Feb. 27, 2013–New York, New Jersey Weather Alert
High winds, and safety concerns have caused bridge authorities to close the bike and pedestrian path across the George Washington Bridge today.
A spokesperson for the Port Authority of New York and New Jersey said that winds on the bridge have a sustained speed of 20 mph, with gusts up to 35-miles-per-hour. But eyewitness accounts say the gusts are much greater, up to 45 mph range along the cliffs facing the bridge.
Such winds could prove dangerous for both cyclists and pedestrians crossing the bridge.
Under many circumstances the Hudson River serves as a facilitating tunnel for high wind weather, and winds can reach much higher speeds than inland.
High winds today have accompanied a driving rain, which is predicted to stop by early evening, only to start again by midnight tonight.
If you rode to work this morning, and somehow managed to get across the bridge, it is possible you can come back with your bike on a NJ Transit bus. Just walk upstairs to the upper platform of the NYNJ bus station on 177th St. and Broadway, and ask a driver to take you across.
Though they are not required to allow your bike on board during rush hour, drivers have been known to do so when the pathway is closed.
But chances are the winds will have died down by 5 PM and you’ll be able to cross on the path.
