Better Bicycling : Families

On a hot summer day the family can ride to the ice cream store. In October the ride can be to take in the fiery fall foliage. Cycling through city parks or the countryside is a great way to welcome spring. New York, upstate or downstate, has spectacular scenery to be seen from a bike year round: skyscrapers, mountains, rivers, canals, manicured farms, great bridges, lush forests, quaint villages, and ethnic neighborhoods. These not only feel more intimate when viewed from a bike, you can easily stop, investigate, and be part of the scene.

A family can enjoy an afternoon bicycling through its neighborhood and local parks. Or it can drive to one of the many bicycle trails in every region of the state and explore them. Rural roads with good shoulders make for picturesque rides. Pack a picnic lunch or stop in local eateries along the way. Such trips will create many family memories.

If an organized ride is wanted, there are so many to choose from. Local bicycle clubs have rides almost every week. There is something for everyone. Some rides are short, easy and over level terrain, some are long, hilly and challenging, and there's everything in between. The annual Five Boro Tour through NYC attracts families from around the world to spend a festive spring Sunday on miles and miles of streets with terrific views - all closed to auto traffic for the day. Ambitious families or groups of friends can take multi-day trips such as the annual Erie Canal Trail Tour, which runs from Buffalo to Albany. Check the links below to find club ride calendars and information on special bicycling events.

Self-guided bicycle tours are another way to enjoy New York's scenery, history and culture. Bookstores, service groups, state agencies and localities offer maps, pamphlets, and books that allow a family to design its own tour and learn about the sites along the chosen routes. For instance, the book "Cycling Along the Canals of New York" explains the significance of historic, geologic, and cultural features along 500 miles of routes paralleling the Erie and other state canals.
Below are links that can hook you up with materials that will help plan a memorable family outing.

Links to General Information on Family Biking and Clubs:

Links to Events, Routes, Trails and Bikeways:

Educational Brochures

Additional Links

If these links are not helpful enough, feel free to contact our office by sending email to nybc@nybc.net.