u-urban@cca-unix.UUCP (Urban Software Co[John Lynn Roseman]) (04/17/84)
The annual Citibank/AYH Five Boro Bike Tour is scheduled for Sunday April 29. This tour gives you the rare opportunity of driving through all 5 New York City boroughs on streets with NO cars on them. This is the only chance most of us have to ride down the middle of the FDR Drive and across the Verazzano Narrows Bridges. In good weather, over 15,000 people of all ages take part in this entertaining event, which is arguably the best way to see New York City. The line of bikes stretches for miles, and the pace at the front is reasonably fast. But this is a tour, not a race--if you go too fast you get ahead of the police blockades and have to deal with the cars. There are usually three scheduled picnic/party/rest stops in parks along the way (Central Park, Prospect Park and a park on the East River in Queens). You can bring drink and food, or buy it at one of the markets along the way. The tour route is about 35 miles long, and it can take most of the day. Don't worry too much about not being in shape, the pace at the back of the tour is pretty leisurely and you can stop as often as you want. If you or your bike breaks down, you can get on a nearby subway or get a free ride from the National Guard, who follow the tour with buses and trucks. (In fact, you can get off the tour whenever you want.) The official registration fee is $2.00, which you can send to American Youth Hostels, 132 Spring Street, Room 5, NY, NY 10012. If you register, you get an orange safety vest. If you don't register, you don't get the orange vest. The organizers have made special arrangements with local transit authorities to let people with bikes onto the trains, so you won't have any trouble getting into the city. The official starting time is 7:30AM at Battery Park in lower Manhattan, but the back of the tour takes a while to get going. If you sleep late, you may be able to join the tour along the way-- the route is usually straight up Sixth Avenue through Central Park, Harlem, through a few blocks in the South Bronx, down the FDR and over the 59th Street Bridge, through Queens, Brooklyn and Staten Island, finishing with a free ride on the Staten Island Ferry. You will see some real interesting neighborhoods along the way, but the trip is actually quite safe because there are no cars and 15,000+ bikes. ----- John Lynn Roseman Urban Software Corp.
harris@uiuccsb.UUCP (04/25/84)
#R:cca-unix:-21400:uiuccsb:16200025:000:1008 uiuccsb!harris Apr 25 01:00:00 1984 The 'tour' is definately worth going on - once (more if you're really into crowds). I had an excellent time on it a couple of years ago. It was a fun way to see New York. The sight of 12000 bicyclists lined up at the start was quite something. However, a few points should be emphasized: As you said, it is NOT a race. It was impossible to maintain any consistent pace over 5 mph due to the crowds, and there were frequent waiting periods while some traffic jam (of bicyclists!) or another cleared. Also, it took quite a while for a spot on the ferry to open up for the trip back to Battery Park. Back to the plus side, though - Riding over the Verrazano Narrows bridge was quite a thrill! And riding down normally bumper to bumper streets with nothing but bicycles around was lots of fun. Take some snacks, a tube of sun-tan lotion, plenty of patience, and have a good time! By the way, it took 12 hours for my friend and I to do the ride, and thats not because I ride slowly! Jon Harris