Summer Streets the Next Two Saturdays

Those looking for a chance to run in Manhattan and avoid the cars - take advantage of the Summer Streets program that goes on for the next two Saturdays, Aug. 11 and 18.

Cruise from the Brooklyn Bridge to Central Park (or vice versa) along Lafayette and Park. Great opportunity to try a different running route (and go early enough to avoid those dreaded walkers ... of course, you could be a walker yourself, so disregard that comment a second ago :-))

5-Mile Running Route Involving Brooklyn Bridge

Got a query from a reader, to which I belatedly responded, though thought I'd throw it out there: What's your favorite 5-mile route involving the Brooklyn Bridge?

For me, it's a loop including both the Brooklyn and Manhattan bridges, which I regularly do.

I start on the southern end of the Promenade by Remsen, head north, then cut right on Middagh and thru Cadman park to get over to the Brooklyn Bridge. Once in Manhattan, I cut through Chinatown to the Manhattan Bridge to head back to Brooklyn. I normally head back to the starting point (which would be only about 4.5 miles), so to add to that, I'd head down to the water and run through Dumbo and the park there to pick up the extra mileage. Other thoughts?

Brooklyn Bridge Maintenance Update

Brooklyn Heights Blog has an update on what to look for, including a potential one-lane only on the bridge for runners/walkers/cyclists during the weekday as they inspect the bridge.

Having run on the bridge several times over the past few weeks, I confess I'm feeling a little claustrophobic about running through the metal section in the middle of the bridge. Part of it is the desire to look for escape routes (if I'm running at 5 a.m. and some drunken guy comes at me, I want the option to jump out on the spans). Yes, it's necessary, and yes I love the bridge, though I suspect I may also head over the oft-neglected Manhattan Bridge at times (though probably not at 5 a.m. - that's even more isolated)

Brooklyn Bridge Stays Open for Pedestrians

Just to reassure anyone who was concerned (probably just me), but the Brooklyn Bridge, while closing in one direction at nights for a while, will keep the pedestrian walkway open during construction

Other info here, courtesy of the Brooklyn Heights Blog (and the BHA)

Skiing the Brooklyn Bridge

Did you run the Brooklyn Bridge during this weekend's snowfall? Check this out from a guy who skied parts of the bridge.

Roads are plowed, mostly, and Prospect Park is passable. Brooklyn Heights promenade not so much (unless you have some kind of shoe grips or mini-crampons). Would imagine it'll be icy in the morning, so tread carefully (and avoid the trucks that spray salt at you.)

Ban Bikes on the Brooklyn Bridge?

It's not going to happen anytime soon, but this op-ed in today's New York Times raises some interesting ideas about the ongoing battle between pedestrians and cyclists, and suggests that a protected bike lane be added during the forthcoming road rehabilitation.

As much as I love running over the bridge, it's also - run at your own risk - during the summer months and peak tourist weekends. And especially when it gets crowded and I am running, I spend an inordinate amount of time with my neck getting an extra workout as I look behind me to avoid getting crunched.

I'm not a regular cyclist, but I'd be willing to posit that the Manhattan Bridge bike lane is a much more preferable route of getting into the city (or back into Brooklyn.

Thoughts from those who bike? run? or both? over the bridge?

Brooklyn Bridge Race

What happens when several hundred runners thunder back and forth across the Brooklyn Bridge? If you're standing in the central span, you get to watch the light posts sway (a not-so-encouraging sign). Nevertheless, despite the early morning showers, there were plenty of people out for the Sgt. Keith A. Ferguson 5K, which went from City Hall to the end of the bridge (near Tillary) and back again.

Manhattan Bridge

Let me say something that might come as blasphemy: As a runner in Brooklyn, there are times I vastly prefer running over the Manhattan Bridge rather than its next-door counterpart.

To be sure, the Brooklyn Bridge is world-famous. David McCullough has written an awesome book about it. If you have friends from out of town, the Brooklyn Bridge is a highlight walk. I love the Brooklyn Bridge.

But running on it? During the summer? (Unless it's, say, before 9)? Fuhgeddaboutit.

Between the shared walk/bike path (which tourists routinely mess up) and the massive tour groups, trying to put together a consistent run over Brooklyn is virtually impossible, unless you go during non-peak hours, over the next few months.

My Saturday run took me over Brooklyn, and then back over Manhattan, where there were virtually no people. At the time of day we went (8:30 a.m.), it wasn't too bad, but you could already see the tourists starting to appear.

(I love to travel, so I'm often a tourist. But I hate tourists. Actually, that's not true -- I do try to rack up tourist-help points during the summer. But, you know ....)

Anyway, I digress. The Manhattan Bridge approach on either side isn't that steep (5% grade), but it's long -- you can get a nice, sustained 5-6 minute uphill run just on the bridge itself (more if you come up from the water on either side, though on the Manhattan side you have to deal with the Chinatown traffic). And, most important: There's virtually no one on it. No tourists. Very few runners.

Once you're in Manhattan, you can can cut across Canal Street to the West Side Highway, head down to the East River, or just head uptown (for the more adventurous souls who don't mind battling traffic lights).

No, it doesn't have the charm. And it does have the subways. And it doesn't have the wooden-slat-interlude. But for summer training: Manhattan is the place to be.

Brooklyn Bridge Park

Interesting article posted online on the Brooklyn Paper site about the Brooklyn Bridge Park - and the steps they may take to connect it across land that's now part of the River Cafe park (though apparently city/state owned.) The photo above is a rendering printed in the Brooklyn Paper.

Brooklyn Bridge Rehab/Armory Hearing

Two developments of note, according to the local media:

The Brooklyn Bridge rehab begins this summer, according to Brownstoner. Not entirely clear what that means for pedestrian traffic (i.e. us runners), but suspect there will be some disruptions on top of the usual tourist dodgeball.

There's a hearing next Monday for the YMCA to operate the Park Slope Armory, according to this article in the Brooklyn Eagle. According to an article I saw in the Brooklyn Paper, it's possible it might the indoor track might be open in May, just in time for the first 70 degree day of the year :-). All kidding aside, can't wait for this thing to get finalized.

Brooklyn Bridge Photos

If you run in Brooklyn, then you have undoubtedly run over the Brooklyn Bridge (and if you haven't -- what are you waiting for!)

Given the massive amount of tourists that deservedly throng on the bridge, my favorite times tend to be when there's no one else there - that usually is because the weather outside is horrible, or the rare days of fog enshroud it, so you can pretend you're in some magical, misty world (well, except for the cars).

There are some really nice photos of the bridge taken by Barbara Mensch that appear in today's New York Times that capture some of this essence.

Another Reason to Run in the Summertime

One of the nice things in Brooklyn is that you can constantly be surprised by the nice things that show up.

For example, the new addition to the Brooklyn Bridge Park that's open through Labor Day. Located at Pier 1, across from the River Cafe by the water on the Brooklyn Heights/Dumbo line, it's a smattering of picnic tables, grassy hills, and three very important things for an evening saunter, say, over the Brooklyn Bridge and back:

-- Tons of Porto-Potties
-- A nice misty spray thingamajig that cools you off without getting you sopping you wet.
-- A working outside bar, with decent beer ($6-$7 a pop) so you can properly relax after your run.

Is this not a great thing? Sign says it's open from 10 a.m. to 10 p.m.

Waterfalls, Part Two

As mentioned earlier, I was with a group that went over the Brooklyn Bridge today, in part because we wanted to work in a run that allowed us to see the NYC Waterfalls. We took Remsen Street to approach the southern end of the Promenade - a photo of the back of the waterfall (admittedly not that impressive) and a glimpse of the waterfall on Governor's Island (look hard at the left hand side), is here. I'm told, though haven't yet seen, that's it's a lot more impressive at night.

Brooklyn Bridge 125th Anniversary

I'm a bit late to the game, to be sure (which is why the first I knew of the Brooklyn Bridge fireworks Thursday night was only a couple of hours beforehand. Why does work interfere with my leisure time?). That said, plan your runs carefully this weekend if they include the Brooklyn Bridge. Take into account:

-- 125th anniversary weekend

-- Memorial Day weekend and start to summer

-- Tons of international tourists who love the fact the dollar is weak

It's going to be crowded up there. But hey, the guys hawking bottles of water are back, so there is some benefit.

May make for a frustrating trek, unless you go early in the morning. That said, if you're hosting runners who are in town -- go for it. The Brooklyn Bridge run is one of my favorites, and you'll score tons of brownie points with your running colleagues. Just don't expect a fast time (and if you want to push the pace, head over the Manhattan Bridge, with a lot less of the history and a number of the same views).

Same, goes, I should say. for runs on the Coney Island Boardwalk (though it shouldn't be as bad as the temperatures stay great for runners, not-so-great for beachgoers).

And in the evening? Partake of David McCullough's "The Great Bridge" -- sitting in my bookcase for the past several years, but cracking it open now. Amazon.com doesn't seem to have links to buy the paperback version I have, though I may not have delved deep enough - you can always get it on a Kindle :-)

Brooklyn Bridge Construction

They're doing some cleaning and construction work near the main pedestrian entrance to the Brooklyn Bridge off of Cadman Plaza. The detour from the steps is gone - and in its place is some beautiful stone sidewalk signs welcoming visitors into Brooklyn. However, they are still doing work, so be careful.

Also, the pedestrian pathway on the Manhattan Bridge will be closed the weekend (that's the side facing the Brooklyn Bridge). Unclear why, though it looked like they may be prepping for some kind of movie shoot. However, the bicycle pathway is open (that's on the northern side of the bridge, facing uptown and the Williamsburg Bridge) - just be careful of the bikes. Especially as you are coming from Manhattan, there are a couple of blind spots that make it a little hazardous if bikes are whizzing down the bridge toward you.

Brooklyn Bridge Needs Repairs

Work isn't supposed to begin for another couple of years, but Popular Mechanics is out with a list of 10 bridges that need work now. According to the article on its Web site (part of an overall package):

"Officials don't fear a collapse of the Brooklyn Bridge–the main span appears to be sound–but some of the approaches to the structure have been marred by rusting steel and deteriorating road decks for many years."

It's hard to imagine the city shutting the bridge down given the transportation problems that already exist. Still, down the road we may find ourselves having to spend more time running over the Manhattan Bridge (which tends to be a popular choice for bikers and runners during the summer anyway, given the mass of tourism on the Brooklyn Bridge).