What Is New York City's Five Boro Bike Tour?

Riding a bicycle through the streets of New York City can be an arduous task on a given day, especially during rush hour. But imagine a day where you can strap on your helmet and pedal throughout the five boroughs without having to worry about pedestrians darting from sidewalk to sidewalk or a slew of cars whizzing in and out of each other.

Begun in 1977 by American Youth Hostels and the New York City Department of Education as a means to promote bicycle safety among the city’s schoolchildren, the Five Boro Bike Tour takes place on the first Sunday each May.

Some 32,000 cyclists from around the country and world ranging in skill levels take to the streets of the Big Apple, void of cars and pedestrians. “For one day, the roads are yours, the bridges are yours, the city is yours.”

Not only does the Five Boro Bike Tour provide riders with a carefree 40-mile ride through the city, it also educates. In conjunction with the City of New York, the Five Boro Bike Tour is the largest charitable bike ride in the United States with proceeds going toward their free bike education programs. In 2016, Bike New York taught cycling skills to more than 17,000 New Yorkers.