I wandered into the subway station with only the general notion to travel North from the Port Authority Bus Terminal. To be unsure of this system is to appear vulnerable (prey) and everyone ELSE seemed to know exactly what they were about. A helpful NYPD Officer pointed out the C Train Uptown / Queens and off I went with new direction to exit at 59 St. — Central Park.

Saturday: I joined the carousel for a counter clockwise loop around. Even without the automobile traffic, banned from the park on weekends, there are walkers, runners, bicyclists, baby carriages, horse drawn carriages, bicycle propelled carriages and foot traffic from crosswalks at intervals left and right, it’s heads up to avoid collision or getting flattened. Getting used to the scheme it is still possible to glance about and enjoy the greenery and city skyline. The full route is exactly 6 miles of asphalt drive.

Sunday: There are sporadic soft paths adjacent which allow relief from the busier lanes. Also, I tried the famed reservoir track for an optional mile and change of venue. I was a non-conformist running the main route clockwise today and was rewarded with an onslaught of opposite direction participants from the Japan Day Race. Once the event cleared out it was easier going. Hugging the inside curb kept the bikes at berth and to my surprise nearly all traffic stepped wide making room. [ GPX ]

For a cool down (and to avoid dreaded subway puzzles) I stayed topside the 17 city blocks back to the PABT. The city streets are a spectacle. It’s the ultimate for people watching. A walking pace is too fast to take it all in.