Govind Tekale
The streets of New York City will transform this Sunday as 32,000 cyclists take over for the 47th annual TD Five Boro Bike Tour. The massive event, happening May 4, will send riders on a 40-mile journey through all five boroughs on completely car-free streets.
“The TD Five Boro Bike Tour is a celebration of New York City and the transformative power of cycling,” said Ken Podziba, CEO of Bike New York. “On this one special day each year, 32,000 cyclists from around the world—of all skill levels—come together to experience the thrill of riding 40 car-free miles through the greatest city on Earth.”
Recently ranked by USA Today as the top road cycling event in the country, the tour starts in Lower Manhattan, heads north to the Bronx, loops back through Manhattan, crosses into Queens and Brooklyn, and finishes with a ride over the Verrazzano-Narrows Bridge to Staten Island.
The first wave of cyclists will begin at 7:30 a.m. Sunday morning, with multiple waves departing throughout the morning.
Transit Changes and Road Closures
The MTA has announced significant traffic modifications to accommodate the event. The Verrazzano-Narrows Bridge will close its Staten Island-bound lower level from 12:01 a.m. until 7:00 p.m. on Sunday. Other closures include one Brooklyn-bound lane on the lower level, the Bay Street exit, and several entrance ramps.
At the Robert F. Kennedy Bridge, the exit ramp to the southbound FDR Drive will close from approximately 7:00 a.m. to 1:00 p.m., forcing all southbound traffic to exit via the 2nd Avenue-East 125th Street ramp.
The Hugh L. Carey Tunnel will see closures of the approach to the westbound Gowanus/BQE from about 9:00 a.m. to 4:00 p.m., with traffic diverted to Hamilton Avenue. The Trinity Place exit in Manhattan will also close during this time.
Drivers should expect serious delays and plan alternate routes if traveling on Sunday.
Public Transportation Options
The MTA strongly encourages using public transportation on tour day. Metro-North and the Long Island Rail Road are suspending bicycle restrictions to accommodate participants. Free parking is available at many stations on Sundays, though riders should check signage carefully.
For subway riders with bikes, the MTA recommends using specific stations that can better handle bicycles, including Brooklyn Bridge-City Hall, Bowling Green (northbound), Chambers Street, Cortlandt Street, and South Ferry.
Cyclists should avoid stations poorly equipped for bikes, including Rector Street, Fulton Street, Wall Street, Park Place, Bowling Green (southbound), and Whitehall Street.
When bringing bikes on the subway, cyclists must tap their OMNY card or other payment while a station agent watches, then enter through service gates once activated by the agent. For safety, bikes should be carried on stairs and walked through stations.
Bus routes across all five boroughs will operate with detours and diversions due to street closures.
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More Than Just a Ride
The tour serves as the primary fundraiser for Bike New York, a non-profit organization that provides free bike education, advocacy, and community outreach programs throughout the city.
In 2022, Bike New York taught bike riding and safety skills to more than 20,000 kids and adults through both in-person and virtual classrooms. The organization runs programs like “Get Kids Biking” and the “Bike Path” program, which provides job training for formerly incarcerated individuals.
The event has also become a platform for other charitable causes. Organizations like Ronald McDonald House New York, BronxWorks, and the Breast Cancer Research Foundation form teams to raise funds and awareness for their missions.
Spectators are encouraged to line the route and cheer on participants as they make their way through the city’s diverse neighborhoods.
For full details on street closures, New Yorkers can visit nyc.gov/dot, while transit updates are available through the MTA app. Drivers can sign up for email and text alerts from MTA Bridges and Tunnels for the latest traffic information.
