Founded in 1990 as a spirited act of activism to stake the cyclist’s claim to NYC streets, the New York City Century Bike Tour has become one of the world’s most unique tours. Boasting the nation’s only all-urban century route as well as distances accessible to riders of all skill levels, the NYC Century showcases the diversity of New York’s neighborhoods from a new perspective: the back of your bike.
We’ve grown a lot since the first peloton of 200 passionate bike commuters took a stand for better biking infrastructure. From just a handful of useable bike lanes in the 90s to over 1,200 miles of cycling infrastructure in 2019, New York has never been better for people on bikes.
Join the thousands of other cyclists who come together every fall to bike for better biking.
Don't have a bike? Worried that the one you have is not up to snuff? Bike Rent NYC has you covered with their Century-ready Trek bicycles. Just add a bike rental to your checkout when you register and you'll be tackling the hills, twists, and turns of the NYC Century like a pro.
TransAlt is happy to offer two NYC Century Bike Tour Start options again this year. Select the starting point that’s most convenient for you: Central Park or Prospect Park!
Please note: There will only be one Finish Festival for the NYC Century, located in Central Park. For Prospect Park starters, you must pick up your complimentary t-shirt and water bottle at Central Park. You can still continue with the route and complete your mileage after your pickup.
The NYC Century features fully-stocked rest stops at NYC’s most beautiful parks. The average distance between rest stops is 15 miles.
15 miles: Union Square
35 miles: Grand Army Plaza, Astoria Park
55 miles: Grand Army Plaza, Canarsie Pier, Astoria Park
75 miles: Grand Army Plaza, Canarsie Pier, Alley Pond Park, Astoria Park
100 miles: Grand Army Plaza, Canarsie Pier, Alley Pond Park, Astoria Park, Van Cortlandt Park
There will be limited SAG (support and gear) on the route. The SAG vehicle will pick up riders and return them only to the finish area. Riders who cannot complete the ride but are located within walking distance to a subway stop will be asked to use the train.
Celebrate, re-fuel, and relax after the ride with treats, giveaways, a variety of food options, and more at the NYC Century Bike Tour Finish Festival in Central Park. Invite your friends and family for a fun outing with NYC’s most dedicated cyclists and street infrastructure advocates!
NYC Century Festival Location*
Central Park, 110th Street & Malcolm X Blvd
Note: There will only be one Finish Festival for the NYC Century, located in Central Park. For Prospect Park starters, you must pick up your complimentary t-shirt and water bottle at Central Park.
With more than 140,000 active supporters and committees of activists working locally in every borough, Transportation Alternatives works to reclaim New York City streets for biking, walking, and public transit.
Since its founding in 1973, TransAlt has paved the way for remarkable changes in New York City’s transportation infrastructure and culture, including the extraordinary growth of commuting by bicycle and the launch of Citi Bike. Through consistent and focused advocacy, TransAlt has advanced “complete street” redesigns with protected bike lanes, dedicated bus lanes and public plazas, and has also worked for more equitable Vision Zero traffic enforcement across the five boroughs, including speed safety cameras to protect children at every school.
Your participation in The NYC Century Bike Tour helps to sustain our advocacy so we can continue to reclaim our streets.
Riders under 18 years of age are welcome to join and must be accompanied by a guardian. New York State law requires helmets for children 14 and under when they are operators or passengers on bicycles and strongly encouraged for riders of all ages. State law requires children ages one to five to wear an approved helmet and be carried in a properly affixed child carrier where they can ride as a passenger, but not by themselves. This year’s 15-mile route is especially kid-friendly, led by a police escort. For all routes, riders of all ages should be confident enough to ride alongside traffic.
While it is not mandatory, we encourage you to wear a helmet every day and while riding your bike in the New York City Century.
Yes, you must display the bib for the duration of the NYC Century Bike Tour. Your bib should be attached to the front of your jersey or shirt using safety pins. Your bike plate number should be attached to the front of your handlebars using the zip ties provided with your bib package.
All riders receive a confirmation email after they complete registration online. If you have not received one, please email events@transalt.org to confirm your participation.
Yes. All individuals on the course are required to register for the tour.
Residents of the United States and Puerto Rico must show city, state, or federal government-issued photo ID, such as a driver’s license, DMV photo ID, or IDNYC. Non-US residents, including Canadian residents, are required to show a valid passport. A student ID with photograph will also be accepted.
We're still working on pre-ride bib pickup. Stay tuned for updates!
Registration will close on Thursday, September 5th at 11:30pm. New riders will be able to register on-site and will be subject to day-of rates. Rider registration will be capped at 7,000 riders; while rare, the NYC Century Bike Tour has sold out in the past.
Yes. If you decide you would like to ride a different route, YOU CAN! It is not necessary to inform us in advance of your desired change. Please check the "Routes" section of this page to determine the start time for your desired route.
You can pick up your jersey at the gift shop tent at Central Park either before the ride or at the finish festival.
You can pick up your t-shirt and water bottle at the dedicated T-Shirt and Water Bottle Tent at the end of the ride at the finish festival in Central Park. If you are unable to attend the finish festival, you will be able to pick up your t-shirt and water bottle at the Transportation Alternative offices after September 24th. Email info@transalt.org with 24-hour notice of when you would like to pick them up.
No. Feel free to use backpacks, hydration packs, panniers, baskets, and any other bag suitable for cycling. There is no bag check at Central Park, Prospect Park, or at any Rest Stops along the route.
Rider-assist marshals will be able to offer some assistance for minor repairs while on the route. We strongly recommend that you bring an extra bike tube and check your bike before the tour. Not sure how to get your bike ready for the tour? Not sure how to get your bike ready for the tour? Watch a tutorial or visit our friends at Bicycle Habitat for a pre-ride tune-up.
NYC law says that you may wear one (1) earbud, but keeping your ears clear is a much safer choice.
Helmet, photo ID, water bottle(s), cash, Metrocard, sunscreen, spare bike tube, and patch kit.
Yes. You are in luck! Select “Bike Rental” when you register and follow the prompts.
Ride With GPS! Visit ridewithgps.com to get a detailed, turn-by-turn map of the tour. You can even download the route to your Garmin or smartphone. Registered riders will receive a link to the route on/around September 4, 2018.
The Finish Line Festival at Central Park closes at 6:00 pm and we ask all cyclists including the 100 milers to complete their ride by 5 pm sharp! 35-milers should be able to finish the tour in time without worrying about speed. 55- and 75-milers should be riding at least 10 mph. 100-milers should be traveling at least 12 mph. Please note: The amount of time you spend at a rest area is important! Be sure to consult the rest area closing times on your cue sheet and listen to announcements from the rest area staff.
Each rest stop will have beverages and snacks to fuel your ride. We’ll have protein-packed treats at select rest stops. Please pack a lunch or bring some cash if you think you'll require more food or have food allergies. Please note: We do not provide bottled water. You must bring your own water bottle, which you can fill up at any of our rest stops, including our Central Park and Prospect Park sites.
Yes! There will be food trucks available for you to purchase lunch, beverages and snacks.
The average distance between rest stops is 15 miles.
Yes. There will be limited SAG (Support And Gear) vehicles as well as bike marshals on the ride to assist riders with minor repairs. If you need to reach the SAG vehicles on the date of the tour, please contact 646-873-6008. If a rider cannot complete the ride, they should locate the nearest subway station. If you have a medical emergency, please call 911.
Yes – they are identifiable by their orange and yellow vests. They can assist you with minor bike issues or repairs. However, please be aware that ride marshals do not always carry extra supplies, so make sure you bring extra tubes or any other supplies you think you may need.
Central Park Start: Central Park N and Malcolm X Blvd
- Check-In: 100-milers: 6:00 am to 7:00 am
- Check-In: 75-, 55-, 35- milers: 6:00 am to 8:00 am
- First Wave Start at 6:30 am for 100-, 75-, 55-, 35-milers
- By 7:00 am: 100-milers must depart from Central Park
- By 8:00 am: All 75, 55, 35-milers must depart from Central Park
Prospect Park Start at Park Circle
- Check-In: 100-milers: 7:00 am to 8:00 am
- Check-In: 75-, 55-, 35- milers: 7:00 am to 9:00 am
- First Wave Starts at 7:30 am for 100-, 75-, 55-, 35-milers
- By 8:00 am: 100-milers must depart from Prospect Park
- By 9:00 am: All 75-, 55-, 35-milers must depart from Prospect Park
Prospect Park Start at Park Circle (15 Mile Escorted Ride by NYPD)
- Check-In: 15-miler: 8:00 am to 9:00 am
- 15-miler Start at 9:00 am
Central Park at Malcolm X Blvd and Central Park North (inside of Central Park). There is no finish festival at Prospect Park.
Yes! Each rest stop will have bathrooms as will our locations at Central Park and Prospect Park.
Yes! The NYC Century is produced by and benefits Transportation Alternatives, a 501(c)3 non-profit organization. We work on making the streets of NYC safer and more fun for all New Yorkers by advocating for protected bike lanes, dynamic pedestrian plazas, and more. Read more about us!
We have historically had around 6,000 participants ride in the NYC Century each year. Maximum capacity for the tour is 7,000 riders.
All routes are open road. You should be prepared to ride confidently alongside traffic and obey all traffic and bicycle laws. The 15-mile route will not be closed to motor vehicles but will be led via escort (front and back) by the NYPD.
Glad you asked! We host bike rides throughout the year, ranging from small social rides to larger organized tours. Once you sign up for this ride you'll automatically receive alerts whenever registration launches for our other rides. Our next large, organized ride will be the Tour de Staten Island in the Spring of 2020 — keep an eye out for more details on that soon. TransAlt members receive an exclusive discounted entry for the Tour de Staten Island - join today!
All registration sales are final and registration is non-refundable, non-deferrable, and non-transferable. If you decide not to ride, we can convert your full registration fee into a tax-deductible charitable contribution. Please contact us as soon as possible if you want to explore this option.
There is no rain date; we ride rain or shine! In case of inclement weather, Transportation Alternatives reserves the right to cancel/alter/modify any of the routes for safety concerns. If there is a dangerous weather situation imminent, registrants will be emailed using the email address provided at registration regarding any pre-event changes to the tour.
Transportation Alternatives is dedicated to reclaiming NYC streets from automobiles. We encourage participants to bike or use public transportation to get to our start sites. We do not provide a designated area for parking.
Sponsorship
Email amy.klein@transalt.org for information on becoming a Sponsor or Festival Partner.
Media
Email press@transalt.org with your name, phone number, email address and the nature of your inquiry.
Volunteer (non-cycling or Bike Marshal)
Email volunteer@transalt.org with your questions.
Other Questions for TransAlt?
Email us at info@transalt.org with your Century questions or to find out how you can help advocate for safer streets in New York City! Tell us what you’d like to change and we’ll tell you how to get started.