If the New York City Marathon is an iconic event for runners from all over the world, the TD Five Boro Bike Tour has become that same kind of event for cyclists. The famous bike ride is organized by Bike New York. For 25 years, the company has been supporting a community of people who can’t imagine their lives without their two-wheeled friends. During this time, the charitable organization has not only united many people but has also grown. Various training programs, tours, events, and projects have made it indispensable for New Yorkers. So, it’s worth getting to know this renowned organization better. More at i-new-york.
The TD Five Boro Bike Tour
The history of Bike New York is inextricably linked with the TD FIVE Boro Bike Tour. And to better understand the company, one must talk about the famous bike tour. It all began in the winter of 1977, when a group of strangers came together around a common idea. At that time in New York, as in other major cities, hostel tours were extremely popular. Young people were eager to gain new experiences and traveled between different locations on foot or by bicycle. And they stayed, of course, in hostels. This movement gained a fan base, and the most active among them created American Youth Hostels. Another active organization in the big city was the NYC Board of Education. A common goal for both entities was to ensure the safety of cyclists. That’s when Sal Cirami, Eric Prager, Steve Bauman, and other enthusiasts took up the cause.
The program included safety and bike repair training, and the surprise was a ride through the five boroughs of New York City. The team carefully handled the logistics and named the tour the Five Boro Challenge. This was no surprise, as participants had to ride 80 miles and visit Manhattan, the Bronx, Queens, Brooklyn, and Staten Island. The event was organized for high school students, but they were also joined by members of cycling clubs. So, there were 250 of them in total, and the bike tour was held in early June. Although the active youth took on the organization of this event, everything was a bit chaotic. The event had only one sponsor who provided food and water at a rest stop, city traffic was not closed off, participation was free, and the cyclists had a police escort.
Despite the fact that the Five Boro Challenge was not intended to be a regular event, the bike tour was a huge hit with the city’s residents. As the ride progressed, residents from different boroughs joined the participants, people happily greeted the cyclists, and watched them with fascination. This initiative continued for many years with the support of Mayor Ed Koch. A year later, the ride was repeated. However, this time the distance had to be shortened to 40 miles, the event was renamed to its current title, and the number of participants increased to 3,000. Each year, the TD Five Boro Bike Tour became more and more popular. The event attracted sponsors, and many city agencies helped with the organization. Word of the tour spread far beyond the city and the country, so the team settled on a cap of 32,000 participants. In 1999, American Youth Hostels realized that this project needed more attention. And so, the organization Bike New York was born, taking up the torch.
About the Organization
Bike New York was established in 2000 when it took over the responsibilities of organizing the TD Five Boro Bike Tour. Since then, the company has grown significantly and expanded its influence. The organization became a non-profit and began to engage in a huge number of diverse projects. If in 1977 the team set out to unite cyclists, now it attracts anyone who wants to learn something new. The organization is part of the League of American Bicyclists and makes its own contribution to the growth of this culture. A large team, led by President and CEO Kenneth Podziba, manages this entire system. Advocacy, education, event management, media relations, community engagement—these and many other issues are handled by the Bike New York team.
The organization’s work has long since expanded beyond the bike tour. The company has established New York as a leading city for cycling culture. The most important advantage of the company is, of course, its charitable nature. It collaborates with various institutions, attracts sponsors, and raises funds to improve conditions in the city. We must not forget the opportunities that Bike New York creates for city residents. Its goals are to ensure a safe cycling network in New York City, create a friendly environment for cyclists, attract investment in the development of this sphere, change the life of the community through riding, and shape the next generation of community members. This is far from a complete list of tasks the team sets for itself. What’s more, it works every day so that everyone can see the results now and appreciate the organization’s long-term contributions.
And it’s impossible not to talk about the transformation of the TD Five Boro Bike Tour. The organization holds the event every year on the first Sunday of May. It allows them to raise funds for community-helping projects, involve various institutions in the event, and throw a celebration for the cycling community. Participation in the event now requires a fee and includes several registration tiers. For these contributions, everyone can receive merch, the privilege of starting in the first wave, the opportunity to join the post-ride festival, and other bonuses. This is how, after many years, a great initiative became even more impactful. And it provides the impetus for the development of other projects.
Projects
Bike New York is successfully developing in various directions. Some charitable events make others possible, and the team has countless interesting initiatives under its belt.
It’s worth starting with events for active cyclists. In addition to the famous TD Five Boro Bike Tour, everyone can join two other routes: the Discover Hudson Valley Ride and the Twin Lights Ride, as well as local community rides. The first includes 5 distance options, from 15 miles all the way to 100. It starts and ends at Victor C. Waryas Park. The next tour offers the same distances, but they take place along the incredible Jersey Shore. This option connects cyclists with nature as far as possible from the hustle and bustle of the city. And the local rides explore New York and its surroundings and take place on various dates.
Bike New York can boast the largest free bicycle education system in the world. A professional team has created countless courses for riders of all ages. You can choose online offerings and learn through videos, books, and films. However, the most interesting part is the in-person classes. Riding on a bike path, riding in the city, winter riding, bike maintenance, and many other classes are offered by the organization’s instructors. What’s more, the heads of various departments enjoy teaching students themselves, as it is a special event for them.
The Bike Path program also deserves attention. It offers training to individuals who have been previously involved in the justice system. The team helps them become certified bike mechanics and find employment. The course lasts three weeks, during which students acquire all the necessary skills. And, of course, the program is funded by Bike New York donors. Another company initiative is Recycle-A-Bicycle. It connects cyclists from all over the city by allowing them to pass on their bikes to one another. Anyone can donate a bicycle to the organization, and people looking for a bike can choose one for themselves.
In addition to planned events, Bike New York advocates for the community’s interests every day. The organization opens new bike routes, works on improving various programs, involves sponsors and city residents in its activities, and spreads its principles around the world.
Guiding Principles
Bike New York began its work to teach schoolchildren how to ride a bicycle safely. Over the more than 45 years of the TD Five Boro Tour’s existence and 25 years of the charitable organization’s activity, the significance of these entities has grown incredibly. Suffice it to say that this bike tour is one of the most popular in the world, and the company oversees many projects and makes its own contribution to the life of New York City. So, what compels the team to work so tirelessly?
First and foremost, it’s about caring for people. The organization’s creators, as well as its current leaders, care for the residents of the city, the country, and guests from abroad. The team creates the best courses for New Yorkers, offers various activities, and participates in organizing celebrations. An important point is that residents of the metropolis never tire of thanking the staff and are happy to share heartwarming stories. Thanks to the team, adults master new skills, and children learn the basics of riding. And for visitors, the organization arranges incredible tours of the best places in New York.
The team’s responsibility is also a crucial point. It not only conducts various events but also engages in charity. This makes it possible to organize large-scale bike tours and arrange free training and other initiatives. The company also cares about the environment and makes the impossible possible. A good example is the TD Five Boro Bike Tour, which is certified as an environmentally conscious event.
And, of course, Bike New York keeps up with societal demands and is a modern company. Collaboration with the media, engaging sponsors, communication with a large number of various institutions, creating merch, and other aspects bring the organization closer to the new generation. And it can boast over 32,000 followers on Instagram, 50,000 followers on Facebook, and an equally large audience on Twitter, YouTube, and other social media platforms.