Hi there. I am also an avid cyclist, and I want to share the safest way to get to the bridge (in my opinion): take the 34th ave. bike path to 59th street, then south (left) on 59th to 39th ave. Make a right on 39th ave, which makes a short left turn up woodside ave before continuing again as 39th ave. I make a left on either 48th street or 46th street for one block through sunnyside gardens, and then a right onto skillman ave. Skillman flows right into queens blvd, but there is a bike path right there which puts you right at queens plaza. At Queens plaza, follow queens plaza north, and this will flow right onto the 59th street bridge path. I've found this to be a very fast and safe route -- certainly better than Broadway to steinway, or norther blvvd!! These streets have little car traffic, and the route is rather scenic. I especially enjoy biking through sunnyside gardens. I'm usually at the bridge in about 10 minutes from my apartment on 78th street. To be honest, I think of this as more of a commute, and less of a joyride...
Thanks for this; I tried it today and it is indeed fast and relatively few cars most of the way. However, I will point out a few things for riders who are looking to try a J. Hts -Manhattan commute for the first time:
1. There are some small hills on this route. Very small, but you feel these if you are out of shape, carrying a lot of stuff on a heavy commuter bike, etc. You are also exposed to some winds on Stillman near the Queens Plaza bike path. my normal route* avoids these two things.
2. Note that when coming home, you will have to use 43rd Ave. instead of Stillman, and 60th street instead of 59th, as they are one way streets.
3. The areas between the bike path and the bridge are a little dicey. If you are not comfortable riding through these intersections, please get off and walk your bike as a pedestrian. Note that the bike path seems to end right before the corner near the bridge; don't be surprised if police ticket you for riding all the way to the corner on the sidewalk.
* I normally do the 34th ave bike lane to Broadway. Rt on Bwy, cross Northern Blvd., go past the Woodside housing development (watch for doors on parked cars!) and then I begin to weave left and right on the back roads, staying as close to Northern Blvd, but just north of it, as possible. I basically go with the flow of traffic, turning as the lights allow. Eventually I wind up on 28th street or Crescent which take me right down to the bridge ramp intersection. This method probably takes a bit longer, but it spares you the winds, is more flat, and cuts out much of the crazy merging intersections near the bridge. It's also nice to vary and have a slightly different route each time. It's just as quiet traffic-wise, if not more-so.
By all means try both and see which works best for you. If not for the hideous traffic, I'd love to use Northern - definitely the fastest most straight path to the QBB (Do NOT ride on the sidewalks - you Will get a ticket!!).
I used to work near City Hall and took roosevelt to greenpoint Ave and then Driggs/Bedford to/from the WBB - I found it a fast fun ride, though windy and hilly on the way back at night.
