Along the Route
The 40-mile, car-free Tour begins in Lower Manhattan (the Start line is at Franklin St. and Church St., with entrance points for each of the start waves running south along Church to Battery Park), heads north through the heart of Central Park, and continues on to Harlem and the Bronx before returning south along the East River on the FDR Drive. From there, cyclists cross into Queens and then into Brooklyn, where riders take over the Brooklyn-Queens Expressway before the heart-pumping climb up—and thrilling ride down—the breathtaking Verrazano-Narrows Bridge and into the Finish Festival on Staten Island. Click here to download a PDF version of the 2019 map. The 2020 map is coming soon!
Rest Areas, Toilets, & Water Stations
Four Rest Areas and four Water Stations located along the route provide cyclists with snacks and water. All Rest Areas and Water Stations feature toilets, water, and bike repair. Rest Areas include food, sponsorship activations, and entertainment.
Marshals & NYPD
Volunteer marshals and NYPD officers will be riding with you and stationed along the route to provide assistance and keep the Tour rolling safely and smoothly.
SAG (Support and Gear)
SAG vehicles will be stationed at each Rest Area and will trail the back of the pack. If you are running out of steam or fall too far behind, SAG will transport you and your bike to the Finish Festival.
Medical
Emergency medical technicians (EMTs), paramedics, and ambulances will be deployed along the route and stationed at Rest Areas to attend to medical needs.
Bike Repair
Bike repair will be provided at all Rest Areas, water stops, and the Start Area and Finish Festival. Labor is free, but there is a charge for parts. We strongly recommend that you bring an extra bike tube, and check your bike before the Tour.
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Entertainment
Musical acts, performance groups, and cheer zones will be scattered along the route to keep you going strong.
Information Tents
Information tents located at each Rest Area and the Finish Festival are your go-to resources for all questions and concerns. They also make great rendezvous spots if you get separated from your friends.
Recycling & Composting
The Tour (and Expo) have been certified sustainable by the Council for Responsible Sport. In keeping with our green goals, we provide recycling and composting stations at each Rest Area and at the Finish Festival.
Staten Island Ferry to Manhattan
Four free ferries per hour will take cyclists from Staten Island to Manhattan on a first-come, first-served basis. We suggest that those riders who are driving to the Tour park on Staten Island and take the ferry to the Start. Find more info here.
Photos
Cyclists will have the opportunity to purchase photos of themselves after the Tour, courtesy of MarathonFoto. In order to be identified in photos, be sure your bike plate and bib are visible.
Lost & Found
Check at information tents at Rest Areas and the Finish Festival for items lost along the way. No luck?
Contact us
Strava
Want to store the route on your phone? Here’s how:
1) Visit the route map on Strava. Be sure you have registered and are logged in.
2) Star the route by clicking the star next to the route name.
3) When you are ready to ride, open the app, select “Profile” and tap on “Routes.”
4) Find the TD Five Boro Bike Tour route and select “Use Route” to start your ride.
5) That’s it! Enjoy your five borough adventure.
Shortcut
Please note that the tail of the Tour will be traveling just over 6 miles per hour. Riders at the back of the pack may be directed to take a shortcut that bypasses the Astoria Park Rest Area and leads directly to the Con Ed Learning Center Rest Area, trimming four miles off the route.
Due to the street closure schedule, all riders must be on the Brooklyn Queens Expressway (BQE) by 2:00PM; otherwise, your Tour will end in Brooklyn at mile 28. Please be mindful of the time you spend at the Rest Areas. If you do not make it to the BQE in time, see “Leaving the Tour” below.
Leaving the Tour
If you need to leave the Tour for any reason, we recommend doing so at the following locations. If you leave the Tour, you will be riding with motorized traffic and will have to watch for cars and road hazards.
- Mile 14: York Ave. and 63rd St. (Manhattan) This is your last chance to exit the Tour in Manhattan. If you don’t want to continue, travel straight on 63rd St. after the Tour exits the FDR Drive. Do not take the lefthand turn onto the ramp of the Queensboro (59th St.) Bridge.
- Mile 27: Brooklyn Bridge Before the Tour enters the Brooklyn-Queens Expressway (BQE), you can leave the Tour at Old Fulton St. and Cadman Plaza West and take the Brooklyn Bridge bike path into downtown Manhattan. Marshals on the Brooklyn side will direct you. (This exit point is recommended for those traveling with children.)
- Subway The Tour passes near many subway stations. Bikes are allowed on the subway, but some unstaffed subway stations have turnstiles that do not accommodate bikes. Marshals and Information Tents at Rest Areas can provide more details on which stations to use. Visit www.mta.info for up-to-date info.