Favorite Drives in NYC

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Favorite Drives in NYC
Posted by New Flyer #857 on Wed Aug 16 10:11:36 2017 Usually when NYers talk about favorite / scenic drives, they mean something like upstate or in eastern Long Island. But there are a couple of favorite spots I have to drive in NYC too, such as Brookville Blvd (the swamp area north of Rockaway Blvd) (bonus if planes are above you landing with that approach), as well as 278 east between Atlantic Ave and the Brooklyn Br because of the easy view of Lower Manhattan without having to turn your head much, and thirdly the upper level Queensborough Bridge approach to Manhattan. Honorable mentions include the Belt Pkwy from Exits 1 to 5 in either direction (the waterline near the Verrazano, sometimes with cruise ships or other large vessels out on the water), and 278 when it winds its way through Downtown Brooklyn (you go under bridge overpasses and there's a slight roller coaster feel for a moment without traffic). These are all places where you can easily take in scenery in NYC without being led to take your mind off driving. Unfortunately, they are all very quick. But do you have favorites of your own?
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Re: Favorite Drives in NYC
Posted by BILLBKLYN* on Wed Aug 16 10:13:24 2017, in response to Favorite Drives in NYC, posted by New Flyer #857 on Wed Aug 16 10:11:36 2017.* The Gowanus to the trench, the Cross Bronx from the bridge to I-95
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Re: Favorite Drives in NYC
Posted by ClearAspect* on Wed Aug 16 10:15:08 2017, in response to Favorite Drives in NYC, posted by New Flyer #857 on Wed Aug 16 10:11:36 2017.* Bronx River Parkway from Crestwood to the Fishkill
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Re: Favorite Drives in NYC
Posted by Fred G* on Wed Aug 16 10:27:03 2017, in response to Favorite Drives in NYC, posted by New Flyer #857 on Wed Aug 16 10:11:36 2017.* Queens Midtown Tunnel. Hey I like tile.
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Re: Favorite Drives in NYC
Posted by Dave* on Wed Aug 16 10:43:39 2017, in response to Favorite Drives in NYC, posted by New Flyer #857 on Wed Aug 16 10:11:36 2017.* Pelham Parkway.
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Re: Favorite Drives in NYC
Posted by Spider-Pig* on Wed Aug 16 11:58:49 2017, in response to Favorite Drives in NYC, posted by New Flyer #857 on Wed Aug 16 10:11:36 2017.* The new Kosciuszko Bridge is shaping up to be a good view. I also like the Triborough Bridge to Queens. The northbound Throgs Neck is cool because you're ramping down into what looks like a dead end into water. I'm not including the side-view from that or the Whitestone because you can't really enjoy it while driving. I also like Cross-Bay Boulevard between Howard Beach and Broad Channel because of the miles of wilderness and Beach Channel Drive between B116 and the Marine Parkway Bridge because you have all of that nature along the bay there, but the city is out in the distance. Also, don't sell the FDR, WSH and Riverside Drive short.
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Re: Favorite Drives in NYC
Posted by WayneJay* on Wed Aug 16 15:05:39 2017, in response to Favorite Drives in NYC, posted by New Flyer #857 on Wed Aug 16 10:11:36 2017.* Highways, I my favs tend to be the parkways, Bronx River, Hutch, GCP and J Robinson top my list. Surface streets, I'd say Pelham Pkwy, and many service roads.
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Re: Favorite Drives in NYC
Posted by Catfish 44* on Wed Aug 16 16:35:05 2017, in response to Re: Favorite Drives in NYC, posted by ClearAspect on Wed Aug 16 10:15:08 2017.* Good one Very NYC
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Re: Favorite Drives in NYC
Posted by ftgreeneg* on Wed Aug 16 17:22:08 2017, in response to Re: Favorite Drives in NYC, posted by ClearAspect on Wed Aug 16 10:15:08 2017.* Have 3 1. Belt Parkway in BK along the shoreline. Great views. 2. Cross Island along Queens shoreline same reason. 3. FDR (no seriously...lol) in the middle of the night no traffic. All of those curve and up and down imo makes for a fun drive.
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Re: Favorite Drives in NYC
Posted by ftgreeneg* on Wed Aug 16 17:23:24 2017, in response to Favorite Drives in NYC, posted by New Flyer #857 on Wed Aug 16 10:11:36 2017.* Have 3 1. Belt Parkway in BK along the shoreline. Great views. 2. Cross Island along Queens shoreline same reason. 3. FDR (no seriously...lol) in the middle of the night no traffic. All of those curve and up and down imo makes for a fun drive.
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Re: Favorite Drives in NYC
Posted by LuchAAA* on Wed Aug 16 18:17:34 2017, in response to Favorite Drives in NYC, posted by New Flyer #857 on Wed Aug 16 10:11:36 2017.* 1. Belt Parkway 2. Jackie Robinson Parkway through Forest Park 3. BQE between Atlantic and Kosciusko Bridge I like the Belt at night. Jackie Robinson is nice in the fall. BQE at night too. Not only is the day part important but music too. Smooth Jazz is the best for these drives.
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Re: Favorite approach in NYC airport
Posted by LuchAAA* on Wed Aug 16 18:23:54 2017, in response to Favorite Drives in NYC, posted by New Flyer #857 on Wed Aug 16 10:11:36 2017.* (bonus if planes are above you landing with that approach), Judging from your provocative handle, you like planes. What's your favorite approach as a passenger to a NYC airport? Views can vary greatly.
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Re: Favorite approach in NYC airport
Posted by Spider-Pig* on Wed Aug 16 18:26:41 2017, in response to Re: Favorite approach in NYC airport, posted by LuchAAA on Wed Aug 16 18:23:54 2017.* Judging from your provocative handle, you like planes. LOL! New Flyer is a bus manufacturer.
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Re: Favorite approach in NYC airport
Posted by LuchAAA* on Wed Aug 16 18:34:16 2017, in response to Re: Favorite approach in NYC airport, posted by Spider-Pig on Wed Aug 16 18:26:41 2017.* What's a bus?
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Re: Favorite Drives in NYC
Posted by TerrApin Station* on Wed Aug 16 18:34:50 2017, in response to Favorite Drives in NYC, posted by New Flyer #857 on Wed Aug 16 10:11:36 2017.* NB HHP from 178 to Dyckman Off-ramp from upper level GWB to northbound HHP FDR with minimal traffic SB HHP with minimal traffic
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Re: Favorite Drives in NYC
Posted by ClearAspect* on Wed Aug 16 18:35:42 2017, in response to Re: Favorite Drives in NYC, posted by ftgreeneg on Wed Aug 16 17:22:08 2017.* When I had my mini cooper, the FDR at night was an absolute playground
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Re: Favorite Drives in NYC
Posted by LuchAAA* on Wed Aug 16 18:37:37 2017, in response to Re: Favorite Drives in NYC, posted by TerrApin Station on Wed Aug 16 18:34:50 2017.* Traffic can slow you down to the point you can appreciate things too. That's if you can handle touch-and-go traffic while enjoying some of the scenery.
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Re: Favorite Drives in NYC
Posted by LuchAAA* on Wed Aug 16 18:41:04 2017, in response to Re: Favorite Drives in NYC, posted by ClearAspect on Wed Aug 16 18:35:42 2017.* usually, but in the summer when you have roving work gangs, they can get the FDR down to one lane. When they do this you can hit a 30 minutes traffic delay because there's still enough volume to congest a one lane road in NYC.
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Re: Favorite Drives in NYC
Posted by TerrApin Station* on Wed Aug 16 18:44:14 2017, in response to Re: Favorite Drives in NYC, posted by LuchAAA on Wed Aug 16 18:37:37 2017.* None of what I posted had anything to do with scenery. It all had to do with the dynamic qualities of the driving experience. I.e. car handling. Foo.
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Re: Favorite Drives in NYC
Posted by JayZeeBMT* on Wed Aug 16 18:50:17 2017, in response to Favorite Drives in NYC, posted by New Flyer #857 on Wed Aug 16 10:11:36 2017.* QUEENS Brookville Blvd. and Rockaway Beach Blvd, just south of the viaduct from Seagirt Blvd. to B. 73rd Street. BROOKLYN Eastern Parkway from Grand Army Plaza to Rockaway Ave. and Shore Parkway to the Gowanus merge. MANHATTAN Harlem River Drive from the RFK (Triboro) bridge to Nagle Ave., and Henry Hudson Pkwy from 125th to Fort Tryon. BRONX Henry Hudson Pkwy from Spuyten Duyvil to city line, and Bronx River Pkwy from Cross Bronx Expwy to city line. STATEN ISLAND West Shore Expwy from Goethals Bridge to OBC, and Arthur Kill Road in its entirety.
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Re: Favorite approach in NYC airport
Posted by JayZeeBMT* on Wed Aug 16 18:54:47 2017, in response to Re: Favorite approach in NYC airport, posted by LuchAAA on Wed Aug 16 18:23:54 2017.* The Canarsie approach into JFK. There's something about the way it follows the Belt Parkway. The Hudson approach into LGA paralleling Manhattan is awesome, especially at night.
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Re: Favorite approach in NYC airport
Posted by Mtk52983* on Wed Aug 16 18:59:58 2017, in response to Re: Favorite approach in NYC airport, posted by LuchAAA on Wed Aug 16 18:23:54 2017.* Expressway Visual for Runaway 31 at KLGA or the approaches to 13L and 13R at KJFK (over Floyd Bennett and Canarsie)
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Re: Favorite approach in NYC airport
Posted by LuchAAA* on Wed Aug 16 19:00:15 2017, in response to Re: Favorite approach in NYC airport, posted by JayZeeBMT on Wed Aug 16 18:54:47 2017.* The Canarsie approach into JFK. There's something about the way it follows the Belt Parkway. Yeah. If you are coming into JFK book a seat on the left side of plane in case you get that approach. The worst approaches are the ones that come in by looping over Nassau County and over New Hyde Park. At LGA, the Hudson approaches are more scenic, but if you're a Queens guy like my you'll like coming in straight on 4, basically following the BQE, or the "visual approach" onto 31. I always liked looking down and recognizing places familiar to me.
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Re: Favorite Drives in NYC
Posted by Olog-hai* on Wed Aug 16 19:06:37 2017, in response to Re: Favorite approach in NYC airport, posted by LuchAAA on Wed Aug 16 18:23:54 2017.* Hijacking again?
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Re: Favorite Drives in NYC
Posted by Bill Newkirk* on Wed Aug 16 19:10:20 2017, in response to Favorite Drives in NYC, posted by New Flyer #857 on Wed Aug 16 10:11:36 2017.* All though long gone, the elevated West side Hwy was one of my favorites. Driving on it in the rain was a challenge not for the faint of heart !
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Re: Favorite approach in NYC airport
Posted by JayZeeBMT* on Wed Aug 16 19:34:08 2017, in response to Re: Favorite approach in NYC airport, posted by LuchAAA on Wed Aug 16 19:00:15 2017.* I hate the Five Towns approach into JFK, where you come over the Narrows and go out over the Atlantic, before you're on final over Long Beach and the swamp. The only highlights of that route are buzzing Brookville Park, and the LIRR. The Canarsie and foul-weather Rockaway approached are much more fun.
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Re: Favorite approach in NYC airport
Posted by Spider-Pig* on Wed Aug 16 19:55:32 2017, in response to Re: Favorite approach in NYC airport, posted by LuchAAA on Wed Aug 16 18:34:16 2017.* Like an Airbus but smaller and ground-based.
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Re: Favorite Drives in NYC
Posted by Spider-Pig* on Wed Aug 16 20:07:05 2017, in response to Re: Favorite Drives in NYC, posted by Bill Newkirk on Wed Aug 16 19:10:20 2017.* I wish I could drive that.
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Re: Favorite approach in NYC airport
Posted by Dave* on Wed Aug 16 20:15:52 2017, in response to Re: Favorite approach in NYC airport, posted by JayZeeBMT on Wed Aug 16 18:54:47 2017.*
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Re: Favorite approach in NYC airport
Posted by JayZeeBMT* on Wed Aug 16 20:52:32 2017, in response to Re: Favorite approach in NYC airport, posted by Dave on Wed Aug 16 20:15:52 2017.* This is awesome. Thank you!
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Re: Favorite approach in NYC airport
Posted by LuchAAA* on Wed Aug 16 22:04:55 2017, in response to Re: Favorite approach in NYC airport, posted by JayZeeBMT on Wed Aug 16 19:34:08 2017.* yeah. The approach from the east side of JFK is boring. Canarsie approach is almost the reverse of a "Coney Island Climb" take off.
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Re: Favorite Drives in NYC
Posted by Olog-hai* on Wed Aug 16 22:27:13 2017, in response to Re: Favorite approach in NYC airport, posted by LuchAAA on Wed Aug 16 22:04:55 2017.* And when was the last time you flew a plane, thread-hijacker?
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Re: Favorite Drives in NYC
Posted by SMAZ* on Wed Aug 16 22:57:14 2017, in response to Favorite Drives in NYC, posted by New Flyer #857 on Wed Aug 16 10:11:36 2017.* What you mentioned were the first that came to my mind plus: Shore Blvd in Astoria. The Roosevelt Island loops. The Hudson Pkwy.
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Re: Favorite Drives in NYC
Posted by SMAZ* on Wed Aug 16 23:07:53 2017, in response to Re: Favorite Drives in NYC, posted by LuchAAA on Wed Aug 16 18:17:34 2017.* Saturday Night Fever music when crossing the Verrazzano.
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Re: Favorite Drives in NYC
Posted by SMAZ* on Wed Aug 16 23:10:33 2017, in response to Re: Favorite Drives in NYC, posted by ftgreeneg on Wed Aug 16 17:23:24 2017.* 3. FDR (no seriously...lol) in the middle of the night no traffic. Agreed 100%. I do that a few times a year by myself for that very reason. There is nothing like it.
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Re: Favorite Drives in NYC
Posted by LuchAAA* on Wed Aug 16 23:55:06 2017, in response to Favorite Drives in NYC, posted by New Flyer #857 on Wed Aug 16 10:11:36 2017.* Listening to the 11:51 pm update on 1010 WINS, they said "things are slow on the Eastbound BQE from Tillary to Metropolitan". Even close to midnight there are challenges getting around NYC without hitting a jam. Bunch of shit wrong in the Bronx too.
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Re: Favorite Drives in NYC
Posted by ftgreeneg* on Thu Aug 17 01:23:31 2017, in response to Re: Favorite Drives in NYC, posted by LuchAAA on Wed Aug 16 18:17:34 2017.* I agree the Jackie Rob (or interboro) is an honorable mention for me.
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Re: Favorite Drives in NYC
Posted by AlM* on Thu Aug 17 02:58:46 2017, in response to Favorite Drives in NYC, posted by New Flyer #857 on Wed Aug 16 10:11:36 2017.* Anything when it has light traffic. Nothing when it has heavy traffic, which sadly is most of the time. Orchard Beach Road brings back fond memories. I accidentally drove it illegally in the dead of winter when I was 16 years and 1 week old and only had a learner's permit. Probably the last time I've driven a NYC street that was absolutely totally deserted.
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Re: Favorite approach in NYC airport
Posted by Fred G* on Thu Aug 17 04:44:50 2017, in response to Re: Favorite approach in NYC airport, posted by LuchAAA on Wed Aug 16 18:34:16 2017.* A passenger plane without wings that doubles as a rolling chokepoint for traffic 😂
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Re: Favorite Drives in NYC
Posted by TerrApin Station* on Thu Aug 17 08:13:54 2017, in response to Re: Favorite Drives in NYC, posted by JayZeeBMT on Wed Aug 16 18:50:17 2017.* I forgot about the HHP through Spuyten Duyvil and Riverdale specifically. Good catch.
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Re: Favorite Drives in NYC
Posted by New Flyer #857* on Thu Aug 17 08:21:56 2017, in response to Re: Favorite Drives in NYC, posted by LuchAAA on Wed Aug 16 23:55:06 2017.* There are times when you save time by crossing into Manhattan for the FDR and then coming back out of it rather than using the BQE. Usually one toll is required though, and you can maximize time savings in certain situations by paying tolls in and out. If I am coming from Sunset Park / Bay Ridge / relevant areas and headed for Northern / Northeastern Queens, the app will often suggest the Battery / HLC Tunnel to the FDR to the Triboro / RFK Bridge. And if you choose the Brooklyn Bridge instead of the Battery Tunnel to save the toll, even that is still better than BQE the whole way at times, if the app is right, which I am in not much of a position to doubt.
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Re: Favorite Drives in NYC
Posted by New Flyer #857* on Thu Aug 17 08:28:49 2017, in response to Re: Favorite Drives in NYC, posted by AlM on Thu Aug 17 02:58:46 2017.* About a week after Sandy, some sections of the FDR were hauntingly desolate, even early in the night (like 9 or 10p.m.). One night around that time, I think I went from the Brooklyn Bridge to at least the Williamsburg Bridge without seeing a car in front or behind me in the northbound lanes. I was stunned. I guess it was a mix of the gas shortage, perhaps some places still without power, and whatever else was going on related to storm recovery.
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Re: Favorite Drives in NYC
Posted by AlM* on Thu Aug 17 09:10:59 2017, in response to Re: Favorite Drives in NYC, posted by New Flyer #857 on Thu Aug 17 08:21:56 2017.* Using the FDR saves time? The FDR in reverse rush hour is usually choked with cars who are clearly not headed to/from Manhattan but actually going between Brooklyn or Queens and the Bronx.
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Re: Favorite approach in NYC airport
Posted by Dave* on Thu Aug 17 12:09:04 2017, in response to Re: Favorite approach in NYC airport, posted by JayZeeBMT on Wed Aug 16 20:52:32 2017.* You're welcome.
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