The way points of this bicycle route:
This is right by the Jay Street Subway station, and the Borough Hall stop is also close by.
This turn goes through a parking area of the Federal Prison, where "terrorist" suspects are held. It's the only smooth pavement to 2nd Avenue for a ways. Just stay on the north sidewalk most of the way and don't look at the guards. If you do, they'll flag you down and tell you to leave. Pay no attention to them and they leave you alone.
Going down 2nd and 1st Avenues, notice all the WWII era industrial architecture. This is one of the parts of Brooklyn that supplied the war effort and was bustling with activity back then, probably 24/7.
First Avenue. Note that one of the rail tracks in the pavement is still shiny; this is the location of the only still-active railfloat port and on-street freight line. If you're lucky, you'll get to ride alongside a train!
Bike-accessible cash machine here.
Owl's Head Pier. Nice scenic view of the harbor. The Shore Parkway Greenway starts here.
Here there's a small remnant of what was once a huge amusement park that thrived until just afterWWII. Along with rides and sideshows, there were theatres, ballrooms, nightclubs, bars and brothels. Visit the original Nathan's for a hot dog, chili-dog, oysters, or a soft-shell crab sandwich. Go to Denny's for ice cream or funnel cake. Bathrooms at Nathan's and at Stillwell by the boardwalk.
This was once an actual island before the channel was filled in. Most theories about the name center around the old English word "coney," meaning "rabbit." Perhaps there were lots of bunnies, or some say, the Canarsie tribe here ran like rabbits from their British slaughterers.
Ride the Cyclone roller coaster. Before lunch, not after. It's an old relic, errr..., landmark much smaller than modern rides, but with more of the thrill of real danger when you notice details like repairs done with duct tape.
The Ocean Parkway bike path starts here. It's the sidewalk on the left of the main road, to the right of the service road. This is the nation's oldest bike path, designated in 1894. It takes you most of the way to Prospect Park.
The walkway on the east side of the Parkway was an equestrian path until 1970. In the early years, horse races were held on the route, though bike racing was always banned. Discrimination against cyclists goes way back.
Entering Prospect Park.
Nice hill here. Rare for Brooklyn; a place where you can give your climbing legs a good workout. Not heart-breakingly difficult, though.
"Wallabout" is a corruption of an old Flemish name. This area was once a village of Belgian settlers. That's the Brooklyn Navy Yard to the north; more war effort - from the 19th century through WWII.
Welcome to Bikely, take a step by step tour of this path:
Press Start Tour - then use the navigation buttons below to move along the path.
Tagged with: Recreational, Training, Onroad, Intermediate, Urban, Scenic
