MTA Eases Bike Rules for Five Boro Tour

MTA suspends bike limits on Metro-North and LIRR for May 3 Five Boro Bike Tour

MTA Eases Bike Rules for Five Boro Tour May 3

New York cyclists heading to the Five Boro Bike Tour on Sunday, May 3, can bring their bikes on all MTA trains without the usual restrictions. The transit agency's suspending bicycle limits on Metro-North and the Long Island Rail Road to help more than 32,000 expected participants reach the event's Battery Park starting point. Officials said the temporary policy change applies throughout the day to accommodate riders traveling from across the region.

Context

The Five Boro Bike Tour ranks as New York's largest cycling event, drawing tens of thousands of riders annually for a car-free route through all five boroughs. Transit agencies typically maintain strict bicycle restrictions during peak hours and on crowded trains, but officials said they're making exceptions for major events that generate significant ridership. The MTA hasn't specified whether similar accommodations will be offered for other large cycling events this year. Transit officials said the goal is balancing cyclist access with passenger comfort and safety on trains.

Details

Subway riders can bring bikes by tapping their OMNY card and entering through service gates with station agent assistance, officials said. Both LIRR and Metro-North recommend cyclists use bungee cords to secure bikes during travel. Specific subway stations near Battery Park are recommended for tour access, while others should be avoided due to limited bicycle capacity, though officials didn't release a list of which stations fall into each category. MTA Bridges and Tunnels will close the Staten Island-bound lower level of the Verrazzano-Narrows Bridge from 12:01 a.m. until 7:00 p.m. on May 3.

Timeline

The bridge and tunnel closures take effect just after midnight on May 3 and continue through early evening. MTA Bridges and Tunnels will temporarily close portions of the Verrazzano-Narrows Bridge, Robert F. Kennedy Bridge, and Hugh L. Carey Tunnel to vehicle traffic during the event, officials said. Bus routes will operate with detours and diversions due to street closures in all five boroughs, though specific route changes weren't detailed in available information.

Impact

Motorists should expect delays throughout the day and plan additional travel time or seek alternate routes, transit officials said. The event affects traffic patterns across the entire city as the tour route winds through Manhattan, the Bronx, Queens, Brooklyn, and Staten Island. Cyclists can check station-specific bicycle policies and real-time service updates through Moovit, which provides trip planning for MTA services. Officials said they'll restore normal bicycle restrictions and reopen bridge lanes once the tour concludes Sunday evening.