On Sunday morning, more than 30,000 cyclists will experience New York City from a perspective unlike any other: pedaling down 42 miles of car-free streets through all five boroughs, taking in views of iconic landmarks like the Empire State building, Brooklyn Bridge, historic Harlem, and the Statue of Liberty.

Taking place the first Sunday in May each year, the adventure starts in Lower Manhattan. The ride heads north through the heart of Manhattan into Central Park and continues on to historic Harlem and the Bronx, returning south along the East River on the FDR Drive. From there it crosses into Queens and then Brooklyn, where cyclists take over the highway before making the thrilling climb up—and down—the Verrazano-Narrows Bridge to Staten Island. The route is 42 miles, mostly flat except for the bridges.

Police advised drivers to avoid the Verrazano-Narrows Bridge, which will be partially closed Sunday until 6 p.m. After that, travel on the bridge will be fully restored.

Both the Staten Island-bound and Brooklyn-bound lower levels of the Verrazano-Narrows Bridge will close to car traffic at midnight, with two of the Brooklyn-bound lanes opening at 8 a.m. and the Staten Island-bound lanes opening at 6 p.m. Traffic heading towards Brooklyn at the Brooklyn-Battery Tunnel will be diverted to Hamilton Avenue from 10 a.m, to 3:30 p.m., and the ramp to the Robert F. Kennedy Bridge off the FDR Drive will be closed from 8 a.m. until noon, with all Manhattan-bound traffic directed to exit at 125th Street.

The New York City Department of Transportation (DOT) today advised that rolling street, bridge and highway closures will occur on Sunday, May 6 throughout the city to facilitate the annual TD Bank Five Boro Bike Tour. Rolling street closures will begin at 6:30 a.m. ahead of the event’s 7:45 a.m. start time in Lower Manhattan and continue along the 42-mile route through Manhattan, the Bronx, Queens and Brooklyn before concluding in Staten Island at 6 p.m.

Closures will affect portions of Church Street, Sixth Avenue, Central Park, Adam Clayton Powell Boulevard, the Madison Avenue Bridge, the Third Avenue Bridge, the FDR Drive, the Queensboro Bridge, the Pulaski Bridge, the Brooklyn-Queens Expressway, the Gowanus Expressway, the Belt Parkway, the Verrazano-Narrows Bridge and Bay Street, and other locations. The Staten Island Ferry will operate with additional boats to accommodate the Tour.

Five Boro Bike Tour Bridge/Highway/Street/Park Closures

Bridge and Highway Closures

On Sunday, May 1, the following bridges and highways will be closed to motorists during the times noted:

Manhattan to Bronx

• Madison Avenue Bridge (Bronx bound): 7:30 a.m. to 12:15 p.m.
• 3rd Avenue Bridge (Manhattan bound): 7:30 a.m. to 12:15 p.m.

Manhattan

• FDR Drive Southbound (3rd Avenue Bridge to 63rd Street): 7:30 a.m. to 1 p.m.
• Queensboro Bridge (Manhattan-bound, upper-level): 8 a.m. to 1:15 p.m.

Queens to Brooklyn

• Pulaski Bridge (Southbound to Brooklyn): 8:45 a.m. – 1:30 p.m.

Brooklyn

• BQE Westbound lanes (Furman Street to Gowanus Expressway): 9:00 a.m. – 3:30 p.m.
• Gowanus Expressway Southbound (BQE to Verrazano Bridge) 9:15 a.m. – 3:30 p.m.

Brooklyn to Staten Island

• Verrazano-Narrows Bridge (Westbound lower level to Staten Island): Midnight to 6:00 p.m.
• Verrazano-Narrows Bridge (Westbound upper level to Staten Island): Only accessible from street; Access from BQE closes around 9:00 a.m. to 6:00 p.m. Note: the Verrazano-Narrows Bridge (Eastbound lower and upper levels to Brooklyn) will remain open, there are no changes

Street Closures

Manhattan Street Closures

On Sunday, May 6, the following streets in Manhattan will be closed intermittently to motorists from 6:00 a.m. to 1 p.m. for the annual Five Boro Bike Tour:

• Greenwich Street from Battery Park to Trinity Place
• Trinity Place from Greenwich to Church streets
• Church Street from Trinity Place to Franklin Street
• 6th Avenue from Franklin to 59th streets
• 7th Avenue (Adam Clayton Powell Jr. Boulevard) from 110th (Central Park) to 135th streets
• 135th Street from 7th Avenue (Adam. Clayton Powell Jr. Boulevard) to the Madison Avenue Bridge
• 116th Street from FDR Drive (Southbound) to Pleasant Avenue; Pleasant Avenue from 116th to 114th streets
• York Avenue at 63rd Street (entrance ramp to the Queensboro Bridge)
• 63rd Street from FDR Drive to Second Avenue

Bronx Street Closures

On Sunday, May 6, the following street in the Bronx will be closed to motorists from 7:30 a.m. to 12:15 p.m. for the annual Five Boro Bike Tour:

• 138th Street between the Madison Avenue Bridge and the Third Avenue Bridge

Queens Street Closures

On Sunday, May 6, the following streets in Queens will be closed intermittently to motorists from 8 a.m. to 1:30 p.m. for the annual Five Boro Bike Tour:

• 21st Street from Queens Plaza North to Hoyt Avenue
• Hoyt Avenue from 21st to 19th streets (Astoria Park)
• Shore Boulevard from Astoria Park South to Ditmars Boulevard
• Astoria Park South from Shore Boulevard to 14th Street
• 14th Street from Astoria Park South to 31st Avenue
• 31st Avenue from 14th Street to Vernon Boulevard
• Queens Plaza South from 34th Street to Vernon Boulevard
• Vernon Boulevard from 31st Avenue to 44th Drive
• 44th Drive from Vernon Boulevard to 11th Street
• 11th Street from 44th Drive to the Pulaski Bridge

Brooklyn Street Closures

On Sunday, May 6, the following streets in Brooklyn will be closed intermittently to motorists from 9:00 a.m. to 3:30 p.m. for the annual Five Boro Bike Tour:

• McGuinness Boulevard from Pulaski Bridge to Greenpoint Avenue
• Greenpoint Avenue from McGuinness Boulevard to Franklin Street
• Franklin Street from Greenpoint Avenue to Kent Avenue
• Kent Avenue from Franklin Street to Kent Avenue and Clymer Street
• Kent Avenue and Clymer Street to Williamsburg Street West
• Williamsburg Street West from Kent Avenue to Flushing Avenue
• Flushing Avenue from Williamsburg Street West to Navy Street
• Navy Street from Flushing Avenue to York Street
• York Street from Navy Street to Gold Street
• Gold Street from York Street to Front Street
• Front Street from Gold Street to Old Fulton Street (Cadman Plaza)
• Old Fulton Street (Cadman Plaza) from Front Street to Furman Street
• Furman Street from Old Fulton Street to Atlantic Avenue
• Atlantic Avenue from Furman Street to Columbia Street
• Columbia Street from Atlantic Avenue to the BQE Entrance Ramp

Staten Island Street Closures

On Sunday, May 6, the following streets in Staten Island will be closed intermittently to motorists from 11 a.m. to 6 p.m. for the annual Five Boro Bike Tour:

• Bay Street from Fort Wadsworth to Hylan Boulevard
• Hylan Boulevard from Bay Street to Edgewater Street
• Edgewater Street from Bay Street to Front Street
• Bay Street from Edgewater Street to Front Street
• Front Street from Bay Street to Murray Hulbert Avenue
• Murray Hulbert Avenue from Front Street to Hannah Street
• Hannah Street from Murray Hulbert Avenue to Bay Street
• Bay Street from Hannah Street to St. George/Staten Island Ferry Terminal

City Parks

On Sunday, May 6, the following parks will be impacted by the annual Five Boro Bike Tour. Some roadways and paths will be closed during the times noted:

• Battery Park, Manhattan: 5:30 a.m. to 10 a.m.
• Central Park, East Park Drive from 59th Street to 110th Street, Manhattan: 7 a.m. to 11:30 a.m.
• Astoria Park, Queens: 8 a.m. to 2:30 p.m.
• Brooklyn Bridge Park, DUMBO: 9:30 a.m. to 3:00 p.m.

(YWN Desk – NYC)