I drove from White Plains, NY to Virginia this past Sunday. I looked up the directions on Bing maps (I have grown to hate Google) and they wanted to send me into NYC then west into NJ on the George Washington Bridge. Only a crazy person does that, and my starting point was right off of I-287 so I took that west over the Tappan Zee Bridge and then followed signs to go south on the Palisades Parkway into NJ. I took this route once before, several years ago, and I recalled it got confusing as it neared the vicinity of the GW Bridge/NJ Turnpike. But I had a Garmin plugged in and programmed so I expected it to lead me through any confusing parts. I haven't updated the maps on the Garmin lately, but I really don't think the roads in that area have changed in the past few years.
The Garmin was telling me to turn right from the Palisades Parkway onto US-46 in about a mile, so I got in the right lane. Then without warning, the road forked. There were signs at that point that theoretically told you where each fork lead, but I was past them before I was able to comprehend what they said. There were no signs in advance of the fork to allow you to decide which lane you wanted to be in before you reached it, and the Garmin failed to warn me that I needed to stay in the left lanes until I passed the fork. The next thing I knew, I was on a ramp leading to toll booths and the GW Bridge eastbound lanes into NYC -- the opposite of the way I wanted to go.
I have an EZ Pass, but I pulled up to one of full-service booths and asked the woman inside what I should do. Basically my only option was to pay the $14 toll and cross into NYC (in slow traffic), take the first exit ramp, make two quick lefts and come back over the bridge into NJ. It was clear that she had given these directions many times before.
So I crossed the bridge twice (for a total of three times across the Hudson in one day) and started following signs for the NJ Turnpike. Again the Garmin failed me -- another big fork in the highway, this time I needed to bear right for the turnpike, but the Garmin remained silent and there was nothing on the screen to show which way to go. Fortunately these signs were clearer than the ones before the bridge so I was able to change lanes in time.
I usually find the the Garmin over-directs -- it tells me to "stay left" or "stay right" to remain on a highway anytime there is a major exit leading to a different highway, even when the correct route is obvious from the signage and road design. But in that part of New Jersey, it seemed to know the roads less than I did. I know this is a difficult area -- I've been confused and almost lost before when looking for the right exit after crossing the GW Bridge, and once my sister ended up going in circles for while trying to figure it out. But the whole point of having a navigation device is to get you through the confusing parts.
And that $14 toll would have paid for two decent lunches this week...
Last edited by ny biker; 04-22-2015 at 11:19 AM.
- Gray 2010 carbon WSD road bike, Rivet Independence saddle
- Red hardtail 26" aluminum mountain bike, Bontrager Evoke WSD saddle
- Royal blue 2018 aluminum gravel bike, Rivet Pearl saddle
Gone but not forgotten:
- Silver 2003 aluminum road bike
- Two awesome worn out Juliana saddles