2008 Commerce Bank Five Boro Bike Tour

Approximately 30,000 cyclists participated in the Commerce Bank Five Boro Bike Tour - the largest recreational cycling event in the U.S. The Tour began in Manhattan and ran clockwise through the five boroughs on traffic-free roads. The ride concluded with a festival in Staten Island and a free return trip to Manhattan aboard the Staten Island Ferry.

The Tour started in Battery Park in Lower Manhattan. Taking advantage of car-free roads, it traveled north through the heart of Manhattan to Central Park and continued on to historic Harlem and the Bronx, returning south along the East River on the FDR Drive. From there it crossed into Queens and then Brooklyn, where cyclists took over the highway before making the thrilling climb up--and down--the Verrazano-Narrows Bridge. The Tour ended with a celebratory Festival on Staten Island. After enjoying the live entertainment, exhibits, and food concessions, riders took a free ride on the Staten Island Ferry back to Manhattan, completing the ultimate of New York experiences. The route map and an interactive photo tour are available Bike New York Web site.

Founded in 1977 with just 250 participants, this non-competitive ride has grown to involve some 30,000 cyclists and 1,500 volunteers, including fitness enthusiasts, families, and friends from around the globe. Because registration is limited to the first 30,000 applicants, riders are encouraged to sign up now, as the event is expected to close out well before May 4.

Bike New York's Bicycle Education Program is a primary beneficiary of Tour proceeds. Its offerings this year included a full schedule of Teach Your Child to Ride a Bike sessions for families, Savvy Cyclist classes for adults, bike commuting seminars, and trainings for educators and community leaders. All programs were free and focused on cycling skills and safety. Bike New York also produced smaller rides outside New York City, and cyclists could register for those events now as well.

Bike New York is a non-profit organization that promotes and encourages bicycling and bicycle safety through education, public events, and collaboration with community and government organizations. Best known as producer of the nation’s largest recreational cycling event, the Commerce Bank Five Boro Bike Tour, Bike New York also organizes smaller rides and runs a Bicycle Education Program offering free classes and workshops for adults and children.