Spokes: NYC Bike Map News

2009 Tour de Queens: July 12th 2009

Mark your calendars the Tour de Queens is happening July 12th 2009. Registration opens May 26, 2009

The Tour de Queens is a leisurely paced 20-mile ride open to riders of all ages and skill levels. The course is mostly flat, and will go along waterfronts, greenways, through parks and industrial and historic neighborhoods.

Please note: Limited registration will be available on ride day starting at 8AM check in on a first come first serve basis at Flushing Meadows Park near Unishere and Queens Museum of Art but placement is not guaranteed.

For more info and to register visit TourdeQueens.org

NYC Century Bike Tour: September 13th 2009

The NYC Century offers five route options (ranging from 15 to 100 miles) to provide all cyclists a great way to see New York City and explore some of the City’s best greenways and parks. This year the NYC Century Bike Tour will take place rain or shine on Sunday, September 13th, 2009.

• view NYC Century 100 Mile Route Map
• For more information and to register, visit NYCCentury.org

Choose your distance, Ride your Pace

15 mile: Lead by T.A. Marshals, this ride is meant for first time riders and families. Riders travel down Broadway, passing NYC icons, Columbus Circle, Time Square, Herald Square, Flatiron Building, Union Square, cross over the Brooklyn Bridge and finish in beautiful Brooklyn Bridge Park. Leave 8 am Finish 10 am-2 pm

35 mile: This ride is for those looking for more than a Sunday stroll. Riders are taken through downtown Brooklyn, around Prospect Park and continue through hip and trendy Williamsburg and up to Astoria Park, Queen finishing in Central Park. Leave 7:30 am Finish 11 am.- 3 pm

55 mile: This route is more miles but since NYC is relatively flat terrain it makes for a manageable ride for someone who is looking to challenge him or herself. This route takes riders along the Brooklyn greenway with views of the Verrazano Bridge and Coney Island and connecting to with 35-mile finish. Leave 7 am Finish 11 am.-4pm

75 mile: This is not for armatures. From Canarsie Piers riders split and continue on the greenway and head north to Queens. The journey takes riders to Kissena Park where riders can take a loop around the Velodrome. Leave 6:30 am Finish 12-4 pm

100 mile: Experienced Riders Only. Picking up from the 75 mile route, riders continue north to the Bronx. This part of the ride is the most challenging because we saved the hills for the end. Riders enter northern Manhattan and take to the east side to get a view of Yankee Stadium and travel through historic Harlem. 6 am Finish 12-6 pm

For more information and to register, visit NYCCentury.org.
Sign up before August 21st and you’ll be eligible to use the express start on Ride Day. Register by July 3rd and you will be entered to win a Dahon folding bicycle!

More Flickr photos tagged with nyc century

2009 Tour de Bronx: Sunday October 18

The Tour de Bronx is the largest free cycling event in the country and gives riders the choice between a 25 mile and 40 mile route (and the choice of several starting locations and options to extend the ride). Since the Tour de Bronx offers cyclists of all skill levels a great ride it is no surprise that it is New York City’s largest free cycling event.

The Tour de Bronx starts in 3 months, 14 days, 15 hours on October 18th, so mark your calendars and register early.

Multiple Routes and Starting Locations to Choose From

The 25-Mile Ride:
A leisurely ride tailored to every age and skill level. You will ride at approximately 11 mph on flat, open stretches. This ride goes through the Bronx Greenway bike paths, historic districts, the Bronx shoreline, parklands and various neighborhoods. Ride marshals and police escort this route to help ensure comfort, and of course, safety. It’s a one-of-a-kind experience and a great way to see the Bronx.
* Please note that this ride is 35 miles if you choose the Riverdale start.

The 40-Mile Ride:
A significantly faster ride covering greater distance in the same amount of time. You will ride at approximately 15 mph on flat, open stretches. This ride ventures farther to City Island, SUNY Maritime College, and Orchard Beach. This ride is recommended for experienced cyclists who are comfortable riding in traffic. (There is no safety cell on this ride; children under 16 must be accompanied by an adult).
* Please note that this ride is 50 miles if you choose the Riverdale start.

Choose a Starting Point:
- Henry Hudson Park in Riverdale (8:15 am check-in)
- Muskrat Cove, Woodlawn Metro-North Station: (8:30 am check-in)
- New York Botanical Garden Metro North Station: (9 am check-in)
- Bronx County Building at 161 Street & Grand Concourse: (10 am check-in)
- Coop City to Brooklyn Botanical Garden (8 am Check-in)

Both the 25-mile and 40-mile routes leave from all four locations, but if you start in Riverdale, you will add 10 miles to the distance you ride.
More info and directions at the official Tour De Bronx site

For more information and to register, visit TourDeBronx.org.

More Flickr photos tagged with tour de bronx

2009 Tour de Brooklyn: Sunday June 7

Mark your calendars the Tour de Brooklyn is happening June 7th, 2009. Registration is open now

Bike Month in New York City – May 2009

May is Bike Month in NYC and there are plenty of bicycling events going on in and around New York City. BikeMonthNYC.org has the most comprehensive coverage, including an Event Calendar.

2009 Five Boro Bike Tour: Sunday May 3rd

New York’s Five Boro Bike Tour is the largest recreational cycling event in the United States. Every year on the first Sunday of May, over 30,000 riders participate in the 42 mile ride around New York City. The route, closed to automobile traffic, takes riders through all five boroughs of New York City, across five major bridges, and finally across New York Harbor on the Staten Island Ferry. It is a lot of fun for cyclists of all skill sets and highly recommended.

Register early ($48 before March 13), as they sold out last year almost a month in advance.Sold Out Please check the comments for those trying to sell or find tickets.

View the route map

Sunday, May 3rd, 2009 Rain or shine
6:30-7:45 a.m.: Tour lineup. Head toward Battery Park, in Lower Manhattan, and follow the marshals’ directions.

7:45-8:00 a.m.: Opening ceremonies with city officials and others at the start stage.

8:00 a.m.: The ride starts!

11:00 a.m.-5:00 p.m.: Festival at Fort Wadsworth, Staten Island, with finish at the Staten Island Ferry

• official Bike New York 5 Boro Bike Tour site
• 5 Boro Bike Tour Map
• 5 Boro Bike Tour Map for Google Earth
• 2008 5 Boro Bike Tour Photos

Grand Street Protected Bicycle Path

Streets Blog has confirmed that the existing Grand Street bike lane between Varick and Chrystie is being replaced with a protected bicycle path.   The bike path will be located on the far right of the street separated from traffic by a 3 foot curb and is the first cross town bike route separated from traffic.  More info in the DOT proposal (PDF).

Your Favorite Bike Blogs

A few of our favorite blogs on bikes and bicycling in New York City… please share yours in the comments

• Streets Blog livable streets activists and authoritative new source for news on the New York City’s bicycle network and bicycling advocacy
• Bike Blog comprehensive round up of New York City bike news and events from Michael Green
• Bike Snob NYC slightly sarcastic commentary of cycling in New York City and professional bike racing
• Bike Dummy “or how I learned to stop worrying and love my bike”
• Astoria Bike “about bikes and biking in New York City”
• This Just In from Bicycling Magazine news and product reviews
• Cyclelicio.us “journey of bicycle culture” from California
  
• Biking Bis racing and bike industry news
• All Over the Map collection of bike rides mapped from Bicycling Magazine and Trimble GPS
• Hub and Spokes  ”study about bicycle commuters in New York City”

Please share your favorites in the comments (should by bike or nyc related)

Summer Streets Photo Gallery

Photos taken during the Summer Streets events.

Three Saturdays in August, New York City had a 6.9 mile car-free path leading from the Brooklyn Bridge in Lower Manhattan to the East 72nd Street entrance of Central Park. The street closures occured from 7 a.m. to 1 p.m. on three consecutive Saturdays in August, the 9th, 16th and 23rd. The streets closed were Centre Street, Lafayette Street, 4th Avenue and Park Avenue.

• map and more info on summer streets

more pictures from flickr

Car-Free Summer Streets in August

For three Saturdays in August, New York City will have a 6.9 mile car-free path leading from the Brooklyn Bridge in Lower Manhattan to the East 72nd Street entrance of Central Park. The street closures will occur from 7 a.m. to 1 p.m. on three consecutive Saturdays in August, the 9th, 16th and 23rd. The streets to be closed are Centre Street, Lafayette Street, 4th Avenue and Park Avenue.

• Download the map from the DOT
• Interactive web map from DOT

from the DOT press release:
Mayor Michael R. Bloomberg and Department of Transportation (DOT) Commissioner Janette Sadik-Khan today announced Summer Streets, a new City program that will temporarily open a 6.9 mile car-free route from the Brooklyn Bridge to 72nd Street. Featuring connections to Central Park and other open spaces, Summer Streets will give New Yorkers unprecedented access to the streets for exercise and exploration from 7 a.m. to 1 p.m. on three consecutive Saturdays in August, the 9th, 16th and 23rd. Major cross-town streets will remain open for vehicles that need to cross the route. The Mayor and Commissioner Sadik-Khan were joined at the announcement by Parks & Recreation Commissioner Adrian Benepe, Manhattan Borough President Scott Stringer, Lance Armstrong and David Byrne.