When bikes first began to appear in Central Park, bicycling was only permitted from midnight to 9:00 am. In 1880, the League of American Wheelmen had 360 members and would hold an annual meet every May in Central Park. At that time, bikes were unsteady and dangerous and as a result as many as 30 bikes were destroyed during this meet due to accidents. Today, due to innovations such as helmets, lights and brightly colored spandex, collisions are much rarer. During daylight hours, most of the bikes in the park are recreational in nature, people out for a leisurely trip around the drive or out riding with friends. In the early morning or after dark, you can usually spot a number of competitive bicyclists. Offering both hilly and flat terrain, Central Park provides cyclists with varying levels of difficulty.
Location: Park Drives: Circling the entire Park, the drives provide three long distance routes – 6.1 miles, 5.2 miles or 1.7 miles – or shorter distances if you cross the Park at a number of scenic locations. Cycling is prohibited on the pathways.
Rentals: Bicycles can be rented at the Loeb Boathouse parking lot at East 74th Street, daily from March through October from 10:00am to 7:00pm. You can find current rental rates and more information about bike rentals here. Or you can call – (212) 517-2233. You must leave a credit card, driver’s license or passport as a deposit. *Note: The Loeb Boathouse bicycle rental facility does not offer child seats as pictured in the photo above.
When: The Park is closed to traffic on Monday through Friday, 10:00am to 3:00pm, and 7:00pm to 7:00am, and weekends from 7:00pm Friday to 7:00am Monday. When the Park is open to traffic, a bikers’ lane is always available though it is not recommended that you use the Drives when they are open to traffic. The Park is officially closed from 1:00am to 6:00am.
FYI: The law requires that children under 14 years of age wear a helmet and bikers are asked to always ride in a counter-clockwise direction when circling the park.
About Central Park
Find all the information you need to enjoy your visit to New York City’s iconic Central Park.
Attractions
Central Park features 843 acres filled with classic architecture, gorgeous statuary and up to date sports, educational and performance facilities. Besides all of this there is the world famous Central Park Zoo and Wildlife Center and the Children’s Zoo.
Things To Do
From The Philharmonic on the Great Lawn to Shakespeare in the Park to SummerStage, Central Park offers an endless array of things to do, see, hear – and, with two full service restaurants and several cafes, taste. You can visit The Shakespeare Garden, take in a performance at the Swedish Cottage Marionette Theater, take a ride on the Carousel – or just sit and people watch at Bethesda Terrace!
Contact Us
Contact Info
5th Ave.
New York, NY, 10028