$4.50
Borough(s): Staten Island, Distance: 13.2 miles, Elevation: 298′, Terrain: One big hill climbed both ways, with a few rises in Bayonne. Good road surfaces. Bike paths, quiet roads, and a few busy-ish roads, Ride Rating: @@
Description
About (Staten Island Bayonne Bridge Ride)
The Bayonne Bridge, though not one you hear about often, is actually the fourth longest through-arch bridge in the world, at 5,778 feet. You’ll both see it and experience The Bayonne Bridge on this bike ride. The Sydney Bridge in Australia is a better-known, if shorter, version of a through-arch bridge. Somehow, it’s the one photographed. Rather than the deck suspended from cables attached to cables, aka suspension bridges, the deck is suspended from cables hanging off a steel arch.
General text (Staten Island Bayonne Bridge Ride)
The Bayonne Bridge is one of two bridges linking Staten Island to the mainland
ates, and is the only one you can legally ride over. On the other side of the island is the Verrazano Narrows Bridge, and that span is only rideable one day a year, when the Five Boro Bike Tour rides from Brooklyn to Staten Island. So this is the only chance to enjoy the peace and beauty of bridge riding in this borough.
And, at 1.4 miles each way, it is also among the longest, uninterrupted car-free stretches in Staten. Yes, it’s a hill to climb both ways, but there is a descent both ways, too, and the views are excellent.
Once in Bayonne, you’re taking largely sleepy streets through the port town that has the distinction of being both on Newark and Upper New York bays. Your destination is Veterans Park, a lap of the big field, and a view of Newark Bay.
After the park lap, it’s back to quiet city streets for your return. There’s a suburban vibe even though the streets display an urban population density.
Bayonne is very much a place in transition. There’s the Hudson Bergen Light Rail Terminus on Eighth Street, which is bringing people closer to both Jersey and New York cities. It’s also a way to get to the ride. And if you’re looking for more riding, there’s an effort underway to link the bike path that starts on the Hudson River by Hoboken through Jersey City all the way south to Bayonne. It’s years away, but it will be great when it finally comes to fruition.
Before you know it, it’s time to walk the stairs to the start of the Bayonne Bridge again. It’s a remarkable, if subtle, structure.
Specs
Borough(s): Staten Island
Distance: 13.2 miles
Elevation: 298′
Terrain: One big hill climbed both ways, with a few rises in Bayonne. Good road surfaces. Bike paths, quiet roads, and a few busy-ish roads.
Ride Rating: @@
Notes: The bridge is a through-arch design, like the famous bridge in Sydney, Australia. You’ve seen pictures of it. As with anything touching Jersey, this bridge gets no respect. You get to both ride and admire it.
Includes: A PDF with intelligence and a GPX file to upload to your bike computer or mobile device.
Print out the PDFs or put them on your phone. Put the GPX files on your phone or a GPS-enabled bike computer. Pump up your tires. Get on your bike. Go!
If you need a tutorial, here’s where you find that info: Download Rides.
