Get away to Randalls Island! An easy bike ride you can do in NYC.
If you are looking to get away from the hustle and crowds of NYC…but not leave the city, riding your bike to Randalls Island is a great way to spend an afternoon. It’s an easy, pleasant ride from Manhattan, Queens or the Bronx. And it’s also a good spot to take children to since there are plenty of car-free bike paths, and plenty of things to check out!
If you are coming from Manhattan, the best way to get there is to ride to East 102nd Street. Go down 102nd Street until it ends at the East River. Ride onto the sidewalk on the north side of the street, then make a left along the FDR drive an you will soon see a ramp going up to a pedestrian bridge. Take that to the island.
From Queens, you will need to ride to Hoyt Avenue North and 27th Street where the RFK Triborough Bridge sidewalk begins. Unfortunately, you’ll have to deal with a lot of stairs crossing over to Randalls Island, so be prepared!
But the nicest way – by far – to get to Randalls Island is from the Bronx, where the new Randalls Island Connector gets you to the island. Access the connector from 132nd Street between Walnut Avenue and Willow Avenue. That’s the way we did it. We made a great day ride using the Bronx River Greenway to go from the northern end of NYC to Randalls Island. The pictures below tell the story!
We started the ride by going down the Bronx River Pathway with its beautiful autumn colors!
There were plenty of playgrounds along the way for our son to stop and play.
A nice “bikes only” protected bike lane leads to Concrete Plant Park
Here’s the entrance to the Randalls Island Connector.
The connector bike path goes below the Amtrak tracks…and then crosses the Oak Point Rail line.
A nice view of the Hell Gate Bridge. Rail fans will love it!
Bike paths within Randalls Island give an excellent view of the Manhattan skyline!
A great spot for lunch!
End the day with miniature golf!
Randalls Island has something for everyone! Check it out! Not only can you do miniature golf, but there are batting cages, nature walks…and concession stands where you can buy lunch. You can really make a nice day of it on Randalls Island.