New York Opens Protected Cycling Routes for Families Across Parks

The New York City Department of Transportation completed 12 additional miles of protected bike lanes this spring that connect directly to park entrances, giving families and new riders direct access to car-free loops.

Summer demand for outdoor activity has risen sharply since 2024, when city health department data showed a 28 percent increase in family park visits during July and August. Parents cite traffic concerns and the need for beginner terrain as reasons they now seek these routes over street riding.

Central Park and Hudson River options

The 6.1-mile Central Park loop remains closed to motor vehicles on weekends and after 8 p.m. weekdays, with entry points at Columbus Circle and 72nd Street. Riders can reach it via the protected lane on Central Park West that was widened in 2025. Further south, the Hudson River Greenway runs 5 miles from Battery Park City to 59th Street with a 12-foot-wide path separated by a concrete barrier and frequent Citi Bike stations at Pier 40 and 14th Street.

Both routes stay level, avoid intersections with cars for long stretches, and pass restrooms and water fountains maintained by NYC Parks. The Hudson path also links to the new protected lanes along West Street that opened in April.

Usage numbers and first steps

NYC Parks recorded 4,800 participants in its free family cycling clinics held on the first Saturday of each month through June, up from 3,100 last year. A single-day Citi Bike pass costs $15, and helmets are available for $10 at the 72nd Street station kiosk. Riders under 16 must wear helmets by city rule.

Begin at the Columbus Circle Citi Bike dock for the Central Park loop or the Pier 26 station for the Hudson Greenway. Check the NYC DOT bike map app for real-time lane closures before heading out, and carry water on days when temperatures exceed 85 degrees.