# Route 1 on the George Washington Bridge **URL:** \ **Category:** Factual Questions\ **Created:** [January 9, 2009, 7:59am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/route-1-on-the-george-washington-bridge/480505 "2009-01-09T07:59:12Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 17\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![copperwindow](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/4af34b/32.png) [@copperwindow](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/copperwindow)\ **Post date:** [January 9, 2009, 7:59am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/route-1-on-the-george-washington-bridge/480505/1 "2009-01-09T07:59:12Z")
Route one goes over the George Washington Bridge into New Jersey, but where? Does it matter if it is the upper level or the lower level? If I want to bike to Florida, can I bike where the cars drive? How about in the middle where the pedestrians cross? ---
**Author:** ![bibliophage](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/bibliophage/32/7615_2.png) [@bibliophage](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/bibliophage)\ **Post date:** [January 9, 2009, 8:36am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/route-1-on-the-george-washington-bridge/480505/2 "2009-01-09T08:36:25Z")
There is a sidewalk on the south side of the upper deck shared by pedestrians and bicyclists. It’s open from 6 AM to midnight. (There is also a north sidewalk, but it was recently closed, apparently for good). See [http://www.panynj.gov/CommutingTravel/bridges/html/entrances.html](http://www.panynj.gov/CommutingTravel/bridges/html/entrances.html) which gives details on where to enter the bridge by bicycle. There is no toll for bicyclists or pedestrians. ---
**Author:** ![panache45](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/panache45/32/64_2.png) [@panache45](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/panache45)\ **Post date:** [January 9, 2009, 9:59am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/route-1-on-the-george-washington-bridge/480505/3 "2009-01-09T09:59:21Z")
> [@copperwindow](#): > > If I want to bike to Florida, can I bike where the cars drive? Bicycle or motorcycle? ---
**Author:** ![Keeve](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/k/f07891/32.png) [@Keeve](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Keeve)\ **Post date:** [January 9, 2009, 2:39pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/route-1-on-the-george-washington-bridge/480505/4 "2009-01-09T14:39:53Z")
For the first several miles (until Ridgefield NJ) Route 1 coexists with Route 46. No idea what the bicycle rules are. ---
**Author:** ![Bijou\_Drains](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/bijou_drains/32/2814_2.png) [@Bijou\_Drains](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Bijou_Drains)\ **Post date:** [January 9, 2009, 3:42pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/route-1-on-the-george-washington-bridge/480505/5 "2009-01-09T15:42:31Z")
Bicycle laws vary by state. Some states allow bikes on any road except interstates and other limited access roads - that’s the law here in NC. ---
**Author:** ![Colibri](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/colibri/32/1841_2.png) [@Colibri](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Colibri)\ **Post date:** [January 9, 2009, 3:51pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/route-1-on-the-george-washington-bridge/480505/6 "2009-01-09T15:51:27Z")
Edited title for clarity. Colibri General Questions Moderator ---
**Author:** ![Little\_Nemo](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/little_nemo/32/3120_2.png) [@Little\_Nemo](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Little_Nemo)\ **Post date:** [January 9, 2009, 4:20pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/route-1-on-the-george-washington-bridge/480505/7 "2009-01-09T16:20:37Z")
According to Google Maps, Route One crosses the George Washington Bridge and follows Route 9. You get off on the Bergen Blvd exit just past the bridge, then there’s a short stretch of expressway that puts you on Broad Ave. Broad Ave turns into Tonnelle Ave which you’ll follow to the Pulaski Skyway. The Pulaski Skyway takes you out past Newark Airport where you’ll switch to Spring St which turns into Edgar Rd and then Ziegler Ave. Just past the Route 35 intersection, Route 1 and Route 9 split. Route 1 continues southwest towards Trenton where it joins the New Lincoln Highway as you cross into Pennsylvania. You follow the New Lincoln Highway until you cross the Pennsylvania Turnpike where you get on Roosevelt Blvd, which turns into the Roosevelt Expressway. You follow a short stretch of the Schuykill Expressway to get on City Avenue, which apparently is also called City Line Ave and Twp Line Rd (?). Twp Line Rd puts you on to State Rd, which puts you on to the Media Bypass, which puts you on to Baltimore Pike, which puts you on to the Kennett-Oxford Bypass, which puts you on Conowingo Rd. By this point you’re in Maryland and I’m going to another thread. ---
**Author:** ![Billdo](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/billdo/32/315_2.png) [@Billdo](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Billdo)\ **Post date:** [January 9, 2009, 7:29pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/route-1-on-the-george-washington-bridge/480505/8 "2009-01-09T19:29:28Z")
> [@bibliophage](#): > > There is a sidewalk on the south side of the upper deck shared by pedestrians and bicyclists. I’ve walked the GWB, and the pedestrian path and the bike path are the same. If you’re interested in biking (or walking or skating, for that matter) in New York City, I’d highly recommend the [NYC Cycling Map](http://www.nyc.gov/html/dot/html/bicyclists/bikemaps.shtml). In addition to showing the City bike routes (which are multiplying), it show how to cross almost all of the City bridges by foot or by bicycle, including a detail map of the [GWB access points.](http://www.nyc.gov/html/dot/images/bicyclists/gwashington.gif) ---
**Author:** ![Bytegeist](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/9dc877/32.png) [@Bytegeist](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Bytegeist)\ **Post date:** [January 9, 2009, 9:08pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/route-1-on-the-george-washington-bridge/480505/9 "2009-01-09T21:08:15Z")
> [@copperwindow](#): > > If I want to bike to Florida [on Route 1], can I bike where the cars drive? How about in the middle where the pedestrians cross? > [@Little\_Nemo](#): > > By this point you’re in Maryland […] Oh, **God**. No sane person would want to ride a bicycle down Route 1 through Maryland. The segment from Jessup to Beltsville in particular is essentially hostile to bicycle traffic. It’s pretty hostile to car traffic, to be frank. There is a bit of sidewalk in Laurel, but it’s gappy and I think switches sides a few times. In general, you’ll be riding on the side of a busy road without a shoulder, perhaps through the front edges of business parking lots, with traffic lights every quarter mile. Assuming you live. ---
**Author:** ![panache45](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/panache45/32/64_2.png) [@panache45](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/panache45)\ **Post date:** [January 9, 2009, 9:11pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/route-1-on-the-george-washington-bridge/480505/10 "2009-01-09T21:11:26Z")
> [@Bytegeist](#): > > Oh, **God**. > > No sane person would want to ride a bicycle down Route 1 through Maryland. The segment from Jessup to Beltsville in particular is essentially hostile to bicycle traffic. It’s kind of hostile to motor traffic, to be frank. > > There is a bit of sidewalk in Laurel, but it’s gappy and I think switches sides a few times. In general, you’ll be riding on the side of a busy road without a shoulder, through the front edges of business parking lots. > > Assuming you live. This is why I asked whether he meant bicycle or motorcycle. “Bike” could be either. ---
**Author:** ![Bijou\_Drains](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/bijou_drains/32/2814_2.png) [@Bijou\_Drains](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Bijou_Drains)\ **Post date:** [January 10, 2009, 12:48am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/route-1-on-the-george-washington-bridge/480505/11 "2009-01-10T00:48:10Z")
Some states have roads that are designated as bike routes because they have less car traffic. You can check with the DOT in each state you will travel through to find these roads. ---
**Author:** ![copperwindow](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/4af34b/32.png) [@copperwindow](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/copperwindow)\ **Post date:** [January 10, 2009, 8:19am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/route-1-on-the-george-washington-bridge/480505/12 "2009-01-10T08:19:13Z")
> [@Bijou\_Drains](#): > > Some states have roads that are designated as bike routes because they have less car traffic. You can check with the DOT in each state you will travel through to find these roads. What does this mean? I’ve seen several signs that say “bike route” where there is no shoulder. What city street am I not allowed to ride a **bicycle** on? ---
**Author:** ![mack](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/b19c9b/32.png) [@mack](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/mack)\ **Post date:** [January 10, 2009, 3:25pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/route-1-on-the-george-washington-bridge/480505/13 "2009-01-10T15:25:03Z")
If you want ride your bike south off the GW bridge the thing to do is make a left where the pedestrian lane ends and go down River road. That’ll take you along the residential waterfront from Ft. Lee to Hoboken. I don’t think 46 is open to bikes and Rt 1 which combines with Rt 9 to form Rt 1/9 is _nasty_ through that area. Once Rt 1 breaks off from Rt 1/9 it becomes a commercial strip pretty much all the way to Trenton and beyond. If do ride rt.1 through the Jersey City area you have to take “Truck” 1/9 . Otherwise you might wind up on the Pulaski Skyway which besides being forbidden is a death wish. That’s all kind of moot, though because if you’re going to Florida you probably don’t want to go through that area of NJ because south and west of Hoboken is Jersey City, Newark, Elizabeth, Kearny, etc and a huge petrochemical/industrial region. I would opt to go west off the GW and head south once you get further out in NJ. It’s quite nice and you won’t have container haulers on your ass. ---
**Author:** ![mack](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/b19c9b/32.png) [@mack](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/mack)\ **Post date:** [January 10, 2009, 3:38pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/route-1-on-the-george-washington-bridge/480505/14 "2009-01-10T15:38:14Z")
Also the bridge with the middle where the pedestrians cross - you’re probably thinking of the Brooklyn Bridge. ---
**Author:** ![copperwindow](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/4af34b/32.png) [@copperwindow](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/copperwindow)\ **Post date:** [January 10, 2009, 4:29pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/route-1-on-the-george-washington-bridge/480505/15 "2009-01-10T16:29:45Z")
> [@mack](#): > > Also the bridge with the middle where the pedestrians cross - you’re probably thinking of the Brooklyn Bridge. Maybe. The last time I walked across the George Washington Bridge was in 1995. ---
**Author:** ![Ichbin\_Dubist](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/i/51bf81/32.png) [@Ichbin\_Dubist](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Ichbin_Dubist)\ **Post date:** [January 10, 2009, 5:35pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/route-1-on-the-george-washington-bridge/480505/16 "2009-01-10T17:35:52Z")
Check out [www.greenway.org](http://www.greenway.org), for information on the development of the East Coast Greenway, a planned bike route that connects urban bike paths from Maine to Florida (the “urban Appalachian trail,” they call it) and links to Google Maps with turn-by-turn maps for their recommended bike routes. They suggest a way south off the GWB that’s the same as **mack** ’s. I wouldn’t bike an inch of Route 1 if I could help it. The trip across the GWB walkway is beautiful, though. And the river route around Manhattan is a great way to see the city. ---
**Author:** ![Mark\_Ryle](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/8dc957/32.png) [@Mark\_Ryle](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Mark_Ryle)\ **Post date:** [January 11, 2009, 5:47am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/route-1-on-the-george-washington-bridge/480505/17 "2009-01-11T05:47:31Z")
> [@Keeve](#): > > For the first several miles (until Ridgefield NJ) Route 1 coexists with Route 46. No idea what the bicycle rules are. About two years ago I rode my bicycle from the George Washington Bridge to Ridgefield Park on Route 46. It is legal to bicycle. Generally there is enough of a shoulder for a modicum of safety but it happens there are regularly spaced drains of some sort that completely occupy that fairly safe space you’ll be bicycling. Each time a drain occurs the bicyclist must ride in the traffic lane. The drains are frequent. While there is still technically enough space for a bicycle and, say, a box truck to occupy the traffic lane, it is dangerous for both the bicyclist and the motorist. There are never any bicycles on Route 46. I’m sure I was the last one. I did not, though, find motorists hostile to the presence of a bicycle, at least by the measure of frequency of angry horns. But when you come over into their lane to get around those drains they do not move at all to give you room. Many times they cannot because the traffic is so heavy and fast-moving. Giving the bicyclist room would compromise their safety vis-a-vis the traffic in the lane adjacent to them. I did make the return trip from Ridgefield Park to the GW on Route 46 and I do not remember any drain problems eastbound. I am an experienced cyclist on roads on which there never occur any bicycles. I have ridden every legal road in the New Jersey meadowlands numerous times. Route 46 is one I wouldn’t ride again however. Route 1 and 9 is the Pulaski Skyway on which no pedestrians, bicyclists or trucks are allowed. But try the Route 1 and 9 Truck Route, which is the old Lincoln Highway. Both bridges involved – over the Passaic and Hackensack Rivers – have pedestrian/bicycle walkways. Once you are across the Passaic River (leaving Jersey City) go south on Doremus Av to the Port of Newark. At the end of Doremus go west again on Port St. This takes you over the NJ Turnpike (I-95). It becomes complicated here but you can make your way legally, fairly safely, and without dismounting to Route 1. I have ridden Route 1 from here to New Brunswick and back. It is legal and doable. Once past New Brunswick further travel in New Jersey should be much easier though not nearly as interesting.