Biking

Biking in and around New York City is an eye opener. To get on your way, download the New York City Cycling Map. These maps are informative, detailed, easy to read, and convenient for both recreational and commuter cyclists. The two-sided, full color map features a citywide overview on one side and a detailed borough map on the other. Most bike shops have a copy of this map available for free. Also, individual maps have been created for all five boroughs.

The Five Borough Bike Tour takes place every May. 30,000 riders join the annual 42 mile bike ride on traffic-free streets through the five boroughs of New York City. The ride starts in downtown Manhattan and pedaled through all five boroughs, ending at a Festival at Fort Wadsworth on Staten Island.

A favorite of many city bikers is a tour around Central Park Drive, the winding 6.10 mile road that circles Central Park. Central Park has fewer cars passing through this year, thanks to new closures on the roadways. And while the Drive is regularly closed to cars, beware of the roller bladers and pedestrians, many of whom take no notice of bicyclists!

Another favorite is the wonderful bike path that encircles Manhattan, and you will be rewarded on an early Sunday morning ride by a beautiful sunrise, spectacular views of the New York harbor, the Hudson, Harlem and East Rivers, and the New Jersey Palisades, as well as relatively few fellow bikers. We highly recommend you try it!

In August, don't miss Summer Streets, a wonderful program that closes down major thoroughfares to pedestrians and bikes. Believe it or not, the city temporarily closes Park Avenue and connecting streets from the Brooklyn Bridge to Central Park on three Saturdays in August. One of the biggest thrills is cycling up the Park Avenue viaduct right to the statue of Cornelius Vanderbilt at Grand Central Terminal!