You don’t have to be a professional cyclist to join the TD 5 Boro Bike Tour. All you need is a bike, the stamina to go 40 miles, or you can stand on the tour course and cheer the cyclists on.
Photo of TD 5 Boro Bike Tour, New York City © Benny Wong
The TD 5 Boro Bike Tour is the largest bike event in North America. Each year about 32,000 people take part in it.
Because it’s a tour and not a race, it’s a relaxing ride and a great way to see a lot of New York City. The 40 mile course is closed off to vehicular traffic and the roads are for cyclists only.
It’s a popular event and registrations sports fill up so quickly that a lottery system was designed to fill the spots. If you’re interested in joining the tour, you can still sign up as a VIP or ride for a charity.
Photo of TD 5 Boro Bike Tour, New York City © Mike Ortega
The tour route goes through Manhattan, the Bronx, Queens, Brooklyn, and Staten Island. There are 5 bridge crossings – Madison Avenue Bridge, Third Avenue Bridge, Queensboro Bridge, Pulaski Bridge, and the Verrazano-Narrows Bridge. This is event is the only opportunity to bike across the Verrazano-Narrows Bridge. In addition to all these great places to bike through and over, there will be no traffic, making it a smooth and beautiful ride!
You can see a map of the tour here.
If you’re not up for biking, go out at viewing areas around the route to cheer the cyclists on! It’s an exciting event – plus there’s no traffic. It’s a great opportunity to walk through areas of the City without having to notice or navigate traffic.
The TD 5 Boro Bike Tour is on May 4, 2014.