LIC to Bronx Ride

14 mile intermediate/advanced route.
Starts LIC, Queens, ends in Soundview, Bronx. 

Destinations:
A- Hunters Point Park
B- Queensbridge Park
C- Socrates Sculpture Park
​D- Shore Blvd
​E- Mombar
F- Randall's Island
G- Bronx Brewery
H- Soundview Park

This 14 mile intermediate/advanced ride starts on the waterfront of Queens, and takes you up to Soundview Park in the Bronx, where you can catch the ferry back to your home. If you wanted to adjust this ride to make it a shorter beginner ride, you could cut out the Bronx section, because then it is mostly on two-way protected bike paths and on a mostly car free island! 

This ride starts at Hunters Point Park, and if you don't want to bike there, it is easily accessible by train, Court Square, Queensboro Plaza, 21 St-Queensbridge Station are all close by, or you could take the ferry to the LIC stop. Once you get over to Hunters Point Park, you can take Center Boulevard to Vernon Boulevard, which has a two way protected bike lane starting at 46th Street. Once you get onto the protected bike lane, its a nice and easy ride from there. I find this route to be really enjoyable because of the way the bike lane loops you through the different waterfront parks, so make sure to heed the turns into the parks to get the whole experience! First you will bike through Queensbridge Park, then option to bike through Rainey Park, and lastly Socrates Sculpture Park. Definitely stop at Socrates Sculpture Park to see if they have any exhibits going on, but either way its a beautiful spot with lots of shade and a great vantage point. And if you are lucky like me, you might stumble into a farmers market! From Socrates, continue on Vernon Boulevard, then a few turns until you end up at Astoria Park. I included this park so you can check out the open street at Shore Boulevard, which seems to be working so well that it seems crazy that it was ever opened to car traffic. When I biked by I saw families walking, little kids riding their bikes, and everyone having a great time. I definitely suggest taking the ride! From there, the map suggests turning back around, or you can head up on Ditmars Boulevard and turn onto Steinway Street (just be warned if you take the Ditmars route- it is a steep hill!) Steinway Street is home to a wide variety of types of food, and the stretch of Steinway where Mombar is located is aptly named Little Egypt. I didn't actually get to eat at Mombar because it was closed when I stopped by, but it has great ratings and looks delicious! Either way, this stretch of Little Egypt is worth checking out and some tasty food shall be yours! 

After you fuel up at Little Egypt, head over to the pedestrian entrance of the RFK bridge at Hoyt Avenue North and 27th Street.  The RFK doesn't have a bike lane, so use this pedestrian path to get across to Randall's Island. While the path suggests walking your bike over the bridge, many people ride over it, so if you are going to ride, just go slowly! Once you arrive at Randall's Island, you can bike around and enjoy the park. If you are doing the beginner ride, this might be a nice place to end! If you want to keep going to the Bronx, follow the path for the Randall's Island Connector, which will drop you right off in the Bronx. You can head right over to the Bronx Brewery, which is only a few minute ride from the connector, and support a local brewery with a delicious selection! To enjoy a nice, leisurely ferry ride home, ride on over Southern Boulevard to the beautiful Soundview Park. Southern Boulevard doesn't have any bike infrastructure and cars do move relatively quickly, so probably best for a more advanced rider. It will be worth it when you get to the beautiful Soundview Park, a former marshland that has been converted into a lovely park space with bike paths, kayak launches, and baseball diamonds! From here, catch the NYC Ferry and enjoy the view from the water!