JeffreyD
join:2000-09-27
Brooklyn, NY
|  Bike path on Belt by Erskine Ave.
Was out biking today, and it was a great day for a ride, but the path just past Erskine Ave. between Crossbay Blvd. was closed. A few weeks ago I did that ride and went all the way through Howard Beach -> Broad Channel-> Rockaway -> back into Brooklyn.
Does anyone know why it is now closed and when it will reopen? |
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Stacy
FotoDogue
Premium
join:2001-11-02
New York, NY | Maybe someone at Transportation Alternatives can answer your question
»www.transalt.org |
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arctangent
join:2003-11-13
Brooklyn, NY | reply to JeffreyD
Call 311 and ask. |
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JeffreyD
join:2000-09-27
Brooklyn, NY | I called 311 first thing, they had no clue. I filled out a form at the parks department website, but no answer yet. |
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arctangent
join:2003-11-13
Brooklyn, NY
2 edits | That's bad. I love that ride. I hope it opens soon. Did they have a fence across the bike path? |
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JeffreyD
join:2000-09-27
Brooklyn, NY | reply to JeffreyD
Blocked! |
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Stacy
FotoDogue
Premium
join:2001-11-02
New York, NY
 ·RoadRunner Cable
 ·Speakeasy
1 edit | I don't know about the exact wording but that sign reminds me on one contractors put in place when they were repaving FDR Park.
On some of the more heavily traveled routes, particularly the West Side Greenway, cyclists don't always wait for the City to officially open new segments as long as it looks relatively safe 
As I mentioned before, I'd strongly suggest contacting Transportation Alternatives. They're much more likely to have an answer than 311. |
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KCrimson
Premium
join:2001-02-25
Brooklyn, NY
·Optimum Online
 ·Verizon FIOS
| reply to JeffreyD
Sorry to hear about the closure - I used to take that ride myself - the last time somewhere between 25 and 35 years ago. 
The route I took back then was Belt east from Rockaway Pkwy (Canarsie Pier) (the trail is on the southern side of the parkway) to Cross Bay Blvd (we actually got off at an unofficial exit that was very close to the bike path way before the actual exit ) and then over both bridges to Rockaway. Then we'd travel back west to Riis Park (riding on the boardwalk until chased off) and back over the Gil Hodges Marine Park bridge back to the Belt East.
The photo you took looks like it was taken facing east from Spring Creek towards Howard Beach (and therefore the photographer appears to be where he shouldn't!) - am I right? I remember there were sections of the path that are north of the parkway, with crossovers occurring at the exits (and unofficially we once went under an overpass at either the Paerdegat Basin or Mill Basin drawbridge in order to continue journeying on the wrong side). Both sides of the parkway are interesting in sections. I remember on hot summer days that the most grueling portion of the ride was the section between Fisherman's and Broadchannel bridges, where both sides are flanked by nothing but the weeds of the Gateway Bird Sanctuary for what felt like MILES AND MILES (probably 1 mile!  ) |
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Stacy
FotoDogue
Premium
join:2001-11-02
New York, NY
·RoadRunner Cable
·Speakeasy
| That also looks like newly paved bikeway beyond the closure sign.
I think I may have rode that section a couple of years ago during the NYC Century. We went as far as the path would take us, and then when we ran out of path and it turned to gravel, the route went up into Howard Beach.
If that is newly paved, maybe this was only a temporary closure. Have you been back since? |
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JeffreyD
join:2000-09-27
Brooklyn, NY | The funny thing I did that ride a few weeks ago and it was open, it was closed further up at Crossbay though. I drove by today and it was still closed.
No word from the parks dept. |
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Stacy
FotoDogue
Premium
join:2001-11-02
New York, NY | Is that the Parks Department or DOT? I think they may share responsibility for the bike path in that area. |
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JeffreyD
join:2000-09-27
Brooklyn, NY | The Parks Dept. There was a sign a bit down the ways that said the Parks Dept. was doing the redone trail job. During the week I will make some calls and see what I can find out. |
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HardwareGeek
join:2003-11-15
Brooklyn, NY | reply to JeffreyD
I was by gateway mall today and saw them doing construction
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Email/MSN: Michael at hardwaregeeks.comAIM: MikeR35292 |
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JeffreyD
join:2000-09-27
Brooklyn, NY | reply to JeffreyD
Got a letter!!
Says open in early July. |
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