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    1. Rail

    Cyclists can Ride with MTA to the TD Five Boro Bike Tour

    April 27, 2016
    This Sunday, May 1, New York City will host the TD Five Boro Bike Tour, attracting more than 30,000 cyclists from around the region and beyond. The MTA is the best way to get to the ride safely and on time.
    Related To: Metropolitan Transportation Authority (NY MTA)

    This Sunday, May 1, New York City will host the TD Five Boro Bike Tour, attracting more than 30,000 cyclists from around the region and beyond. The MTA is the best way to get to the ride safely and on time.

    The New York City Subway, Long Island Rail Road and Metro-North Railroad all allow bicycles year-round. But special accommodations are made for this tour once a year. Street closures will mean some changes for buses and motorists. Tips and details are below.

    Verrazano-Narrows Bridge

    The Staten Island-bound lower level of the Verrazano-Narrows Bridge will be closed from 12:01 a.m. until 6 p.m. Sunday, May 1. The upper level of the bridge will remain open in both directions throughout the event.

    Motorists should expect delays and allow extra travel time. To hear information about all the Verrazano-Narrow Bridge bike tour closures, call 718 556-8010.

    New York City Subway

    To take your bike onto the subway, swipe your MetroCard while the station agent watches, rotate the turnstile, then enter through the station service gates once they are activated by the agent. For safety’s sake, please carry, do not roll bikes down stairs.

    At the start or finish of the tour, customers with bicycles who wish to use the subway should use the following subway stations: Brooklyn Bridge-City Hall (4) (5) (6), Bowling Green (4) (5) (Bowling Green Park entrance only), Chambers St (2) (3), Chambers St (J) , Chambers St (A) (C) and World Trade Center (E).

    Riders are asked not use the following stations as they are not well-equipped to handle large volumes of bicycles: Fulton St (2) (3) (4) (5) (A) (C), Wall St (2) (3) (4) (5), and Park Place (2) (3).

    Please be aware of the following subway service changes in the midtown and downtown area this weekend: (1) trains will terminate at 14 St. (2) (3) trains will run local between 34 St-Penn Station and Chambers St. Buses are available between Chambers St and South Ferry. (4) trains will terminate at Bowling Green. (4) service is suspended in Brooklyn. Customers are advised to use (3) trains, which will operate to/from New Lots Av all weekend. Customers traveling on Brooklyn-bound (A) (C) trains are advised to transfer to a World Trade Center-bound (E) train prior to or at W 4 St-Wash Sq to continue their trip.

    New York City Buses

    Several bus routes throughout the city will be affected by street closures throughout the day. 

    Long Island Rail Road and Metro-North Railroad

    The LIRR and Metro-North will offer plenty of service to get you to the start of the tour in time, and certain stations offer free and unrestricted parking on Sundays.

    Both railroads will allow bicyclists to board trains without a bicycle permit for the second day of the Bike Expo at Pier 36 in Lower Manhattan on Saturday, April 30, and for the TD 5 Boro Bike Tour on Sunday, May 1. The usual restriction on the number of bicycles permitted on a train will be suspended. Both railroads recommend that cyclists use a bungee cord to secure their bike while riding on the train.

    Customers should carefully read signage at their station of origin to make sure that parking is free and unrestricted.

    Tour participants should plan to arrive in time to ride or take the subway to Battery Park for the start of the tour. The distance from Grand Central, Penn Station or Atlantic Terminal, Brooklyn, to Battery Park is 3 to 3.5 miles.

    MTA Bridges and Tunnels

    Other closings at the Verrazano-Narrows will include:

    • One Brooklyn-bound lane on the lower level from 8 a.m. to 6 p.m.
    • The Bay Street exit from 7 a.m. to 6 p.m.
    • BQE approach (I-278 West) to the Verrazano-Narrows Bridge from 9:30 a.m. to 6 p.m.
    • The 92nd Street entrance ramp to the Staten Island-bound lower level from approximately 12:01 a.m. to 6 p.m.
    • Belt Parkway entrance ramp to the Staten Island-bound lower level from approximately 12:01 a.m. to 6 p.m.

    Hugh L. Carey Tunnel (Formerly Brooklyn-Battery Tunnel)

    Traffic exiting the Hugh L. Carey (formerly Brooklyn-Battery) Tunnel in Brooklyn will be diverted to Hamilton Avenue between 9 a.m. and 3:30 p.m., and the Trinity Place exit in Manhattan will also be closed between 7 a.m. and 3:30 p.m.

    Robert F. Kennedy Bridge

    The ramp to the FDR Drive from the Robert F. Kennedy Bridge will be closed between 7:45 a.m. and Noon. All Manhattan-bound traffic must exit at 125th Street.

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