New York Water Taxi & Bike and Roll NYC Launch Bike the Brooklyn Bridge-Water Taxi Back
On May 7, 2011, New York Water Taxiand Bike and Roll NYC will launch the most exciting way to enjoy New York City:Bike the Brooklyn Bridge/Water Taxi Back – a one-of a-kind day out that’s one part instant adventure and one part jaw-dropping views. It’s easy, safe and fun, and you don’t have to be Lance Armstrong to do the ride – all levels of riders can enjoy this excursion.
Whether you’re on vacation and want to experience the majesty of the Brooklyn Bridge and the Statue of Liberty from a unique vantage point, or you just want to play outside and lose yourself in one of the city’s glorious waterfront parks, this bike and boat adventure is the most fun, flexible and environmentally friendly way to exercise your freedom to enjoy everything that the Big Apple has to offer.
What: Bike the Brooklyn Bridge/Water Taxi Back
Where: Bike Rental packages available at Bike and Roll’s locations at Pier 84 (West 43rd Street) or Battery Park (just west of Pier A)
When: Beginning May 7 Pick up your bike as early as 9:00am and get rolling.
In celebration of May’s National Bike Month, Bike the Brooklyn Bridge/Water Taxi Back is offering a special promotional price of $49 for adults & $29 for kids under 12. Price subject to change June 1.
Package includes:
- 8 hour bicycle rental
- A Water Taxi ride from Fulton Ferry Landing (at the base of Brooklyn Bridge) to Manhattan’s South Street Seaport, Battery Park or Pier 84/West 44th Street.
- An up close and personal glimpse of Lady Liberty as you cruise by her in New York harbor
- 4-color route map detailing sights along your route
- Helmet & bike lock
Getting Around Is Easy and Fun
Did you forget that Manhattan is an island? Isn’t it about time you spent the day taking in all the delights the waterfront has to offer? On two wheels, you can bid farewell to sweltering subway tunnels, crowded sidewalks and noisy city streets. Watch sailboats and kayakers as you cruise by flowers, trees and playgrounds along the spacious, stress-free bike paths of the Hudson River Park. Riders will receive a colorful map and suggested itineraries to help plan a memorable day of bike riding and sight seeing. From the Hudson River Park you’ll pass City Hall and cross the iconic Brooklyn Bridge. End your biking excursion at Fulton Landing and cool off with scoop from the Brooklyn Ice Cream Factory before heading over to Brooklyn Bridge Park, and then enjoy an easy-breezy cruise from Fulton Ferry Landing back to Manhattan aboard New York Water Taxi where you’ll get to wave at Lady Liberty and see the city from a waterfront vantage point. A perfect finish to your perfect day.
Safety first!
Each bike rental comes with a helmet, a bike lock and a route map. Riders can lock up their bikes and sight see on foot, grab a bite to eat or pit-stop at public restrooms.
Want to reserve?
If you’d like to reserve your Bike the Brooklyn Bridge/Water Taxi Back adventure please, visit www.nywatertaxi.com orwww.bikeandroll.com/newyork to get rolling.
Bike and Roll: Your Adventure in the City!
Bike riding as a leisure and travel event in urban American cities has seen a tremendous increase in popularity over the last several years. This trend is in sync with the times, as people are thinking more about their health as well as the health of the planet. This trend has had an impact on bicycle tourism as many people are now looking for the freedom, intimacy and efficiency that a bicycle provides for exploring on your own or with a group.
With the growth in demand for bicycles for hire and bicycle related travel experiences, the need for quality rental and tour programming has become a reality in many urban markets. Meeting this need and leading the industry is Bike and Roll, currently facilitating large scale operations in Chicago, Miami, New York City, San Francisco and Washington DC.
In all the locations where Bike and Roll operates, the goal is to provide distinctive yet safe and fun experiences on two wheels. Bike and Roll rentals are high quality, late model bikes from Trek, the leading bicycle manufacturer in the US. Bike and Roll tours are comprised of safe and easy riding routes incorporating many local sites, unique touring tips and historical information along the way. From outstanding customer service, to the high quality equipment and one-of-a-kind tour itineraries, Bike and Roll is setting a new standard for bike rentals and guided bike tours across the United States.
New York City presents a great example of the transformation of both infrastructure and attitude in regards to bicycle riding in an urban setting. New York City has created an extensive bike trail system in the city called the NYC Greenway, which sees additional pathways added every year. With the new infrastructure, there has been a significant increase in ridership both by locals and visitors.
Bike and Roll will operate eleven locations in New York City in 2011. Most of these locations are along the NYC Greenway or located in NYC Parks. Bike and Roll has assumed a leadership role in the local bicycle tourism market as the largest operator and works closely with local community and advocacy groups to promote safe and fun urban cycling. As well as their rental and tour programs, Bike and Roll provides a Free Bicycle program on Governor’s Island every Friday during the summer season as well as supporting important local biking events like Summer Streets and the TD Bank 5 Boro Ride. In 2011, Bike and Roll will add free riding lessons on weekend mornings to its offerings.
Riding a bicycle is an unparalleled way to experience various New York City gems. Whether you are exploring the urban oasis of beautiful Central Park, pedaling around historic Governors Island, riding over the world-famous Brooklyn Bridge, or cruising the car-free NYC Greenway along New York Harbor with the Statue of Liberty in the background, a bicycle will allow you to visit the Big Apple in a way you will never forget.
Bicycle rentals and tours can be combined with the NY Water Taxi or other water transit to enhance the riding experience. By using a bicycle in combination with water transit, riders can easily connect all the New York City boroughs.
For a small additional fee, riders can purchase a Day Pass. This unique program allows riders to hop on and hop off their bicycle at most Bike and Roll NYC locations. This provides riders the flexibility of leaving the bicycle attended while visiting an attraction or stopping at a restaurant. It also allows riders to ride one way without having to return the bike to the point of origin. This program offers maximum flexibility and provides a green and healthy means to navigate New York City.
In Washington DC, Bike and Roll now has three locations – Downtown DC at The Old Post Office Pavilion, Union Station, and Old Town Alexandria, VA. Due to the wide bike and walking path that circles the entire National Mall, a bicycle is the perfect way to tour or explore our nation’s capital. Our classic Capital Sites Tour provides an overview of the National Mall and Capitol Hill including the Capitol Building, Supreme Court, Smithsonian Museums, World War II Memorial, the Washington Monument, and more.
The Monuments Bike Tour stops at the major monuments and memorials including Washington Monument, Vietnam Veterans Memorial, World War II Memorial, Lincoln Memorial, and Jefferson Memorial, giving visitors a few minutes at each to walk around and explore. Spotlights illuminate the monuments each night, providing excellent ambiance for our summer Monuments@Nite Tour. Knowledgeable tour guides provide historical background at every stop, disputing legends and sharing fun facts.
Bike and Roll DC’s Cherry Blossom bike tour has become a quintessential DC experience, guiding visitors around the Tidal Basin during the annual Cherry Blossom Festival. Riders bike beneath the fragrant white and pink blossoms, only in bloom for two weeks a year. For a longer ride, the Cherry Blossom River Ride starts in Alexandria and travels along the Mount Vernon trail, crossing the Potomac River to the Tidal Basin and loops back to Old Town.
Historic Old Town Tours out of the Alexandria location wind past the boutiques and restaurants of downtown, out to sites frequented by George Washington, Robert E. Lee, and Thomas Jefferson including Christ Church, Gadsby’s Tavern, and the George Washington Masonic Memorial. The Mount Vernon Trail stretching along the Virginia side of the Potomac River is also not to be missed; the trail offers nearly 18 miles of stunning views which lead all the way to George Washington’s historic home at Mount Vernon. The popular Mount Vernon by Bike and Boat tour allows visitors to bike to the estate and return to Old Town by boat via Potomac River Boat Company’s narrated boat tours.
In San Francisco, Bike and Roll features its Bike the Golden Gate guided and self guided rides. From Fisherman’s Wharf, participants ride on a bike path along the San Francisco Bay, through the Presidio and Golden Gate National Recreation Area, over the Golden Gate Bridge, and into Sausalito where they can board a ferry for a boat cruise back across the bay. Additional highlights of this ride include; the Palace of Fine Arts, Pier 39, Ghirardelli Sq., Crissy Beach, Ft. Point, and Cavallo Point, along with amazing views of Alcatraz Island, Angel Island and the Marin Headlands. The Bike the Golden Gate ride along the Bay Trail has emerged as a must do visitor event in the city. This is one of the most popular and scenic bicycle rides in the United States, as thousands of riders of all ages and abilities experience the beautiful San Francisco Bay waterfront by bicycle.
Additionally, improved bicycle routes and paths along the Market Street corridor in downtown San Francisco now provide access from the bay side of the city going west towards the ocean and Golden Gate Park. The park includes excellent riding opportunities and attractions such as the Academy of Sciences, Botanical Gardens, Japanese Tea Garden, Stowe Lake and the DeYoung Museum. The ride from Bike and Roll’s Embarcadero location to the park takes participants through beautiful and interesting San Francisco neighborhoods.
For the more adventurous, San Francisco sits just below the Marin Headlands where the origins of mountain biking and scenic off road trails can be found, along with road routes that reach destinations such as Muir Woods. In addition to its line of comfort bikes for leisure riding, Bike and Roll San Francisco’s five locations offer a full line of high-end race and mountain bikes for the more experienced or more adventurous rider.
Bike and Roll also utilizes a fleet of electric bikes to navigate the local hills during its Bike the Barbary Coast tour. This historic tour is an adventure through two of San Francisco’s most historic neighborhoods. The ride finishes with a trip down the famous crooked Lombard Street. Along with the electric bicycle tour, the San Francisco operation provides a daily walk up Bike the Golden Gate tour and can also customize tours for any group with add on options such as truck support, dining, boat charters and more.
Bike and Roll also has operations in Chicago that feature nine convenient locations along the city’s 18 miles of car-free lakefront riding trails. In addition, there are 110 miles of marked bike lanes throughout the city.
The premier tour featured by Bike and Roll Chicago is the Amazing Lakefront Bicycle Tour that include the best of Chicago: beaches, lagoons, gardens, animals, and architecture. Top sights include Lakefront Trail & Beaches, Millennium Park, Navy Pier, Lincoln Park Zoo and Conservatory, Notebaert Nature Museum, and North Avenue Beach.
Other bicycle tours in Chicago include the Bikes @ Night Tour which culminates with an enchanting fireworks display over Navy Pier; the Presidential Tour of Historic Hyde Park & Kenwood which covers the president’s life in Chicago as well as other top sights including the Obama residence, Museum of Science and Industry, Osaka Japanese Garden, The Robie House by Frank Lloyd Wright, Muhammad Ali’s former home, Rockefeller Chapel, and the University of Chicago. The Friendly Neighborhoods Bike Tour explores Chicago’s most famous neighborhoods including Streeterville, The Gold Coast, River North, Lincoln Park, and Lakeview.
Bike and Roll Chicago also offers visitors the opportunity to glide through the city on brand-new Segway i2s. Offering six unique Segway tours from four premier Chicago destinations. In keeping with Bike and Roll’s green and sustainable mission, our Segways are electric powered and some are charged via solar power.
New for 2011 is the Chicago Skyscraper Architectural Segway Tour which highlights Chicago’s amazing architectural gems such as the Sears Tower, Tribune Building, Trump Tower, the London Guarantee Building, the John Hancock Center, Marina City, and the Merchandise Mart while gliding along the noble Chicago river and majestic Lake Michigan lakefront.
Bike and Roll Miami offers visitors to South Beach and Miami an opportunity to ride, glide, or in-line skate through one of America’s most popular cities. Feel the electric excitement of Miami atop a Segway i2 on the Art Deco South Beach Segway Tour or the Miami River Segway Tour. Popular self-guided bicycling destinations include: Lincoln Road, Miami Seaquarium, Vizcaya, the Venetian Islands, Miami Design District, and Little Havana.
From the beach cruiser to the high-end race bike, from the bicycle for two to the kids trailer, from repairs to fleet management, Bike and Roll offers a comprehensive package of bicycle equipment, service and accessories for anyone from a novice to an expert rider. Locks, maps, riding directions, helmets are always free of charge with a rental at any location.
Bike and Roll also operates the McDonald’s Cycle Center in Millennium Park, Chicago, which is the largest Bicycle Station in the United States and also operates the Union Station Bike Station in Washington DC. Additionally, Bike and Roll is partnered with B-Cycle, and operates bike share systems in Chicago and South San Francisco.
Beyond the ride, Bike and Roll also offers unique additional benefits for its customers. Rent a bike or take a tour in one location and receive automatic enrollment into their “Riders Club” program, which entitles the customer to future discounts at all Bike and Roll locations. Additionally, beginning in June of 2011, each Bike and Roll customer will receive $30 off the purchase of a new Trek bike at any Trek retailer and also receive a discount of $300 off any Trek Travel bicycle vacation package.
All Bike and Roll locations are equipped to accommodate large groups and are able to create customized itineraries with advance reservations.
More information about Bike and Roll can be found at www.bicyclerental.com
Bikes Belong’s Best Practices Program Inspires Cities to Make Bicycling Great
In September, Bikes Belong led a fact-finding delegation of policy-makers and transportation officials from the San Francisco Bay Area on a five-day trip to the best major bicycling cities in the Netherlands, including Amsterdam, Utrecht, Rotterdam, and The Hague. The trip provided Bay Area leaders with an up-close look at world-class transportation networks, as well as fresh ideas for improving bicycling back home.
“There is a road map of do-able public policies we can adopt to get us to where the Dutch are today,” observed San Francisco Board of Supervisors President David Chiu, one of the participants. Steady investment in bicycle infrastructure, programs, and education for the past four decades have enabled 27% of all trips in the Netherlands to be made on a bike, saving the Northern European nation millions in road construction costs while improving health and personal mobility. San Francisco estimates that 7% of its trips are currently made on two wheels, but the Board of Supervisors recently set a city-wide goal to grow that number to 20% by 2020.
More study tours and workshops for city officials are planned in 2011, taking place in leading bicycling cities like Copenhagen, Minneapolis, Portland, and New York.
For more information, see the 2010 Annual Report or visit bikesbelong.org/bestpractices.
Cannondale and Shimano Join Bikes Belong Pro Purchase Program
Cannondale and Shimano have aligned with Fuji, Giant, Specialized, and Trek to fund the Bikes Belong Grant Program by participating in the Employee Pro Purchase Program. These Bikes Belong member companies collect a small donation from employees whenever bikes and equipment are sold at a pro-deal discount; this money in turn goes toward the Grant Program, which supports bike paths, lanes, trails, and BMX facilities, as well as advocacy efforts like car-free street days.
“Bikes Belong is delighted to welcome Cannondale and Shimano into the Employee Pro Purchase Program,” said Bikes Belong Vice President Bruno Maier. “More companies participating in the program means we’ll be able to award more grants, and grants of greater value, to support bicycling projects throughout the U.S.” Read more
Learn more about the Bikes Belong Grant Program and Employee Pro Purchase Program.
More Than 175,000 Sign PeopleforBikes Pledge in 2010
Bikes Belong’s citizen outreach campaign, Peopleforbikes.org, is racing forward as 2011 begins. The campaign aims to unite one million bicyclists of all riding styles and abilities to encourage government leaders to support legislation that improves bike paths, lanes, trails, and other facilities. So far, more than 175,000 people have signed the pledge in support of better bicycling in America, including Lance Armstrong, Gary Fisher, and bike-friendly Minneapolis Mayor R.T. Rybak.
In the coming months, Congress will consider the renewal of the federal transportation bill — the largest single source for bicycling funding (see story above). Now, more than ever, it is important to show our elected leaders that Americans like us care about safe and convenient bicycling options. By uniting your voice with a million others, you can help build a national movement with the clout to improve bicycling in our country. How could Washington not listen when we tell them that Peopleforbikes.org has engaged one million people to support bicycling?
Whatever your background, whatever your bike, and wherever you ride — everyone has a stake in building more bike lanes and trails, securing more funding for key biking and walking programs like Safe Routes to School, and influencing local and national policies to better support bicycling. Please take a minute to sign the pledge today, and share it with a friend, if you haven’t already.
Federal Funding for Bicycling Threatened?
January 10, 2011
A change in leadership in the House of Representatives coupled with a new outlook on spending priorities could threaten key federally funded bicycling programs. Crucial decisions may be made by Congress in late February or early March that could affect bike funding for several years. Bikes Belong and their partners in the America Bikes Coalition are working on a multi-tiered strategy to preserve bike projects and programs.
Rep. Jim Oberstar of Minnesota, former chair of the House Transportation & Infrastructure (T&I) Committee, lost his bid for a 19th term in Congress and no longer brings his pro-bicycling perspective and influence to federal transportation policy decisions. He has been replaced by Rep. John Mica of Florida.
As of this writing, the new Congress and new committees have only been on the job for a couple weeks. But early indications from House leaders suggest they will attempt to cut federal transportation funding and refocus it on highway construction and repairs. Transit, bicycling and walking, and programs that reduce congestion and air pollution in cities could be targeted for disproportionate cuts. These budget decisions won’t be made solely by the House of Representatives: The U.S. Senate and the Obama Administration will also weigh in, and both–like the House–have steadily supported modest investments in bike facilities and programs.
Federal funding for bicycling is provided primarily by multi-year transportation bills. The latest, titled SAFETEA-LU, was approved by Congress in July 2005. It expired in September 2009, but its funding levels and programs continue because Congress has approved a series of short-term extensions. The most recent renewal expires March 4, 2011.
Bikes Belong will respond by meeting face-to-face with key members of Congress during the next seven weeks, emphasizing the economic benefits of bicycling, and reminding U.S. Representatives that bike investments generate lots of bang for each dollar spent.
Golden Gate Bridge Speed Limit Plan Angers Cyclists
SAN FRANCISCO — Plans to put the brakes on bicyclists riding across the Golden Gate Bridge has cycling enthusiasts crying foul in this urban center of two-wheeled activism.
Hundreds of commuters, residents and tourists ride the bridge’s stately span each day, and occasionally there is a smash-up when bikers run into one another or collide with tourists drinking in the views. Still, the city was taken by surprise this week when bridge officials proposed speed limits as a way to reduce the accident rate on San Francisco’s signature landmark.
The initial plan would hit riders with a $100 fine if they don’t slow to 5 mph around the bridge’s iron towers, or 10 mph along the bulk of the 1.2-mile span. There is currently no speed limit, and authorities say some riders have been clocked going more than 20 mph.
But after groups of pedallers raised sharp critiques, the bridge’s board of directors decided to postpone a vote on the limits to allow public debate.
A Weekend Bike Ride for Foodies
From San Francisco Bike Coalition’s “Bike About Town” column, which also appeared in the San Francisco Chronicle.
The bike valet outside the Ferry Building on Saturdays gives your easy parking for Cowgirl Creamery and the farmers' market.
Cheese, Beer & Bikes
By Ben Russo
San Franciscans are out riding bicycles in record numbers –- the last few years there has been a nearly 60% increase in the number of people biking. As more bike lanes are added to city streets, they are creating safer connections across our city. People are hopping on two wheels to travel to work, school, the store and for social calls. In a city so passionate about food, spirits, and the outdoors, is there a more apropos trifecta than cheese, beer and bikes?
This Saturday, April 23rd, the San Francisco Bicycle Coalition combines these three cherished items for an experience to be remembered: the Cheese, Beer, and Bikes recreational ride. Forty lucky participants will take a journey through San Francisco to learn about and enjoy cheese and beer and the various ways to pair them.
Demetrius Marcoulides, the tour guide for the inaugural Cheese, Beer and Bikes ride, honed his palate while working at fine establishments like NOPA and Serpentine, so interested participants can rest assured: “This won’t be about pairing Tecate and nacho cheese, although I’m a big fan of that combo too,” said Marcoulides. “I’m hoping to introduce people to some beer and cheese they haven’t tried before.”
The tour will start in the Panhandle and make its way to Cheese Plus in Nob Hill,Rainbow Grocery, and Cowgirl Creamery in the Ferry Building, learning about different types of cheese at each stop and making purchases to individual tastes. With goodies in tow, the group will head to Shotwell’s in the Mission to discuss the common characteristics of beer and cheese, and what makes good pairings.