Driving in New York

[HeavyMetal BankFisherman]

When on the wider one way streets in Manhattan avoid the far right lane. There will inevitably be a double parked car and getting back into moving traffic can be a pain.

Plan on buying a pops-a-dent to fix the rental before returning it if you park in the downtown lots.

Know exactly what exit you need to take when driving on the New Jersey Turnpike in rush hour traffic in pouring rain.

You will need to pay to cross the bridges or go through the tunnels. Make sure you have some cash. You will need a roll of quarters and dimes on the Garden State Parkway due to 35 cent tolls every few miles.

Don't get lost in Newark on the way back to drop off your rental car.

Don't trust the directions that your sister gave you.

[ 03-12-2004, 07:10 PM: Message edited by: HeavyMetal BankFisherman ]

[StinkyH]

I worked/stayed in Newark for a week and a half and commuted to NYC for five of those days... the rail system is the only way to go. Driving a car in that area would suck.

Newark is a fine town. :tongue:

StinkyH

[ 03-12-2004, 07:08 PM: Message edited by: StinkyH ]

[ampersat]

Kind of like driving in San Francisco:
You start out on a two way street.
It becomes a one way street.
After crossing a major roadway, it jogs over 2 blocks and becomes a two way street again.
Embarrassed, it simply ends or changes its name.
None of this is detailed on the "detailed" map you purchased.

[StinkyH]

I'm not sure what the street is but it runs right through downtown SF - I got on it - there were no left turns for roughly two miles. Had to take three rights to make a left. [img]graemlins/berry.gif[/img]

Glad I just have to visit for work.

StinkyH

[ 03-12-2004, 08:00 PM: Message edited by: StinkyH ]

[1pump]

I hear a lot of horror stories from truck drivers about New York/New Jersey. Most drivers refuse to go there, and a lot of companies won't allow their drivers to drive in NY.

Why anybody would want to live around there is beyond me. Insane traffic, way too much crime, impossibly expensive real estate, rude people, etc etc. And hardly any fishing or hunting.

No thanks. I'll stay right here.

[Silver Eagle]

Lived there for three years, Wife is from Brooklyn, you must have had a really good day if that is all you had to say about "Driving in NY" we didn't even have a car when I lived there because of all the down turns in having one, cost of Parking the nightly break-ins the "Traffic" you can do most of your daily commuting by Bus or Subway, but it is a real bummer, I don't think the San Bernadino Freeway at 5:00 on Friday is much better.

[Thumper]

Originally posted by Silver Eagle:
I don't think the San Bernadino Freeway at 5:00 on Friday is much better.

<font size="2" face="verdana,arial,helvetica">I lived east of LA for a few years back in the 70s. Rumor had it that one day a good-looking gal was changing a tire on the westbound San Bernardino freeway and the traffic backed up along I-10 all the way to Phoenix.

[HeavyMetal BankFisherman]

Originally posted by StinkyH:
I worked/stayed in Newark for a week and a half and commuted to NYC for five of those days... the rail system is the only way to go. Driving a car in that area would suck.

Newark is a fine town. :tongue:

StinkyH

<font size="2" face="verdana,arial,helvetica">I know your'e joking about Newark being a fine town. I feel your pain for having stayed there a week and a half.

Originally posted by Silver Eagle:

Lived there for three years, Wife is from Brooklyn, you must have had a really good day if that is all you had to say about "Driving in NY" we didn't even have a car when I lived there because of all the down turns in having one, cost of Parking the nightly break-ins the "Traffic" you can do most of your daily commuting by Bus or Subway, but it is a real bummer, I don't think the San Bernadino Freeway at 5:00 on Friday is much better.

<font size="2" face="verdana,arial,helvetica">I was fortunate to be staying in Nyack and not New York city itself. I have done that but I used the subway, buses, and taxi's for transportation. I only had to hit the turnpike to get to Nyack from Newark International airport. Drove into Manhattan on a Saturday. Had lunch in Chinatown and strolled around for a few hours until the sheer volume of people was just too much. I had to drive to Newark to drop off the rental. I avoided the trouble spots during most of my stay and did not have too many problems. Spent most of my time on highway 59 and 9. Highway 59 is dotted with small towns and strip malls. It is like driving on Tualatin Valley highway. Highway 9 goes up the Hudson. It is a beautiful drive past the Pallisades, Bear mountain and a bunch of little towns. The area is rich in history. The revolutionary war was fought in this area and the legend of sleepy hollow still exists today.

I have driven in Los Angelas and I think that it was actually worse. Maybe that was because I was in a car without air conditioning and it was well over 90 degrees.

Still better than some places in Mexico where if you come to a complete stop at a stop sign you are likely to get rear ended. Talk about a free for all.

[Silver Eagle]

The only problem I see in the near future is, next week heading for Yuma dragging a 40' Fifthwheel, it really is a pain when you get in southern Calif, we try to avoid most by going thru Bakersfield and heading East but I've failed to find a good time. Wish me luck. And I can believe the "Blonde changing a tire thing" surprised there wasn't a 40 car pile up. Ray

[Zodiac-Fisherman]

1pump,

The Fishing is Awesome in New York. Stripers in the Hudson up to 60lbs, night time fishery with live eel's, its a BLAST!! Bluefish up to 30lbs, they are also a blast to catch, they are the atlantic equivelent of Yellowtail on the west coast. Fluke (small halibut, flounder) they get up to 10lbs, and make excellent table fare. Hudson canyon which is 60miles offshore; great bluefin, yellowfin, and white marlin fishery.
Again Ny does have great fishing opportunities.
Dylan