Sun 18 May 2008
A Trip Across the Triborough Bridge
Posted by thenextstopwillbe under Whatnot
[4] Comments
UPDATE: The entrance to the walk/bike path on the Astoria/Wards Island section of the bridge is located on the north side of the bridge at Hoyt Ave N and 27th St. in Astoria. You can see it here. The walk/bike path entrance on the bridge from Randall’s Island to Manhattan is located here and exits at 124th St. and 2nd Ave in Manhattan. You can also see more details on Triborough Bridge walk/bike paths here.
I took a bicycle jaunt on my own around four of New York City’s boroughs last Saturday and part of the trip took me across the Triborough Bridge. Using “bridge” in the singular form is a bit of a misnomer because it’s actually a system of three bridges connecting the boroughs of Manhattan, Queens, and the Bronx using Wards/Randall’s Island, upper right of photo, as the central section. Wikipedia has a lot more information if you’re interested.
I just want to talk about the section of the Triborough that crosses between Astoria in Queens over to Wards Island. You can see it pictured above on the left side of the photo. The bridge is a little peculiar in that, of all the major East River bridges, it’s the least friendly for bicycling. For starters, on the Queens side of the bridge, you have to carry your bike up two flights of stairs before you can remount and start riding on the pathway.
The second and more disconcerting issue with the bridge concerns the pathway itself. All the other East River bridges have extensive protective fencing on the walk/bike paths but the entire middle section of this bridge is exceptionally unprotected. There’s just a relatively short wall that separates you from a very long fall to the East River on one side or freeway traffic on the other. You can see what I mean in the photos below.
The top of the railing is only about 4-4 1/2 feet high.
Busy freeway on one side.
A long way down on the other.
I’m not entirely sure how to feel about this situation. On the one hand, it’s potentially dangerous; on the other hand, it’s kinda’ nice to be in a space where the state expects you to take responsibility for your own safety. That’s a pretty rare experience in this day and age.
Philosophical discussions concerning the responsibility of the state to protect us from ourselves aside, I enjoyed the opportunity to snap photos without having to poke my camera through a chain link fence. Here’s a few favorites.
The Hell Gate Bridge for rail traffic. I think it’s architecturally gorgeous.
Which way?
Bridge traffic with Manhattan in the background.
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May 23rd, 2008 at 2:24 pm
i can’t decide if i want to go to manhattan or manhattan only!!! which is more luxurious?
September 29th, 2009 at 10:17 am
Just wanted to let you know, the reason it is not bike friendly is b/c the walkway was never intended for bicycle use. There is a sign that states “NO BICYCLING” thats why there are stairs, etc. The sign directs bikers to carry their bikes across the bridge, the railing is built to protect pedestrians from falling, not bicyclers
October 17th, 2009 at 1:29 pm
i walked this 2 weeks ago and was TERRIFIED. the wind was gusting and it started to rain, i was afraid to slip and fall over the hip-height railings in either direction dropping off, so much so that everyone (all 2 people) coming in the other direction looked sinister…at some points there was no railing at all, just a chain-link fence…will never do this again…
March 31st, 2010 at 3:13 pm
I did this last year and I think that will probably be my only time. The sections with the short/almost non existant railings are terrifying. The most terrifying part was where the walkway goes off to the side of the bridge and looks like its hanging there. I almost had a panic attack and I’ve walking almost every NYC area bridge there is. Definitely not recommended for those with fear of heights.