How to Visit New York City by Bicycle

With spring and summer just around the corner, visitors and residents alike will be spending more time in the great outdoors of New York City. And one of the best ways to get around and see just how beautiful New York City is, is by bicycle. There are many bicycle trails all over New York City, from the north to the south and don't' forget the outer boroughs either. The view as you bicycle over the Brooklyn Bridge is spectacular. Lets take a bicycle tour of New York City over the bike trails and get a little one dimensional feel of what a three dimensional bicycle experience would be. There are guided tours for those who are not familiar with getting around in New York City and don't worry if you did not bring your bicycle with you, there are plenty of places where you can rent one. Make your New York vacation a bit different than the norm and don't forget the camera.

Riverside Park is on the west side of Manhattan, from 72nd Street to 158th Street. That is four miles where you can bike along the Hudson River, stop for a picnic lunch with a beautiful view of the New Jersey shore and pay a visit to Grant's Tomb, which is maintained by the National Park Service.

At the opposite end of the island, you can bicycle around the east side from 14th Street down to Wall Street by using the East River Park Bikeway. Once down in the Financial District, you can visit Battery Park, with the best views of the harbor and the Statue of Liberty, visit the South Street Seaport Museum and have lunch at one of their restaurants, tour the museum and visit the schooners. You can stop here, or really make a day of it by going over the Brooklyn Bridge. The view is one of a kind and since the Brooklyn Bridge, like most of the New York City Bridges, has a designated bicycle path, you can stop in the middle and take in a 360* panorama view of both Manhattan and Brooklyn and the Harbor.
When in Brooklyn, head over to the Brooklyn Heights Promenade for great views of Manhattan. There are great restaurants in Brooklyn Heights and you will need a break by now.

Most of the New York City parks in all the boroughs have bike paths or shut the roads to vehicular traffic during the day and leave them just for the bicycles. The perfect way to see Central Park, for instance, is by bicycle. Pack a picnic lunch and stretch out on the lawn in the Sheep's Meadow, or grab a snack from one of the parks many vendors, take a rest by the duck pond, and bike along to visit the many statues and memorials like Strawberry Fields.

You can get a map from The NYC Department of Transportation http://www.nyc.gov/html/dot/html/bikeped/bikemain.html web site that tells you everything you need to know about bicycling in New York City. You can also get information on how to get free helmets and bike racks.

The parks' department does a great job of keeping the parks in tip top shape and they are a pleasure to ride through. New York City is making a conscious effort to promote bicycle riding both for recreation and commuting, so look for more and more bicycle paths and trails. Give it a try, if even for just a short trip. You can get to see parts of New York City that most tourists miss.