There is no other morning all year when you can ride the length of Manhattan on open asphalt without stopping for a light or a taxi door. The route threads Lafayette, Park Avenue and Broadway before climbing into Harlem — where the 109th-to-125th stretch is co-programmed with HARLEM WEEK — and on into Inwood, a dozen neighborhoods in one push. To see the whole island at street level, this is the day the city clears the way.
What to expect
The roadway opens early and the crowd shifts from serious cyclists at dawn to families and strollers by late morning. Rest stops along the route offer free activities, water and shade, and the Harlem segment adds HARLEM WEEK programming. Everything reopens to traffic in the early afternoon, so the back half of the morning is the sweet spot.
Good to know
- Free bike rentals and helmets are typically available at rest stops while supplies last
- The earliest hours are the least crowded if you want to actually ride fast
- The route is long — pick a segment rather than trying to do the entire corridor
- Subways parallel most of the route, so you can bail out and train home from anywhere
- No registration and no ticket; just show up anywhere along the corridor
- Bring water and sunscreen — the open roadway offers almost no shade
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Common questions
Do I need to register for Summer Streets?
No. Summer Streets is free and open to everyone with no sign-up — walk, run, bike or skate onto the route at any point.
What is the route this time?
The Manhattan route runs from the Brooklyn Bridge north through Broadway all the way to Dyckman Street in Inwood.
Can I bring my own bike?
Yes, and most people do. Free rentals and helmets are usually offered at rest stops if you arrive without one.
More this weekend
