New York City Bicycling

Packs of cyclists navigate the wide roads of Park Drive, a 6 mi. circular loop in Central Park. The road is car-free Monday-Thursday 10am-3pm and 7-10pm, Friday 10am-3pm, and Friday 7pm until Monday 6am. Up the west side of Manhattan, the Hudson River bike trail beginning in Battery Park is also popular. Other excellent places to cycle include the well-paved paths of Pelham Bay Park in the Bronx and the unadorned roads of Brooklyn’s Prospect Park. If you must leave your bike unattended, use a strong “U” lock. Thieves laugh at (and then cut through) chain locks. Don’t leave quick-release items unattended; you will find them very quickly released. If you’re in the area, don’t miss the Five Borough Bike Ride sponsored by Bike New York (☎212-932-2453; www.bikenewyork.org) in May. This bike ride through all five boroughs on traffic-free roads, alongside 28,000 other cyclists, is a two-decade springtime tradition. Visit www.transalt.org for maps and suggested bicycle routes throughout the city.

Metro Bicycle Stores (☎212-427-4450; www.metrobicycles.com), on Lexington Ave. at 88th St. 7 convenient locations throughout the city, including Canal Street Bicycles at 417 Canal St. and Midtown Bicycles at 360 W 47th St. Entry-level mountain bikes and hybrids. $7 per hr., $35 per day, $45 overnight. Helmet rental $2.50 per bike. Daily rentals due back 30min. before store closes; overnight rentals next day at 10am. Credit card and valid ID required. All stores have different hours; consult website. Lexington Ave. location open spring/summer M-Sa 9:30am-6:30pm (Th until 7pm), Su 9:30am-6pm. Consult website for low-season hours.
Pedal Pushers, 1306 2nd Ave. (☎212-288-5592; www.pedalpusherbikeshop.com), at E 69th St. S 6 to 68th St. Bikes $6 per hr., $25 per day. Helmet extra $4 per day, or free with online coupon. Rents baby seats, child-pedal trailers, and locks. Central Park audio tours ($10). For information on guided bike tours, see www.bikethebigapple.com Rentals require a major credit card. Open M and W-Su 10am-6pm.