The Bottom Line
Central Park Bike Tours leads a ride through Central Park, offering visitors a great opportunity to see many of the Central Park's key sights in just two hours. This tour is a good choice for visitors looking for a quick way to see a lot of the park, but beware, Central Park is pretty hilly.
Pros
- Fast, easy way to see many Central Park sights
- Tour guide shares Central Park history
- Lots of breaks make this a feisable ride kids
Cons
- Many of the bikes don't have water bottle holders
- You're not supposed to bike on walking paths in Central Park
- You must be cautious when entering bike paths -- obey the traffic lights
Description
- Central Park Bike Tour Meeting Point: Broadway and 58th Street
- Closest subway to Central Park Bike Tour: 1, A/C/E to 59th Street/Columbus Circle
- Central Park Bike Tours Cross Streets: 58th/57th Streets
- Central Park Bike Tour Phone: 212-541-8759
- Central Park Bike Tour Schedule: 10 a.m., 1 p.m., and 4 p.m. daily
- Central Park Bike Tour Payment: cash & credit card (prepay only) (20% discount with New York Pass)
- Central Park Bike Tour Cost: $49, includes bike, helmet and guide ($40 for children under 15)
Guide Review - Central Park Bike Tour: Review
Spanning from 5th Avenue to Central Park West and from 59th Street to 110th Street, Central Park is over 800 acres. It's hard for visitors to imagine the vastness and variety that Central Park offers, and this guided bike tour is a great way to see many key Central Park sights in just two hours. Central Park's winding pathways also make it a challenge for unguided visitors to find the highlights they are seeking, but with this guided tour, that difficulty is eliminated. From Strawberry Fields and the Jacqueline Kennedy Onassis Reservoir to the Alice in Wonderland Statue and Belvedere Castle, participants on the Central Park Bike Tour get a chance to explore Central Park easily and quickly. There were plenty of stops along the way for exploring and picture taking.
A couple things to watch out for on the tour -- our guide was a bit eager to cross the main bike paths -- those following should observe traffic lights, as well as watch out for oncoming traffic including bikes, pedestrians and cars. I'd also recommend you wear a backpack -- most of the bikes didn't have a water bottle holder, and on hot days it is important to stay hydrated. Don't forget to wear sunscreen. While much of New York City is fairly flat, Central Park is pretty hilly, so be prepared to put your bike in a low gear to make it up some of the hills.
Some sites on tour: Shakespeare Garden, Strawberry Fields, Reservoir, Alice in Wonderland Statue, Boat House, Marionette Theater, Obelisk
