate Parkway north up to the Tappan Zee Bridge and over to Rt. 87/287.

Avoiding the highways during the rush hours and Friday afternoon during the summer months will save you some headaches.


NYC has to be near the top of the list of at the top of places I would not care to ride my bike through
I lived just over the river in NJ from NYC most of my life. I rode my bike into the city many times years back. And after doing so, I would agree with your assessment. As a tourist, you cannot see the city and drive at the same time. Parking is very difficult. Leave the bike at a hotel and take mass transportation into the city.
For a great view, stop by my mom's house. At sundown she sees to skyline of the city perfectly and some days it really is a sight. Unfortunately we no longer see the two
WTC towers but I can still look at the their former location.

As far as the Statute of Liberty, she can be accessed easily from the NJ Jersey City, Caven Point/Liberty State Park area. You can also get a great view of her from there.

Merrit Parkway in CT
I always take the Merit back home to NJ from NH every few weeks. Short of a mva, it flows nicly and no trucks are allowed on the roadway. I take it north up to Rt91 to just east of Hartford. Not going through Danbury and Hartford saves some time. As stated, avoid Rt95 at all costs going up to NE.
 

Last edited by rscalzo; Apr 9, 2010 at 04:35 PM.
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