"Bike-friendly" is a relative concept in Manhattan, but if there is such a route, this cathedral tour might be it. Largely undiscovered by locals and visitors alike, upper Manhattan features jaw-dropping architecture as well as relatively light traffic, wider roads, and a conspicuous lack of tall buildings. This ride starts at New York’s most spectacular church, the Cathedral of St. John the Divine, and meanders past Columbia University, High Bridge Park (where you might spot crew teams practicing on the Harlem River), The Cloisters, and Riverside Park.
Ride this loop in early morning or mid-day—as friendly as these roads are, it's best to avoid them during rush hour.
-Mapped by Loren Mooney
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Datum: |
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New York, NY: The Upper Manhattan Cathedral Ride
| Dist: 10.62 mi |
Points: 245 |
Calories: none |
| Time: none |
Speed: 0.0 mph |
Pace: 0:00 / mi |
| 0.00 mi |
Start |
Heading north on Amsterdam Ave. |
Then go 0.85 mi |
| 0.85 mi |
Turn Right |
W. 129th St. |
Then go 0.10 mi |
| 0.95 mi |
Turn Left |
Convent Ave. |
Then go 1.11 mi |
| 2.06 mi |
Turn Left |
W. 151st St. |
Then go 0.07 mi |
| 2.13 mi |
Turn Right |
Amsterdam Ave. |
Then go 0.16 mi |
| 2.30 mi |
Turn Right |
W. 155th St. |
Then go 0.17 mi |
| 2.47 mi |
Turn Left |
Enter Harlem River Bike Path at the Greenway sign. |
Then go 2.59 mi |
| 5.06 mi |
Straight |
Merge with Dyckman St. |
Then go 0.16 mi |
| 5.22 mi |
Turn Left |
Broadway |
Then go 0.12 mi |
| 5.33 mi |
Turn Right |
Cloisters/Fort Tryon Bike Path |
Then go 0.28 mi |
| 5.62 mi |
Turn Right |
Margaret Corbin Dr. |
Then go 0.51 mi |
| 6.13 mi |
Turn Right |
Exit traffic circle on Fort Washington Ave. |
Then go 1.40 mi |
| 7.53 mi |
Turn Right |
W. 165th St. |
Then go 0.09 mi |
| 7.62 mi |
Turn Left |
Riverside Dr. |
Then go 0.23 mi |
| 7.85 mi |
Straight |
Stay straight on Riverside Dr. W |
Then go 2.14 mi |
| 9.99 mi |
Turn Left |
W. 120th St. |
Then go 0.26 mi |
| 10.25 mi |
Turn Right |
Amsterdam Ave. |
Then go 0.37 mi |
| 10.62 mi |
Stop |
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Cathedral of St. John the Divine
Location: 40.804324°, -73.962761°
This ride starts at New York City's most spectacular church, the Cathedral of St. John the Divine, at 112th Street.
After your ride, hang out on the steps, or get a macaroon and coffee at the Hungarian Pastry Shop across the street. Listen in as all the pseudo-intellectuals try to one-up each other.
Cathedral of St. John the Divine
Location: 40.804324°, -73.962761°
Start and finish the ride at Cathedral of St. John the Divine.
Columbia University
Location: 40.809100°, -73.959618°
Columbia University is just north of St. John's. Its gorgeous buildings, like the Teacher's College, extend north into the increasingly hip neighborhood of Morningside Heights.
City College
Location: 40.817837°, -73.951979°
Head over to Convent Avenue through the City College campus-there are churches and tweedy types everywhere.
Harlem River Bike Path
Location: 40.830161°, -73.939941°
Look for the Greenway sign that marks the entrance to the bike path at 155th St. and Saint Nichols Place.
Harlem River Path
Location: 40.837718°, -73.933697°
It's a short crosstown spin to the fairly new Harlem River bike/pedestrian path, which starts out a little rough but then opens up to become a spectacular ride along the water's edge.
The Cloisters
Location: 40.866098°, -73.931530°
Do yourself a favor: Leave the bike route and head up to The Cloisters in Fort Tryon Park. The path up is steep. Bring a lock and lunch, hang out in the garden, visit the medieval museum inside-or just ride past it all and keep going, enjoying the views in all directions.
Riverside Drive
Location: 40.841087°, -73.944619°
There is no bike lane on Riverside Drive, but because cars only enter from the east, riding south on the west side of the road is a fairly non-stop affair on weekends and non-rush hour times.
To the east, you'll be treated to brownstone after brownstone (with especially great city views from certain overpasses). To the west, you'll have fantastic Hudson River views.
Grant's Tomb
Location: 40.812802°, -73.963845°
When you head down Riverside Drive, you'll join all the roadies finishing their rides over the George Washington Bridge. Then, up the hill by Ulysses Grant's tomb shown here, and back to cathedral land.
Riverside Church
Location: 40.811633°, -73.963780°
Union Theological Seminary
Location: 40.810740°, -73.962815°
A white Escalade cuts a woman off in front of the Union
Theological Seminary
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