The Belt Parkway Promenade

Ever watch that episode of Portlandia with the crazy hipster biker who’s out to bike against the world? It’s like that x10 here.
A lot of bikers here fail to realize this is a public park with people, kids and pets who stroll, play or run around. You can spot them easily, theyre the ones all decked out in biking gear with their corporate sponsored sweat wicking ball strangling tights, their 200 dollar aerodynamic helmet to help them mow down little kids and their propensity to pedal with their heads down not looking at where they’re going imagining they’re at the Tour De France.
It’s entertaining and sad these abortion dodgers react when something is in their way and god forbid HAVE to slow down like normal people would when they see an obstacle. Wait, what am I saying? They don’t slow down. They swerve and speed like they got something to prove. Look out for these coked up bikers cause they certainly will not be looking out for you.

Awesome part of Bay Ridge thats been a integral part of the waterfront for decades. There may be the highway right next too the path but its a great view and nice breeze off the water.
I have used the bike path and the walking path. But love the casual walking path better for the leisurely strolls. I mean the 69^th pier used to have a boat landing. But that was destroyed and never replaced. What a waste of millions of dollars. Typical political system with corrupt officials robbing the public.
But that aside the wild life is abundant here on the waterfront. I have seen sea turtles and terns diving in the water for fish. Also watched other birds diving down for food. Glad the water is not as polluted like it has been in the past.
Well there is plenty of benches too if your not into walking or exercising Lol.

I spent most of my Saturday mornings biking here with a friend or two over the summer but mostly out of convenience since I live in Brooklyn. There are designated bike paths but there are certain sections that are really in need of repair due to usage and elements of nature like snow. They are doing construction on certain stretches of the promenade so you occasionally do need to detour onto the walking paths to get around. Early in the morning (7−8am-ish) and probably earlier but that’s when I’m around there, there’s people fishing, jogging, running, biking. There’s also groups of senior citizens blasting music and exercising (taichi, sword dancing, ribbon/​fan dancing). It’s pretty relaxing to bike through the area but the view is basically a lot of water, trees and the Verrazano bridge on one side and the belt parkway on the otherside. It gets crowded later in the day and other than directly under the trees, there’s very little shade.

If not for the crazy winds that surprise you often, this would be my preferred place for running. By the water, Verrazano Bridge, NYC and long trail, could be perfect. But why the city of Brooklyn don’t do more to improve the condition of the trail, and make it friendlier?
Many cracks, holes and obstacles that can easily get you injured.
5 stars for the view and the potential.
2 stars for the conditions.
Come at sunset, will be windy, but gorgeous.

‘Cuz the Bikers gonna bike bike bike
And the Runners gonna run run run
Creepers gonna creep creep creep creep
Just shake ‘em off, shake ‘em off.
From the Verrazano bridge towards Owl’s Head Park is where the path start to get better. It’s prime real estate for both runners and bikers; before that marker, the lanes are too narrow, ambiguous, & blended for a harmonious existence.
There are a lot of potheads that love to smoke along this stretch. It seriously annoys me. Everyone is here for fresh air, not to catch a whiff of your desperate adolescence.
During the day, I don’t find the views to be particularly stunning. At night, however, the bridge is especially striking. More than a few photographers can be found here. A lover’s stroll can be taken here except I don’t feel too safe walking at night. This has more to do with the poor lighting in certain spots.
There’s a need to add more lighting, fix the broken benches, add some more points of interest, and pave better paths closer to Bay Parkway. If they improved those things, then I would find it to be a contender as a waterfront destination.

Oohh, so it’s called the Belt Parkway Promenade and not Caesar’s Bay? Okay, I gotchu now! I’ve been going here ever since I moved close by. It’s perfect for avid cyclists, snail walkers, fast pacers, etc — basically everyone! It’s clean and did I mention you could also go fishing?! This is probably the best place to be and feel healthy!

Ran belt parkway route today going east bound, I started by Owls head park (pretty cool and family oriented park) and ran to toys r us and back.
Pros: beautiful view, wasn’t too busy but than again it’s a Weekday/​weekend (Friday), theres a lot of time to day dream and build self confidence while running.
Cons: this is the most upsetting thing, there are no water fountains!!! Beware, I had two bottles of water attached to my running belt that ran out on my 8^th mile and I had to run another two miles to find water back at owl head park. It was upsetting being that the route was pretty cool. Also beware of the broken concrete floor, there are many cracks.
Hope you can use this enjoy

Avid cyclists you will not like the fact that children run amok in the bike lane. Also, people are skating, running, and walking at a snails pace in the bike lane too. You have to be careful here. They don’t understand the different lanes for bicycles and pedestrians. High speeds are not recommended. Also, there are gaping holes in the path, sometimes covered with an orange cone and sometimes you will figure it out at the very last possible minute before you almost crash headfirst into it.
That said, the view of the bridge and water is amazing. The path leads to a pier with a distant view of Manhattan or turn right under the overpass to visit owls head park.

The plus, there is a decent view of verrazano bridge. You can watch the ships.
You can picnic on blanket, but there is no grills.
During Fleetweek, you get a awesome view of navy ships passing thru.
In Dec you can see sunset perpendicular to verraznano bridge.
It’s great for full moon photos, in the very early hours.
if you like bird watching, winter birds are numerous: black duck, tuff ducks, mergansers. flyovers of red tail hawks. there are peregrine falcons, that nest at western side of the verrazano but I have yet to see them.
Don’t go in the summer, you been warned… no seriously. there is no water fountains and no restrooms, therefore don’t eat or drink if you decide to walk four miles to south to ‘cesar bay’ mall.
No fault to the promenade, be aware of the bicycles, some act as they are trying out for the tour de france… so becare with dogs and kids because these bicycles go speeding fasst.

Based on my own geographic location to this space I generally refer to it as the Shore Promenade and nothing more. This is also commonly known as «The Bike Path» to neighborhood residents and why would I ever Unilocal about it? Well the social network suggested that I do so and since I come here a couple of times a week that is what we are doing. So what about this particular location in Bay Ridge Brooklyn, well let’s sum it up nice and quick.
The Promenade is both a pedestrian walkway and a bicycle path that extends from the 69^th Street Pier and goes all the way up to the Ceasar’s Bay shops which is about a five or six mile distance in total. Correct me if I am wrong on this. If you walk this from 69^th street you get a heck of a cardio workout and you pass the always beautiful Verrazano Narrows bridge. Generally I enter the promenade from Shore Road and 4^th Avenue (around 101^st Street) and walk down to the 79^th Street Overpass as its enough for me in one clip. I always bring my camera or have the smart phone at the ready to snap some images of the bridge, or passing boats. If you are a fan of sunsets, I think that you will enjoy getting here around dusk.
Though I have never done the cycling down here I can tell you that its popular and a recommendation if you do that sort of thing. For the picnic minded folks reading my Unilocal,you will be close enough to neighborhood parks if you should want to do that depending on if the weather is on your side. If you do this wander from the spot where I do it from, see if you can also investigate Cannonball Park aka John Paul Jones Park which is right near by and has some nice historical monuments to it. There you go.
PS: There are plenty of spots to dine or drink up on the avenues after you do some lengthy walking down here so do check those out. Too many to choose from in all honesty.

Bike YES
After Dinner Walk YES
Running/​Jogging YES
A place to relax and relieve stress DEFINITELY YES
Date place YES
Watching sunset YES
Fishing YES
View of the Manhattan Skyline YES
Bathrooms YES (in the bushes)
Fountains YES (ocean water)
Ice cream and italian ice vendors YES
Picture taking opportunity YES
It’s just a great place to be!

The best place to hike and to find peace and quiet I usually start from Bay Parkway up along the belt parkway where they have now fixed and repaired most of the damage from the hurricane I continue up and crossover into Shore Pkwy Park hike through the park come back across to the pier and back down the belt parkway walk way to Bay Parkway once again total of about 12 miles great workout n peaceful.
Wanna join ?
Hit me up. I do it on weekends. N weeknights sometimes.

The best place in Brooklyn to go for a walk, a run, a bike ride, or any other form of exercise. Certainly a place you can go for a date place. I usually run from the entrance of the American Veterans Memorial Pier to the Verrazano bridge and then back. That’s a good run. Very relaxing.
There are two sides to the promenade, a bike lane and pedestrian lane. Plenty of room for everybody, so no excuse to run into people unless you’re not paying attention.
The view of the Verrazano bridge is absolutely gorgeous from almost anywhere, but I think the closer you get the better the view. I think the best time to check the bridge is at night. It’s beautiful to look at when lights are on. If you’re coming by car you should stop at the rest area before exit 2 off the belt parkway east. That rest area is the best view in my opinion.
One thing I do hate about the bridge is its $ 15 to go into Staten Island. Smh. It might as well become its own state. Other than that it’s great to look at it.
Just relax and enjoy the view.

It’s been a bad year for the bike path. Pot holes, construction, trucks driving by. There is a spot just after the bridge where someone wrote RIP in chalk on the path. I’m not sure what the story is there, but seeing it always makes me ride a little more carefully.

Nice place to jog, walk or bike. I used to run the Bay Ridge section from Owl’s Head to the Bridge. A lot nicer than running the streets and dealing with cars plus you have some nice views of the Bay and ships.

After coming here for over a decade, you learn to appreciate what you really have surrounding you.
Overall, its a pretty good spot to ride your bike and go for a walk or run.
The roads on the Bensonhurst side are terrible, and have been cracked for as long as I have been coming here, so try to stay on the Bay Ridge side. The Bay Ridge side, is a lot nicer with nice paved roads and has a pier.
The best part of the whole promenade is the view of the city and the Verrazano Bridge, especially at sunset.
If you live in the area or are driving by, might be worth your time

I love a nice, relaxed, and chill walk here… I usually walk or bike here. It has a breathtaking view, especially during sunrise and when the sun is setting (which is the obvious). Ride down to Owl’s Head which is the end of the way! I’ve fished at Owl’s Head, but didn’t catch anything. It is definitely relaxing on a nice day.

This is one of my favorite spots in the world! I live only a block away, and love coming here to walk, especially in the mornings, when it is empty. I also like coming here on Saturday afternoons in the summer to pass the long Shabbat days. They’re rebuilding the walkway post-​Sandy, and I am looking forward to the walkway being back in full swing.

Eh — the view of the water is nice, but there is garbage and traffic and noise. Not my bag — take me to Santa Cruz any day!

Summer, how do I miss thee? :((((
While it’s 40 degrees and bone-​chillingly wet and overcast outside, let me reminisce about my summer biking adventures on the Belt Parkway Promenade — again, reiterating that because of places like this, BROOKLYN IS THE BEST BOROUGH. :D
I only discovered the Belt Parkway Promenade at the end of the summer, which is sad because it is an amazing ride with an absolutely gorgeous view, including the Verrazano Bridge, which you get to ride/​jog/​walk/​stroll under (hint: do so in the evening, it’s lovely). I usually ride my bike to Pier 69 in Bay Ridge and start from there going toward Coney Island, so I’m not sure about the Promenade going the other way (if it does), but toward Coney is wonderful — wide, multi lane bike and walking paths that are distanced from Belt Parkway so that the traffic doesn’t scare the eff out of you.
The only complaint I have about Belt Parkway Promenade is that it is unfinished. I’m not sure if there are plans to finish it, but after you get past the Verrzano, things get a little sketchy. The pavement is broken up and sometimes non-​existent, and there are a couple creepy (at night) turns where wayward youths (hahaha) are hanging out. Once I was stopped by the po-​leece for no reason at all. Why?! WHY?! And once you get past this area, at the Shore Parkway Toys R Us, things just end. I thought that was it, until one of my friends took a ride with me and showed me the street paths (not real bike lanes, mind you) that take you all the way to Coney Island. Bummer, fools, finish that promenade! I’ve been hit two too many times on my bike to want to be riding in the middle of Coney Island Avenue!
But otherwise, just completely beautiful. I definitely recommend the area between Pier 69 and the bridge for all your outdoor exercise and beautiful-​view needs.

Shore Promenade (aka Belt Parkway Promenade) begins at the adjacent American Veterans Memorial Pier and continues the exterior waterfront edge of Southern Brooklyn along the Belt Parkway ending at Bensonhurst Park leading to Bath Beach and Coney Island Boardwalk.
The view of the Verrazano-​Narrows Bridge is electrifying beautiful. If only I were able to upgrade my biking skills up to par as the bike trail is lovely and calming to the mind and soul. This walkway and dedicated bike trail sits along the Brooklyn-​Queens Expressway (I-​278) and Belt Parkway that resonate lovely views.