Tag Archives: biking

Photo Highlights: 33,000 Take Over NYC Streets for 46th Annual TD Five Boro Bike Tour

33,000 cyclists gather in Lower Manhattan for the start of the 46th annual TD Five Boro Bike Tour © Karen Rubin/goingplacesfarandnear.com

By Karen Rubin, Travel Features Syndicate, goingplacesfarandner.com

Rain did not dampen spirits of the 33,000 riders, who joined the 46th annual TD Five Boro Bike Tour on May 5, thrilling in the freedom of biking 40 miles of city streets and bridges closed to vehicle traffic.

The riders came from all 50 states and 65 countries;  1700 riders were biking for charity, raising $1 million from the day’s event, making the TD Five Boro Bike Tour the largest charity bike ride in the world, Ken Podziba, Bike New York’s President and CEO, declared.

Ken Podziba, Bike New York’s President and CEO, greets the 33,000 riders who take part in the 46th annual TD Five Boro Bike Tour © Karen Rubin/goingplacesfarandnear.com

Along the way, riders get a taste of city’s neighborhoods, culture and quirks, with bands to represent each borough.  Along the route, bikers encounter the 1,500 cheerful volunteers who keep the route safe and pleasant, direct traffic come to bikers’ aid, man the many rest stops along the way, and cheer the riders on.

Achilles riders set out on the 40-mile TD Five Boro Bike Tour © Karen Rubin/goingplacesfarandnear.com

The ride is a celebration of biking – the economic, environmental, health, cultural and community benefits – with the cyclists coming together and literally taking over the streets. But is also an expression of advocacy for more protected bike lanes throughout the city.

Ydanis Rodriguez, Commissioner – NYC DOT Commissioner, said New York City is the safest city for cyclists and with 32 miles of protected bike lanes, the city has the largest network of all large cities. “Biking is good for the environment, good for the economy, good for health. We must continue to make New York City the best and safest for biking.”

Ydanis Rodriguez, Commissioner, NYC DOT Commissioner, said New York City is the safest city for cyclists © Karen Rubin/goingplacesfarandnear.com

But Brooklyn Councilman Lincoln Restler said,  “We are on record for most bike deaths. Our streets are not safe enough.”

And Councilmember Dale Brewer, former Manhattan Borough President, added, “We will keep fighting for protected lanes.” She also lauded Bike NYC’s mission of teaching children how to bike.

Bike New York offers free bike education programs for children and adults throughout the five boroughs – in 2020 alone, teaching more than 30,000 New Yorkers the skill. Bike New York organizes numerous annual events, of which the TD Five Boro Bike Tour is the largest and most ambitious.

NYS Senator John Liu presents proclamation to Bike New York CEO Ken Podziba © Karen Rubin/goingplacesfarandnear.com

Bike New York basically was created along with the Five Boro Bike Tour, when in 1977, American Youth Hostels and the NYC Board of Education initiated a high school training program that culminated in a challenge: 50 participating students were asked to pedal through all five boroughs in a single day. Known then as the Five Boro Challenge, it began 250 total riders, and developed into the Five Boro Bike Tour that each year on the first Sunday in May attracts 32,000 cyclists to experience the city in a very special way.

Its mission states, “Bike New York empowers New Yorkers to transform their lives and their communities through bicycling. Our vision is to increase ridership, to empower youth to lead healthy, productive lives, to remove barriers to cycling, and to advocate for and expand services to reach more New Yorkers.”

Here are photo highlights from the 2024 TD Five Boro Bike Tour:

33,000 cyclists gather in Lower Manhattan for the start of the 46th annual TD Five Boro Bike Tour © Karen Rubin/goingplacesfarandnear.com
A few of Bike New York’s Social Media ambassadors who collectively recruited 3500 riders to the 2024 TD Five Boro Bike Tour © Karen Rubin/goingplacesfarandnear.com
The NYPD’s contingent of riders in the 2024 TD Five Boro Bike Tour © Karen Rubin/goingplacesfarandnear.com
Ralph Bumbaca, Regional Vice President of TD Bank, the title sponsor of the Five Boro Bike Tour since 2007 © Karen Rubin/goingplacesfarandnear.com
Jumaane Williams, NYC Public Advocate: “Biking is a great form of transportation” © Karen Rubin/goingplacesfarandnear.com
And they’re off to ride 40 car-less miles through NYC’s five boroughs © Karen Rubin/goingplacesfarandnear.com
And they’re off to ride 40 car-less miles through NYC’s five boroughs © Karen Rubin/goingplacesfarandnear.com
And they’re off. Riding up 6th Avenue at the start of the 40-mile TD Five Boro Bike Tour © Karen Rubin/goingplacesfarandnear.com
Riders pass Radio City Music Hall on 6th Avenue, Manhattan © Karen Rubin/goingplacesfarandnear.com
Cheer NY greets riders outside TD Bank. © Karen Rubin/goingplacesfarandnear.com
Biking through Central Park, Manhattan © Karen Rubin/goingplacesfarandnear.com 
Undeterred by the forecast of rain, the 2024 TD Five Boro Bike Tour is a family affair © Karen Rubin/goingplacesfarandnear.com
Gospel singers welcome riders to Harlem © Karen Rubin/goingplacesfarandnear.com
Riders pause to enjoy the Gospel music in Harlem © Karen Rubin/goingplacesfarandnear.com 
Welcome to Harlem© Karen Rubin/goingplacesfarandnear.com
A Manhattan band sends the riders off to the Third Avenue Bridge © Karen Rubin/goingplacesfarandnear.com
Riders take over the Third Avenue Bridge © Karen Rubin/goingplacesfarandnear.com
Taking in the atmosphere in the Bronx © Karen Rubin/goingplacesfarandnear.com
 
Riding in the Bronx © Karen Rubin/goingplacesfarandnear
A band entertains riders in the Bronx © Karen Rubin/goingplacesfarandnear.com
 
Biking back into Manhattan © Karen Rubin/goingplacesfarandnear.com
For atmosphere, a favorite part of the Five Boro Bike Tour: biking the FDR © Karen Rubin/goingplacesfarandnear.com
The Street Beat Brass Band plays for riders in Manhattan © Karen Rubin/goingplacesfarandnear.com
Riding over the famed 59th Street Bridge from Manhattan to Queens © Karen Rubin/goingplacesfarandnear.com
A rare view of the iconic Silvercup sign © Karen Rubin/goingplacesfarandnear.com
The view from the 59th Street Bridge © Karen Rubin/goingplacesfarandnear.com
Aradia welcomes riders to Astoria, Queens © Karen Rubin/goingplacesfarandnear.com
Riding the waterfront Astoria Park between the Triborough and 59th Street bridges © Karen Rubin/goingplacesfarandnear.com
With 33,000 riders, many make an effort to distinguish themselves, a New York tradition © Karen Rubin/goingplacesfarandnear.com
The Five Boro Bike Tour is really a tour. Enjoying the view from Astoria Park, Queens © Karen Rubin/goingplacesfarandnear.com
Welcome to Brooklyn, which has changed its slogan to “Like No Other Place int eh World”” from “fuggedaboutit” (which we get to see when we leave the borough) © Karen Rubin/goingplacesfarandnear.com
Youngbloods’ Jazz c/o Shanbelle D. Jenkins greet riders to Brooklyn © Karen Rubin/goingplacesfarandnear.com
My favorite view of the Brooklyn Bridge as we ride through Brooklyn, but this year, the Empire State Building is hidden by fog © Karen Rubin/goingplacesfarandnear.com
 
Once you tackle the hardest climb, one mile to the highest point on the Verrazano Bridge, it’s downhill into the Finish Festival on Staten Island. I did it! © Karen Rubin/goingplacesfarandnear.com
Food and entertainment greet riders at the Finish Festival on Staten Island © Karen Rubin/goingplacesfarandnear.com
The four-mile ride from the festival to the Staten Island ferry (not counted in the 40 miles of the Bike Tour) offers some scenic views © Karen Rubin/goingplacesfarandnear.com
 
Feeling satisfied and accomplished, riders come off the Staten Island ferry. © Karen Rubin/goingplacesfarandnear.com

More information about programs, events, recycling a bicycle, resources, and volunteering are at Bike New York, 95 E 45th Street, New York NY 10017, info@bike.nyc. classes@bike.nyc, Bike.nyc.

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