Picnic, Prospect Park, Brooklyn, May 2010
[A ongoing series of urban bike routes, tested by our riders. -FP]
This past weekend was a glorious one for bike riding in the city. Over two days, the Frontier Cyclist caravan rode through Williamsburg, Fort Greene, Brooklyn Heights, Cobble Hill, Carroll Gardens, Bed-Stuy, Prospect Heights, Park Slope, and Gowanus. Our entourage consisted of a fixed gear racer, a single-speed named after a Portland-based literary magazine, a lime green single-speed via the artist collective Third Ward, and a mini-BMX that weighs less than a bike lock. And while we like the band Beach House, we don't actually own one. So we headed to Prospect Park.
In the county of Kings, Prospect Park is the king of parks. With 585 acres of lushness, PP is the spot of choice for picnics, barbecues, drum circles, even weddings. Also, there's a spot called Nethermead.
Prospect Park also hosts the annual Celebrate Brooklyn concert series. This summer's lineup features FP favorites Passion Pit, The National, and The Dead Weather. Other highlights include: Metric, Sharon Jones and the Dap Kings, The Low Anthem, and Okay Africa with The Roots and Talib Kweli, whose new Reflection Eternal record was reviewed yesterday by Frontier Funbunny, FP's newest contributor. We may even go to the park on June 9 for the season opener, Norah Jones. Say what you will, but NJ has sold more than 37 million records and inspired at least that many consummations. Also, she shares initials with our ancestral home. Here's the full Celebrate Brooklyn schedule.
OK, back to the bikes.Today, an easy ride from Brooklyn Bridge Park to Prospect Park. If you've never cycled in the city, this ride is for you. If you're more experience, start with last week's ride from McCarren Park to BK Bridge Park, then head to Prospect Park. And when you get there, ride the 3.3 mile bike loop until your legs go wobbly.
Route: Brooklyn Bridge Park -Prospect Park
Distance: 7 miles (3.5 miles each way)
Degree of Difficulty: Beginner
1. From Brooklyn Bridge Park, ride approximately one mile south on Henry Street, through Brooklyn Heights, across Atlantic Avenue and into Cobble Hill and Boerum Hill.
2. Turn left at Degraw St, Right at Hoyt St., left at Union St.
3. Cross the Gowanus Canal, make a left on Third Ave. and a quick right on Sackett St., which becomes Berkeley Pl.
4. Ride Berkeley up the hill (Ah, that's why they call it Park Slope).
5. At the Prospect Park entrance, check out the Grand Army Plaza arch, the Brooklyn Library, and, on weekends, the Farmer's Market
6. Head into the park, pick a spot, and relax.
-Keith Meatto
Have a favorite bike route in New York or another city?
Send suggestions to frontiercyclist@gmail.com
Posts
No comments:
Post a Comment