May is
bike month in New York City and the 31-day celebration kicks off with the 2011
TD Bank Five Boro Bike Tour, now in its 34th year. More than 30,000 cyclists participate in the event, which takes place over 42 miles of car-free streets. You can ride, volunteer, cheer on fellow cyclists, or even drop by the post-ride
festival that's being held at Fort Wadsworth on Staten Island, a part of the Gateway National Recreation Area operated by the National Park Service. Expect lots of free food and samples from tour sponsors, including biking organizations, sports beverage and nutrition companies, and athletic leagues.
The tour covers each of New York's five boros and enables riders to see a variety of iconic sightseeing spots as well as its five major bridges. Riders can take in the Empire State Building, the Statue of Liberty, the Brooklyn Bridge, and parts of historic Harlem as well as experience the city from a completely independent vantage point on two wheels. Check out specific details about the 2011 route by accessing this
interactive map, or viewing
video of the 2010 tour. There's even an annual
photo contest.
After the bike tour is over, hundreds of other
biking events and activities are scheduled to take place around the city, including moonlight rides in Central Park, free safety classes for bikers, biking parades (including the
pet parade in Tompkin's Square Park),
bike repair workshops, sponsored giveaways (city agencies often offer free helmets during bike month), and more. Visit the following websites for more up-to-the-minute information, including
Transportation Alternatives,
Critical Mass,
Time's Up, and
NYC.gov.
Photo credits:
asterix611/FlickrCC;
Shira Golding/FlickrCC
