If you have been waiting for a clean spring Saturday to swing a leg over a Citi Bike, this is the one. With the F train cut between Church Av and Coney Island-Stillwell Av all weekend, a bike is genuinely the fastest way to reach the boardwalk for a lot of Brooklyn riders. Here are three greenway routes worth riding today, what to expect on each, and the practical stuff that makes a NYC ride go smoothly.
1. Hudson River Greenway — The Classic Manhattan Ride
The Hudson River Greenway runs the full west side of Manhattan, from Battery Park up through Hudson River Park, Riverside Park, and Fort Washington Park to Dyckman Street. It is the longest greenway in Manhattan and one of the most heavily used bike paths in the country.
For a first-timer ride, pick up a Citi Bike at the 12th Ave & W 40 St station and head south about 3.2 miles to Battery Park. Allow 25 to 30 minutes at a relaxed pace. You get the full skyline rolling past on your left and the river on your right. Going north from Midtown, Riverside Park is roughly four miles of waterfront from 72nd Street to 158th Street — quiet, mostly flat, and shaded.
Where to start, where to stop
South-end starts: Pier 40 (W Houston St), Hudson Yards (W 33 St), or 12th Ave & W 40 St. North-end stops: 158 St-Riverside, or push all the way to Dyckman St if you have the legs. Plenty of restrooms in Hudson River Park, Pier 25, and Riverside Park.
2. East River Greenway — Bridge Views and Less Traffic
The East River Greenway is the quieter cousin of the Hudson route. It is shared in stretches with runners and walkers, but it gives you the cleanest views of the Brooklyn Bridge and Manhattan Bridge from the water side. Start near East River Park (around East 6th St) and head south toward the Battery for a ride past Lower Manhattan with both bridges in frame.
The greenway is not fully continuous in every stretch — there are still gaps that route you onto on-street infrastructure — so if you want a clean car-free experience, the south end below the Williamsburg Bridge is your best bet today.
3. Brooklyn Waterfront Greenway — The F Train Workaround
Here is the practical play this weekend: with the F suspended between Church Av and Coney Island, the Brooklyn Waterfront Greenway becomes a real transit option, not just a recreation route. Currently 18 miles of the planned 27-mile route are open and usable, threading the waterfronts of Williamsburg, Brooklyn Bridge Park, Bay Ridge, Bath Beach, and along the Belt Parkway in Eastern Brooklyn — all the way to Coney Island.
If you are starting in Manhattan, ride the Manhattan Bridge bike lane into DUMBO, pick up the greenway at Brooklyn Bridge Park, and head south. The full ride from DUMBO to Coney Island runs roughly 18-20 miles depending on connections. That is a solid half-day ride. Plenty of Citi Bike docks along the route if you want to break it into two legs.
What to Pack
For a spring Saturday ride, the basics: water bottle, a layer you can shed (mornings on the water are cooler than the city), sunscreen, and your phone. If you are riding the Brooklyn Waterfront Greenway down to Coney Island, throw in a lock — you will want to walk the boardwalk.
Rules of the Road, Briefly
The 15 mph speed limit on Class 2 and Class 3 e-bikes is in effect citywide. Greenway etiquette: keep right, pass on the left, call your pass with a bell or voice, and slow through pedestrian-heavy stretches like Hudson River Park near Chelsea Piers and Brooklyn Bridge Park near the carousel. The greenways are shared spaces, not racing lanes.
If the Weather Turns
Spring weather flips fast. If a shower rolls in, the Hudson River Greenway has the most cover options — Pier 25, Pier 57, and Hudson Yards all give you a place to wait it out. The East River and Brooklyn Waterfront routes are more exposed, so check the radar before you commit.
Planning a Ride This Weekend
The Hudson is the easy default — short, scenic, plenty of bail-out points. The East River is the move if you want bridge photography. The Brooklyn Waterfront is the answer if your destination is actually Coney Island and the F train is not running. Pick the one that matches your day.
