More than 32,000 cyclists are expected to roll through all five boroughs on Sunday, May 3, when the 46th edition of the TD Five Boro Bike Tour returns to New York City. The ride starts in Lower Manhattan with staggered waves, and roads along the route will close at the discretion of the New York Police Department.
The annual event is one of the few times riders of every skill level can take over streets that are normally open to vehicle traffic, turning a regular Sunday into a citywide bicycle procession. For anyone following the 5 Boro Bike Tour 2026 route, officials say southbound riders heading to the start line should use Broadway to reach east side entry points, while those traveling northbound should take the Hudson River Greenway for west side access.
Participants assigned to different waves are advised to ride together in the latest wave, a small but important detail for a start that can quickly become crowded. Officials also say Sixth Avenue is expected to reopen to traffic by noon, giving drivers a rough marker for when one of the city's most visible closures should begin to clear.
The closure plan reflects the scale of the ride and the logistics that come with sending tens of thousands of cyclists across New York in a single morning. Based on the NYC Five Boro Bike Tour 2026 information, the street shutdowns will be extensive, even as the course remains centered on a familiar premise: a single day when the city gives its roads to riders first.