Thursday, January 07, 2016
Cycling is now more popular than ever in New York City, with the number of cyclists across the five boroughs increasing more than twofold since 2000. An additional 250 miles of bike lanes have been opened over the past six years, meaning cyclists can now make the most of about 700 miles of dedicated tracks across the city.
 
This summer, a new programme will be launched providing 10,000 bicycles at more than 600 stations, which will be available to use for short rides in exchange for a small fee.
 
Everyone from novices to seasoned cyclists can hire a bike and embark on a pedal-powered tour of the most famous sights and attractions that New York City has to offer.

 
Where to rent bikes
Bicycle hire is available at many locations in New York City, particularly in popular tourist areas. Among the best-known companies offering this service is Central Park Bike Ride, which provides a choice of more than 200 bicycles for all ages, as well as accessories such as baby seats. The firm is based one block from Central Park, at 117 West 58th Street.
 
Visitors exploring New York this year will also have the option of renting a bicycle from Bike and Roll, which operates at locations including Pier 84 at Hudson River Park, Battery Park and the Brooklyn Bridge.
 
Other rental companies include Blazing Saddles, which is based at Pier 17 at the South Street Seaport and Pier 78 on the Hudson River Greenway, and City Bike Rentals, which visitors will find in Central Park.
 
Bicycle hire is also available from local stores such as the Waterfront Bicycle Shop, which is located in Manhattan's West Village at the end of Christopher Street. Rates start from $10 (£6.30) for the first hour, with a map, a lock and an optional basket included.

 
Where to ride
Central Park is one of New York City's most famous tourist attractions and is an ideal location to explore on two wheels. The park offers easy terrain and allows cyclists to design their own route based on personal preferences. During a bike tour of the park, visitors can stop off at attractions such as Bethesda Fountain, Central Park Zoo, Bow Bridge and the Conservatory Gardens.
 
Arguably the most popular location of all for keen cyclists in New York is the Manhattan Waterfront Greenway, a dedicated bike circuit that runs for 32 miles around the perimeter of the island of Manhattan. There are many sights to take in and places to visit along the way, including Ellis Island, Liberty State Park and several museums, restaurants and historical buildings.
 
Another memorable experience for cyclists in the Big Apple is riding the Brooklyn Bridge, which features a traffic-free walkway for pedestrians and cyclists. Along this route, sightseers can spy some of the city's iconic landmarks, such as the Statue of Liberty and the skyscrapers that dominate the Manhattan skyline.

 
Guided tours
Cyclists can choose to explore New York under their own steam or alternatively sign up for a guided tour.
 
Services are available from firms such as Central Park Bike Tours, which claims to be the leading company of its kind in the city. Itineraries are available in various areas, from Harlem and Brooklyn to the bustling heart of Manhattan, where stops include Times Square, the Flatiron Building and Washington Square Park.
 
Bike the Big Apple invites its customers to see the "real" New York, looking beyond the skyscrapers from the perspective of a local. Among the company's new offerings for 2012 is a tour of the Bronx, which shows how this often forgotten borough has the potential to surprise. Other excursions are designed to showcase the "unseen delights" of northern Manhattan and the food, religious cultures and neighbourhoods that define Brooklyn.
 
With Bike and Roll, cyclists can enjoy memorable experiences such as riding through Central Park, along Fifth Avenue and to Rockefeller Center at night. The company also offers rides to the 9/11 Memorial, taking in sights like the Empire State Building and the Statue of Liberty along the way.