Five Boro Bike Ride

Biking through the five Boro's of New York City

The NYC 5 Boro Bike Ride is an annual 40-mile cycling event that takes riders through all five boroughs of New York City:

Manhattan
The Bronx
Queens
Brooklyn
Staten Island

With approximately 30,000 participants, it is one of the largest recreational cycling events in the world. Riders enjoy traffic free streets while passing iconic neighborhoods, famous bridges, city parks, and spectacular skyline views. Unlike a race, the event welcomes cyclists of nearly every skill level. The ride is designed to be fun, scenic, and memorable.

The Adventure - As you roll through Manhattan in the early morning, you'll quickly realize this isn't an ordinary bike ride. Entire avenues are reserved for bicycles. One of the highlights is riding over bridges normally reserved for vehicles, including the massive Verrazzano-Narrows Bridge. With no cars and thousands of cyclists surrounding you, it's an experience that's difficult to describe until you've done it yourself.

The Ordeal - Forty miles isn't especially difficult, but frequent stops, crowded streets, and bridge climbs make the day longer than many expect. Registration typically sells out well in advance, and the cost of hotels, meals, and transportation can add up quickly if you're traveling from outside the area. You'll also need to wake up early for your assigned start wave, and weather conditions can vary dramatically from year to year. Riders should prepare for cool mornings, rain, wind, or warm afternoon temperatures. Finally, after reaching Staten Island, your day isn't over. Most participants take the ferry back toward Manhattan and additional five mile and some additional waiting for the ferry.

Tips - We were fortunate to have neighbors who had ridden the tour before. Their advice and having them ride with us made the experience much easier and more enjoyable.

Arrive a day early and park near the Staten Island Ferry dock. Spend a day in New York City. Explore the city, enjoy a good meal, and stay at a hotel near the start line. After the ride your car is close by and ready for your drive home. Get your bike ride, hotel and parking reservations early!