driving from westchester to nyc/chinatown (Peekskill, Ridge: insurance, buying, construction)

[seo673]

Hi,
So I am very wary of driving into NYC/Manhattan, let alone Chinatown. The area is familiar to me since my family and I have gone there since I was younger. I've been driving for a few years and hnestly consider myself a good driver - now that I do drive, I feel like I would really love to be able to provide my parents with transportation to Chinatown since it has so many things that we can't really get otherwise. Plus, when you're buying a lot of things, that means a lot of weight and I feel so dang guilty about my parents ever having to carry heavy things. D:


We live in Peekskill, and I would love to know:
1) how driving down to NYC/Chinatown and



2) when's the best time to go on weekends (Sunday specifically) and



3) about the tolls....


4) When's the best way to travel? (We would probably go Sundays/around 10-11am?)


Thanks!

[bg7]

Sawmill to Henry Hudson parkway, down the west side highway to about Canal st. or lower..
On Sunday any time is good. Old people get up early anyway so you won't be seeing much traffic...
There's an automatic toll on the Henry Hudson bridge. I think if you don't have EZpass they just send you a bill in the mail. $2.50 or something.

The much bigger problem is trying to find parking in Chinatown, that's crazy

[BlakeJones]

Originally Posted by bg7

The much bigger problem is trying to find parking in Chinatown, that's crazy

All depends when . After 6:00 PM everything completely clears out you can park anywhere for free

But honestly sounds like the OP just got his driver's license I don't even think he would know how to find NYC on the road

[jaymtea]

Going to manhattan on a sunday morning is probably the best possible time to go, but keep in mind that driving into NYC is a totally different animal than driving around Peekskill. There are cars and cabs and people EVERYWHERE and they all want to be right in front of you. You can't be scared or hesitant. Everything generally flows if everyone just goes where they're supposed to go and no one stops short or changes lanes suddenly. I always say driving in manhattan is more like boating that driving
My advice? Take a drive on a Sunday by yourself (especially if your parents are nervous people) and see how it is. This way if you decide it's too much, you can bail at any time. If it goes ok, take your parents next time, but keep in mind that roads have construction, lanes shift, exits close that used to be open - it's ever changing down there!

Use google maps. Have the navigation turned on and pay attention to where you're going. And good luck!!

[BlakeJones]

Originally Posted by jaymtea

There are cars and cabs and people EVERYWHERE and they all want to be right in front of you.

re. driving in manhattan - you shouldn't worry about the other cars and cabs so much, if one day you get into a fender bender it's no big deal. If you hit a person or bike, however, your life is basically over. You're going to get investigated and sued, and your insurance will go through the roof. Pedestrians & Bikes are your NUMBER ONE concern and you always always have to be looking for them everywhere.

[NJ Brazen_3133]

Take Sprain Brook South, When you get to the ridge Hill mall, take the Major Deegan South to yankee Stadium. Go over McCombs Dam Bridge to Manhattan, and take FDR south. Then exit at Grand St

Or if you are on Major Deegan, get out at 225th St, head south on Broadway all the way to Dyckman, and go the Westside Hwy, and head south until you get to Canal st.

No tolls my way as long as you stay on Sprain Brook until Ridge Hill Mall.

[tommyD7115]

If you drive to Chinatown the best time to drive is on Sunday morning, you can park at the meter on Sundays for free but it might be hard to find a space. I would say stay west on Canal street to park and walk over, it can get very congested with people and cars the closer you get.