Marathon Bypass Marathon Edition

November 2, 2010 7:37 AM

Can I use the subway to cross the path of the NYC Marathon?

I'm working Sunday, and need to arrive between 9:30 and 10am. I'd like to bike to work, but getting from Crown Heights to Manhattan seems impossible, with the Marathon route cutting right between my starting and finishing lines.

It's usually about a 35-40 minute ride, and I'm willing to give the ride up to 50 minutes to adjust my route, etc, to get past the race.

I'm thinking I can use the Atlantic Ave station… but the new entrance is probably too close to Hanson Pl to be accessible (although I'm going early enough that crowds should be navigable. Are there any ideal entrance/exits that I can get in on one end, and find myself on the other side of the traffic closure on the other end? Atlantic to Pacific (via tunnel)? Pacific to Pacific (just crossing 4th Ave)? Any other stations that will let me get tunnel beneath the closed roads? Any other suggestions? Is this even realistic? Or should I resign to taking the subway full stop?

(Once past the course in Brooklyn, I'm clear in Manhattan, and everything will be open by the time I'm done for the day. I really want to get at least some of the ride in, so if this proves impossible, I'll just take the train for a couple of stops… I'm just looking to do without that at all.)

posted by mhz to Travel & Transportation (6 answers total)

You can cross the marathon route on foot, and should be able to get through with your bike without too much fuss. The trick is to go with the flow, while moving in the direction you want to go. (This is known as a downstream ferry angle in whitewater paddling.) The route is full, but there is plenty of interstitial room. I would dismount and run alongside your bike.
posted by OmieWise at 7:41 AM on November 2, 2010

As far as I know, the only thing you won't be allowed to do is cross 4th Avenue, in either direction. Any other road/subway entrance closures are up to the NYPD that morning.
posted by roomthreeseventeen at 7:42 AM on November 2, 2010

Enter at Pacific & 4th avenue - you can enter on one side of 4th avenue, and exit on the other side of 4th avenue.

At 9:30-10am, I wouldn't try and cross the marathon route, especially not with a bicycle - it's wall-to-wall people at that point.
posted by swngnmonk at 7:45 AM on November 2, 2010

I crossed at Hanson Place last year around noon—but only after taking about a 30-minute break to watch the runners and look for a decent opening. If I'd thought to go through the 4th & Pacific station, per swngnmonk, I probably would have done that instead, but it was inspiring to watch the runners for a bit.
posted by xueexueg at 1:17 PM on November 2, 2010

You can cross the marathon route on foot, and should be able to get through with your bike without too much fuss.

Good to know, but probably not applicable if I get there at the same time as the runners who are first–wave, might–win, runners.

Crossing 4th via the Pacific St. station was one of the options I mentioned in my original question…

At 9:30-10am, I wouldn't try and cross the marathon route

How about getting close (i.e. to the subway), not crossing? The half-mile we're talking about crossing (7.5–8 mile) only closes to traffic at 8am… is there usually a large crowd for the first wave of runners? Does it ever really get thick enough that the subway is inaccessible? I plan on being there 9:00–9:10am.
posted by mhz at 3:27 PM on November 2, 2010

How about getting close (i.e. to the subway), not crossing? The half-mile we're talking about crossing (7.5–8 mile) only closes to traffic at 8am… is there usually a large crowd for the first wave of runners? Does it ever really get thick enough that the subway is inaccessible? I plan on being there 9:00–9:10am.

So we have an answer!

NYC Marathon Arrival Times

Looking at the chart - at the 8 mile mark, at 9:10 in the morning, you'll see the leaders of the wheelchair division, but the rest of the race will not have started yet. You should see clear sailing.

Have fun!
posted by swngnmonk at 6:55 AM on November 4, 2010