New York State Parkways

[Dallas Baillio]

On another thread it is stated that RV's are illegal on New York state parkways. When I travelled in NY recently I drove on the Taconic Parkway. When entering I encountered a sign that stated "No Trucks." What would be your interpretation? 18 wheelers, trailer trucks? If it meant RV's it should have said so. Think of all the other questions the sign brings to mind. Pickup Trucks? Van based campers such as RoadTrek? The 21 ft Born Free? I imagine some cars are longer that that. Limosines? I decided to apply my own interpretation which, of course, permitted me to travel on the parkway.

I decided it meant trailer trucks. I don't drive a truck, I drive a motorhome, or as Born Free likes to make us feel elite and special a motor coach.

[David and Susan Bratt]

We tried one of them once and ran into (not literally) a 9 ft clearance overpass and made a very quick exit. Pay attention.

[Dallas Baillio]

That could be a really good reason. The sign could state "No Trucks, low clearances" which would have caught my attention.

[tomdclark]

It is against the law to drive any RV on any Parkway in the Northeast as far as I know. The signage may be miserable and vague, but that doesn't alter the law alas!

[Dude]

"You can't drive an RV on any Parkway in the North East" is untrue. The Garden State Parkway in NJ only has a ban on Commercial Trucks. Basically if there is a name on the side of a truck, you can't drive on the Garden State Parkway in NJ.

Now NY basically bans anything other than a passenger vehicle on the Parkways due to very low bridge clearances.

[shilohdad]

Dallas, I am surprised that the sign said only no trucks. On the Taconic entrances near me, they say no trucks, trailers or campers. Ditto for the all the other New York parkways in the New York City area. Some of the parkways have really low overpasses, but not all of them. Most have fairly narrow lanes, so that may be another reason to ban RVs. In New York in the NYC area, the rule of thumb is that if it is called a parkway, don't expect to be allowed to drive an RV on it.

Matt is correct that the Garden State Parkway in New Jersey allows RVs. We use it often when travelling south.

[Dude]

I have to amend my statement regarding Commercial Vehicles on the Garden State Parkway in NJ.

Small Commercail Vehicles such as pickups and vans are allowed. It is the bigger box trucks and 18 wheelers and such that are not allowed. The point I wanted to make was that RV's are allowed on the Garden State Parkway.

[thestoloffs]

On another thread it is stated that RV's are illegal on New York state parkways.

This was my comment on the other thread, based on a discussion John Eastman of the Dodgen Commercial division & I had with a prospect at the Abilities Expo in Edison, NJ two years ago.

I took my advice directly from NY State & NYC Departments of Transportation (see attachment).

(Parenthetically, I drove to that particular event via the Garden State Parkway, so I can confirm everyone's comments.)

[Dallas Baillio]

I retrieved my map of New York. I entered the Taconic Parkway southbound just east of Poughkeepsie of US 44. I exited Westbound on I-84. Perhaps the sign said more than "No Trucks." I can't be absolutely positive. Maybe someone can check it out. The sign may have also read "Passenger Cars Only," which would rule out RV's.

[shilohdad]

A word of warning when travelling in CT. State Route 15 (a.k.a., Merritt Parkway and Wilbur Cross Parkway) usually has warning signs at entrances saying no commercial vehicles. Not until you actually enter the ramp are there signs giving a weight restriction of (I think) 8000 pounds and a height restriction (which I can't remember). I guess they expect you to back down the ramp if you are overweight or overheight!

[William Higbie]

The parkways of the NY Metro area are truly treasures. How delightful it is to drive with no trucks and I would include RVs. Many of these parkways lead to beaches or other scenic areas. I particularly like the Taconic and Merritt Parkways.

[oliverpsmile]

The rule of thumb IMO is this: since BF is not commercial, nor behemoth and without toad, the only driving restriction is on the direction of Jones Beach. Brooklyn Battery Tunnel and Queens Midtown Tunnel have horizontal wooden beam (I think 12' 11") and an alarm. On top of this, NY's finest (the cops) are very helpful and reasonable and will help with a "Have a nice day" smile.

I am not talking about driver's skill.

[bigdipper]

While we try to avoid big cities excepting using interstates to get through, Chicago and perhaps some surrounding suburbs have prohibitions on RVs which would include any BF on "Boulevards". I have never seen this posted, and the local police have rep. for being quite intolerant of Rvers caught there.
Haven't done much Rving in NE but friend of mine who's son is over-the-road
trucker considers the Northeast, with New Jersey at the bottom of the list, the most difficult part of the country to travel in and through.
Ralph

[thestoloffs]

OK, I went to the further source:

Excerpts from the Codes, Rules and Regulations of the State of New York
SUBCHAPTER E § 180.1
Special Parkways

PART 180
SPECIAL REGULATIONS REGARDING SPECIAL PARKWAYS

§ 181.1 Definitions of words and phrases.

{snip}

(19) House coach. Any vehicle motivated by a power connected therewith or propelled by a power within itself, which is or can be used as the home or living abode or habitation of one or more persons, either temporarily or permanently. In the application of these regulations to house coaches, a house coach propelled by a power within itself shall be deemed a motor vehicle, a house coach motivated by a power connected therewith shall be deemed a trailer, and all house coaches shall be deemed vehicles.

§ 182.31 Restricted vehicles.

The following type vehicles, including those elsewhere defined in this Part, are not permitted on the parkways within the parkway system, unless authorized under an agreement with the department:
{snip}
(f) house coaches;

In the matter of Born Free v. New York Parkways, I rest my case.