New York City & Long Island

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New York City

In October 2007, New York City earned the prestige of winning Bronze level status in the League of American Bicyclist’s Bicycle Friendly Communities rankings. The League reports:
“New York is the most populous Bicycle Friendly Community and it stands as an example of what can be done with good planning, strong advocates, and forward-thinking political leadership. The city’s dedication can be seen in the efforts to study and reduce crashes and fatalities, improvements to the network connectivity, the addition of bicycle parking throughout the city, and a three-year plan to add 200 miles of on-street bicycle facilities. In addition, the city has increased efforts to improve motorists and cyclists education.” [Source: League of American Bicyclists]

Long Island

“Long Island is home to beautiful white sand beaches, scenic harbors, pine barren wilderness, and quaint villages. Long Island is also known for its large expanse of suburbia with extensive shopping and residential areas where nearly three million people live, work and play. There are many existing bicycle and walking opportunities throughout Long Island and additional facilities are in the process of being built, designed, and planned.” [Source: NYSDOT Region 10 (Nassau and Suffolk counties)]

Regional Bicycle Clubs/Organizations

Bike New York—NYC
Century Road Club Association – NYC
Concerned Long Island Mountain Bicyclist – CLIMB
Ebikes New York City
Fast and Fabulous Cycling Club – NYC
Five Borough Bicycle Club – 5BBC
Huntington Bicycle Club – LI
Kissena Cycling Club- NYC
Long Island Bicycle Club – LIBC
Massapequa Park Bicycle Club—LI
Metro Area Recumbent Society – NYC
New York Bike Messenger Association
New York Adventure Racing Association
New York Cycle Club – NYCC
New York City Mountain Bicycling Association
Paumonok Bicycle Advocacy Group (LI)
Recycle-A-Bicycle – NYC
Shorewalkers – NYC
Staten Island Bicycling Association – SIBA
Suffolk Bicycle Riders – SBRA
Transportation Alternatives—NYC
Weekday Cyclists in NYC
Westchester Cycle Club
Westchester Mountain Biking Association

Other Local Rides, Maps, and Cue Sheets

Bike Hudson Valley

A veritable cache of cue sheets, maps, ride descriptions and trip reports for specific routes and variations throughout the Hudson Valley and New York City, including a multi-day route from NYC to Albany. Highly recommended.

Trail Finder, your guide to 100+ multi-use trails in New York State (Parks & Trails New York).
NYCC Ride Library

Curated by the New York Cycle Club, this site features number of quality rides that offer scenic, bicycle friendly routes for riders of all levels. All offer cyclists to the opportunity to fully explore New York’s wonderfully diverse region, including NYC, Long Island, NJ/Rockland Co, Upstate, and Westchester/CT.

Hudson River Greenway: The Hudson River Greenway in New York, an ECG trail, allows people to travel and exercise safely away from Manhattan traffic.
Ride the City An interactive web service that that uses the NYC Bicycle Map to help cyclists plan safe routes to their destinations.
NYCDOT Cycling Maps: Download complete maps or insets; also provides maps and options for specific bridge crossings.
NYC Bike Maps, New York City’s bike paths, Bike Lanes and Greenways mapped by borough.
NYC Department of Transportation—Bicycle Information
NYSDOT Long Island Bikeway & Trailways Map

This comprehensive bicycle and pedestrian map, produced by NYSDOT Region 10, Long Island, provides information about the hundreds of miles of biking and walking facilities throughout Nassau and Suffolk counties, as well as safety guidelines, shared-path/route/trailway descriptions, bicycling and pedestrian resources, related transit and Long Island Rail Road stations with enclosed bike lockers.

Long Island Mountain Bike Trails

Including maps, descriptions, and current trail status, courtesy of Concerned Long Island Mountain Bicyclists (CLIMB).

Greenway Maps & Publications, for New York City and Long Island, courtesy of the NYC Department of Parks and Recreation.
Biking Rules, a new ‘Street Code’ for NYC cyclists.

Guided & Supported Tours in the Region

Five Boro Bike Tour

America’s largest one-day bike tour drawing upwards of 40,000 participants each year, it remains one of the most popular cycling events in New York’s cycling history. “Taking place the first Sunday in May each year, the adventure starts in Lower Manhattan. The ride head north through the heart of Manhattan to Central Park and continue on to historic Harlem and the Bronx, returning south along the East River on the FDR Drive. From there it crosses into Queens and then Brooklyn, where cyclists take over the highway before making the thrilling climb up-and-down the Verrazano-Narrows Bridge to Staten Island. The route is 42 miles, mostly flat except for the bridges.”

Transportation Alternatives

TA hosts a number of signature events designed to promote cycling in New York City, including Tour de Brooklyn, Tour de Bronx, Tour de Queens, and the perennial favorite, NYC Century Bike Tour.

Long Island Harbors Ride: Explores the island’s famed North Shore.
Henry Hudson Ride:

This commemorates the 400-year anniversary of Henry Hudson’s voyage up the beautiful river that now bears his name by taking a boat ride and a bike ride through the Highlands and Palisade, biking from Bear Mountain to NYC.

Twin Lights Ride:

Bike New York brings invites cyclists travel the back roads of Monmouth County, New Jersey, starting and ending near a landmark lighthouse.

Escape New York Century, an annual event hosted by the New York Cycling Club
Parks & Trails New York: Great Hudson Valley Pedal

Overnight Lodging, Restaurants, Parks and Attractions

Empire State Bed and Breakfast Association (ESBBA)
New York State Hospitality & Tourism Association

Area Partners: Regional Tourism Resources

Cyclotour Guide Books
I LOVE NY Official NY Tourism Website: New York City
I LOVE NY Official NY Tourism Website: Long Island
NYS Office of Parks, Recreation, and Historical Preservation
NYS Department of Environmental Conservation