Social Distance Cycling - Recap
Is it safe to ride outside?
Yes — as long as you’re alone. When people congregate together and someone sneezes or coughs, droplets get onto objects that people touch, and then people touch their face. The best plan for riding right now is to go out and ride solo and enjoy the outdoors, in non-crowded areas. And, try timing your rides for when you know your route will be less crowded.
Getting in 30 to 60 minutes of moderate to brisk activity can help your immune system keep viruses at bay. Be sure you know what’s going on in your area and if there are any restrictions or mandatory self-quarantines. And, if you’re sick or at-risk of spreading the virus, you shouldn’t go out." - Bicycling Magazine
Social Distance Cycling in NYC - Central Park & Prospect Park
Both parks are car-free and there’s plenty of roadway width to maintain 6+ feet between you and others.
Central Park Full Loop (6.1 miles, 340 feet of climbing)
Central Park – fewer hills (5.2 miles, 247 feet of climbing)
Central Park – Harlem Hill repeats (1.5 miles, 111 feet of climbing)
Prospect Park (3.4 miles, 136 feet of climbing)
Central Park to Wards & Randalls Island:
If you want a quieter, more chill experience away from crowds, this is a good option. It’s not a “go fast” sort of place, but that’s perfect right now. The only downside is that the paths you’ll be cycling on aren’t as wide as the roads in Central Park or Prospect Park so there may be brief moments where proper “social distancing” is difficult. But generally you’ll pass far fewer people on Wards & Randalls than you will in Central Park. Since you may never have gone there we’ve included safe routes between Central Park and Wards & Randalls Island.
https://ridewithgps.com/ routes/32177694 (5.1 miles, 123 feet of climbing)
https://ridewithgps.com/ routes/32177674 (4.1 miles, 107 feet of climbing
https://ridewithgps.com/ routes/32177727 (5.1 miles, 112 feet of climbing)
https://ridewithgps.com/ routes/32177579 (4.0 miles, 93 feet of climbing)
Best route from Central Park to Wards Island
Best route from Wards Island to Central Park
Suggestions For Safe Cycling During The Pandemic:
- Never ride if you’ve lost your sense of smell (loss of sense of smell indicates you may have a mild case of COVID-19 and could easily infect others)
- Never ride if you don’t feel up to it (malaise is an early symptom of COVID-19)
- Never ride if you have a low grade fever, cough or shortness of breath.
Think twice about riding if you’re in a risk group for complications from COVID-19. - Never encourage someone else to ride.
- If you have high viz outerwear, wear it.
- Use flashing lights front and back during daytime rides – they reduce your chances of crashes by 19%.
- Do not ride at dusk or dawn – that’s the most dangerous time for cyclists
Think twice about cycling at night. It’s safer to cycle during the day. - Take it easy, slow down, and don’t push yourself.
- Know your limits and stay well within them. Never try to keep up with someone else, or do what someone else does if you wouldn’t normally do it yourself.
- If something is potentially dangerous (an intersection, a pothole, a curb, etc.) handle the situation with an abundance of caution. Spend the extra 5-15 seconds it will probably take to handle the situation most safely.
- Choose routes that are as safe as possible and as uncrowded as possible (see list below for suggestions).
- Avoid taking the subway or a train to the start or from the end of the route.
- Try to stay 8 feet from other people when stopped (since you may underestimate how close you are). If you can both stretch out your arms and have your fingers touch, you’re definitely too close.
- Stay 20+ feet behind other riders except to pass.
- If you pass another rider on a roadway, use the entire lane to get distance between the two of you.
- If you pass another person on a trail, go to the far edge of the trail and pass as quickly as you (safely) can (most trails are only 6-8 feet wide).
- Check out Bicycling.com’s suggestions for cycling safely during the pandemic.
RIDES AND EVENTS CALENDAR
THU
26
MAR
THU
30
APR
MON
11
MAY
MON
25
MAY
WED
27
MAY
SUN
31
MAY
SUN
07
JUN
SUN
21
JUN
TUE
23
JUN
SUN
28
JUN
SAT
11
JUL
SAT
11
JUL
FRI
17
JUL
SAT
18
JUL
SAT
18
JUL
SAT
18
JUL
SAT
18
JUL
SAT
18
JUL
SAT
18
JUL
SAT
25
JUL
SAT
25
JUL
SAT
25
JUL
SAT
25
JUL
SAT
01
AUG
SAT
01
AUG
SAT
01
AUG
SAT
01
AUG
SAT
01
AUG
SAT
01
AUG
SAT
08
AUG
SAT
08
AUG
SAT
08
AUG
SAT
08
AUG
SAT
08
AUG
SAT
15
AUG
SAT
15
AUG
SAT
15
AUG
SAT
15
AUG
SAT
15
AUG
SAT
15
AUG
SAT
22
AUG
SAT
22
AUG
SAT
22
AUG
SAT
22
AUG
SAT
22
AUG
MON
24
AUG
SAT
29
AUG
WED
09
SEP
SUN
13
SEP
TUE
22
SEP
FRI
09
OCT
SAT
10
OCT
SUN
18
OCT
SAT
24
OCT
SUN
25
OCT
SAT
31
OCT
SAT
28
NOV
TUE
01
DEC
SUN
06
DEC
THU
10
DEC
SAT
12
DEC
SUN
13
DEC
THU
24
DEC
SUN
27
DEC
SAT
02
JAN
SUN
10
JAN
WED
20
JAN
THU
04
FEB
WED
03
MAR
SAT
20
MAR
SUN
21
MAR
SAT
27
MAR
SUN
04
APR
SAT
10
APR
SAT
10
APR
WED
14
APR
SAT
17
APR
SAT
17
APR
SAT
17
APR
SAT
17
APR
SAT
17
APR
TUE
20
APR
SAT
24
APR
SAT
24
APR
SAT
24
APR
SAT
24
APR
SAT
24
APR
SAT
01
MAY
SAT
01
MAY
SAT
01
MAY
SAT
01
MAY
SAT
01
MAY
SAT
01
MAY
THU
06
MAY
THU
06
MAY
FRI
07
MAY
FRI
07
MAY
SUN
09
MAY
SUN
09
MAY
SUN
09
MAY
SUN
09
MAY
SAT
15
MAY
SAT
15
MAY
SAT
15
MAY
SAT
15
MAY
SAT
15
MAY
SAT
15
MAY
SAT
22
MAY
SAT
22
MAY
SAT
22
MAY
SAT
22
MAY
SAT
22
MAY
SAT
29
MAY
THU
03
JUN
FRI
04
JUN
SAT
05
JUN
SAT
05
JUN
SAT
05
JUN
SAT
05
JUN
SAT
12
JUN
SUN
13
JUN
SAT
19
JUN
SUN
20
JUN
SAT
26
JUN
SAT
26
JUN
THU
01
JUL
SAT
03
JUL
TUE
06
JUL
THU
08
JUL
SUN
11
JUL
THU
15
JUL
THU
15
JUL
SAT
17
JUL
TUE
20
JUL
THU
22
JUL
SAT
24
JUL
SUN
25
JUL
TUE
27
JUL
SAT
25
SEP
FRI
15
OCT
RIDE LEVEL KEY
A - Speed Freak - Fast paceline ride
B - Steady Eddy - Moderately paced ride
C - Easy Rider - Gentle paced ride
The 'Ride Speed' indicates the target cruising speed on flat roads.