Getting to and from the NYC-DC Ride

Many of you are coming from the Northeast/Mid-Atlantic Region. We highly recommend using our Climate Rider Google Group as a resource for recommended travel options and coordination. (You can join the Climate Rider Google Groups of your choice by emailing info@climateride.org.)

BUS: Bus options have improved as a number of smaller companies have entered the market. Some new busses offer more leg room and Wi-Fi. Many 2008 Climate Riders used and recommended the following services to get to New York City: Bolt, DC2NY, Megabus, amoose, and ivymedia.com. Some bus companies, including Bolt, allow you to place your bike under the bus as checked luggage.

TRAIN: Amtrak is generally more expensive but more spacious than the bus. It services Washington DC, the Mid-Atlantic, the Northeast corridor and beyond. Visit Amtrak to see if train service works for you.

You have the option to send your bicycle as checked baggage (you will need to pack your bike in a box), but it must go on a checked baggage car. Not all trains have a checked baggage car, so you may have to send it on another train. Call your local station to see if the train you would like o take is scheduled to have a checked baggage car.

You can arrive at the Amtrak station with your bike for your scheduled departure time, purchase a bike box for $15 (you must know how to turn your handlebars and remove seat and pedals), package your bike, and send it on the later train to your destination ($5 for DC-NYC Penn station). Then you can take whichever train departure you choose and then pick up your bicycle the next day at the destination. Don't forget your claim check.

If you are taking the train from DC to NYC Penn Station, the checked baggage car departs at 10 pm.

Amtrak: 1-800-USA-RAIL Washington DC Amtrak station direct: 202-906-3260

CAR SHARE: Check out our cool partnership with Pickup Pal to arrange an eco-car share car share, either to the start or from the end! www.pickuppal.com/pup/erp/climate-ride. The link will go live in April.

TAXI: Not all taxis accept bike boxes in the trunk. Some riders, who travel light, unpack their box and ride to the Zoo or their hotel. Some riders have hired a minivan or limo service. These are just ideas; you may want to call ahead for details and quotes. JFK to Manhattan in a taxi is a flat fare of $45. From LaGuardia it is $30. These are estimated fares for regular taxis, which may not take a boxed bike.

PLANE:

TO NEW YORK CITY:

John F. Kennedy International Airport (JFK), in Queens (at the south end of the Van Wyck Expressway), primarily handles international flights. Getting to and from JFK

LaGuardia Airport (LGA), also in Queens (on the Grand Central Parkway), mainly handles domestic flights. If you're flying in from anywhere in the U.S., chances are you'll come through here. Particular exceptions include Continental Airlines.
Getting to and from LaGuardia

Newark International Airport (EWR) in Newark, New Jersey, handles both domestic and international flights. It's a bit further from the city than the other two airports, but it is generally less crowded and has more modern facilities.
Getting to and from Newark

SUBWAY and BUSSES: For public transportation from the airport, check out the
Metropolitan Transportation Authority (MTA).

SHARED AIRPORT VANS: SuperShuttle operates from all NYC airports:
www.supershuttle.com

Options for your bike include shipping it via UPS or FedEx to your hotel or our preferred bike shop in NY, sending it by train, or checking it as luggage on the plane— to the ride start in NYC and from the end in DC. If you need to have your bike assembled in NYC or disassembled in DC, we suggest contacting a local bike shop to help out. More details will be available in the Travel Planner, which will be out in March.

Feel free to email info@climateride.org any time if you have questions!

The trip start will be in downtown New York City. More details will be available in the Travel Planner, which will be out in March.

Feel free to email info@climateride.org any time if you have questions!

If you need a hotel, here are a few links to get you started.

Remember May is a popular month to be in NYC!
www.hotels.com
www.kayak.com
www.ny.com/hotels/budget.html
http://nymag.com/urban/guides/nyonthecheap/travel/hotels.htm
(neat link from New York magazine of cool boutique/budget hotels)

If you like hip, Euro-style and affordable, we recommend the Pod Hotel in Midtown.
Use www.hotels.com to get the best rates (don’t book directly through the Pod website). They have bunk rooms with shared bath and nice double rooms with private bath. This is where we stay when in NYC!

Another recommendation is the Paramount Hotel in Times Square, considered chic and affordable for NYC. Use www.hotels.com to get best rates.

The earliest you would want to depart Washington DC is 7 pm on Wednesday, 5/23, but we highly recommend that you visit with your members of Congress on Thursday, 5/24. (Many Climate Riders cite this as a highlight of the ride!) More specific details are available in the Travel Planner, due out in March.

Details on departing Washington, DC will be available in the Travel Planner, due out in March.

Feel free to email info@climateride.org any time if you have questions!