Low Impact Bicycle Rides in the New York / Long Island / Hudson Valley Region

Manhattan Rides

West-Side (Hudson River) Greenway

Battery Park to 79th Street & Beyond

Here's a great way to see New York City without having to sit atop a goofy double-decker bus! 

The West-Side Greenway begins at Battery Park (the lower tip of Manhattan) and continues north to the George Washington Bridge and beyond.  This trip focuses on the sites between Battery Park and the 79th Street Boat basin.

I’d strongly recommend doing this on a Sunday, when parking will be a bit easier.  Although providing specific directions to a street with available parking would be nearly impossible, I can suggest that you head to the west side from the Brooklyn or Manhattan Bridge and try to find a spot along the streets near the South Ferry Station, just across from Battery Park.  If you’ve got a Long Island Rail Road bicycle pass, your best bet is to take the 1 or 9 Subway all the way downtown to South Ferry and avoid driving altogether.

Anyway, once you get over the minor frustration of getting to where you want to be, your adventure can begin.  The ride may be a little slow-going at first, as Battery Park can get very crowded on a nice day.  Pedal slowly and cautiously, but be sure to take in all the sites, sounds, and aromas.  Battery Park was named after a row of cannons that were originally located at Castle Clinton, a circular fort built here in 1811 to defend against British attacks.  The fort was later used as an immigration depot (pre-Ellis Island) and now serves as the ticket and information center for Statue of Liberty and Ellis Island ferry rides.  Take a look as you pass by.

Just after Battery Park, you’ll have to continue north a short distance on the sidewalk until you eventually reach an entrance to the Battery Park Promenade.  From here, you can look out across the Hudson River and see not only New Jersey, but one of America’s most beloved landmarks, the Statue of Liberty.  Since 1886, “Lady Liberty” has stood proudly in New York Harbor, inviting the world to “Give me your tired, your poor, your huddled masses yearning to breathe free.”  The Statue of Liberty was designed by French master sculptor Frederic-Auguste Bartholdi, whose original vision was for the statue to mark Egypt's Suez Canal.  After history and politics got in the way, Bartholdi looked to the west and decided his statue would be the perfect gift to celebrate America's Centennial.  The base of the statue is built over the former Fort Woods and was engineered by Alexandre Gustave Eiffel, of Eiffel Tower fame.  Just to the north of the statue is Ellis Island, the point of entry for 16 million immigrants between 1892 and 1924.  Ferry rides and tours to both the Statue of Liberty and Ellis Island are available from this point of the promenade.

Before entering the bikeway, you may want to ride a couple of blocks east to the West Side Highway, where you can catch a glimpse of Ground Zero, the former site of the World Trade Center Twin Towers.  The towers redefined the New York City skyline in 1973 when they surpassed the Empire State Building as the tallest structures in the world.  Designed by Minoru Yamasaki, the towers made up two of seven office buildings in the WTC complex, which also included a massive shopping concourse underground.  While some may find this site disturbing, seeing it up close and personal can also bring a certain amount of closure to the tragedy that occurred here on September 11, 2001.

Next, find your way back west onto the promenade at Battery Park City, where the real fun begins.  Shortly after entering, you will come across a massive courtyard lined with outdoor restaurants.  This area surrounds one of NYC’s most prestigious boat docks, where on any given day, you are likely to see some of the most luxurious and expensive private vessels in the world.  Take a moment to gaze, then continue your journey north.

At the end of the promenade, follow the path to the right, where you will soon connect to the completed portion of the actual greenway.  Up until now, your ride will have been completely free of automobile traffic.  The West Side Greenway is designed to enable bicyclists and roller bladers to interact safely with automobile traffic entering the various piers along the Hudson River.  From here on, be sure to follow all traffic signs and lights on the path and to keep your eyes open at all times.  This will help ensure a safe, enjoyable ride, even with children to keep an eye on!

As part of the west side revitalization effort, New York City is gradually converting many of its defunct shipping piers into entertainment complexes and tourist attractions.  While much of the property along the greenway is still under construction, there are a few attractions that are already booming.  The first is a small amusement park complete with kiddie rides, a snack bar, and other fun things to do.  Then there are boat rentals, if you dare brave the mighty Hudson.  Next, at around 23^rd Street, is the mega sports complex at Chelsea Pier, one of downtown Manhattan’s hottest new attractions.  Pedestrian traffic gets a little heavier beginning here, so be careful.

Continuing north along the path, at 34^th Street, look to your right for a clear view of New York City’s most famous fixture - the Empire State Building.  Having held the record as the world’s tallest skyscraper for 40 years - the symbol of this city was constructed in only two years - 1930 to 31.  Today, as always, this 1,453 foot colossus is one of Manhattan’s premier tourist magnets.

Shortly ahead, at Pier 83 on 42^nd Street, is the west side location of the Circle Line, one of NY City’s most popular day cruise liners.  Also docked here are the various ships belonging to World Yacht Cruises, which provides elegant catered affairs on New York’s waterways.  But if you think these are big ships, pedal just a little farther!

At 46^th Street, you will come across a series of vessels that will make every mega-yacht you’ve seen up to now look miniscule in comparison.  First is the USS Intrepid, a Naval carrier built in 1943 which played a major role in the largest naval engagement in history, served as a prime recovery vessel for NASA, and completed three tours of duty during the Vietnam Conflict.  The USS Intrepid is a National Historic Landmark which was saved from the scrap yard and restored by Zachary Fisher, who spent $24 million of his own money to turn the carrier into a sea, air, and space museum.  Today, the museum draws more than 600,000 visitors annually.

By the time you reach the Intrepid, you’ll have pedaled approximately five easy, flat miles and you’ll have seen enough to talk about for a long time.  If you’re riding with children or novice bicyclists, I suggest turning around here and heading back.  If you’re up for more, continue at least to West 79^th Street and consider having lunch or dinner at the 79^th Street Boat Basin Café.  You may even want to continue into the 100 streets and cross the George Washington Bridge into New Jersey.  It’s all safe and it’s all an excellent way to see New York up close.