Bronx Borough President Ruben Diaz Jr. hosted a press conference at Woodlawn Cemetery to encourage cyclists to participate in the upcoming Tour de Bronx, the largest free cycling event in New York State, which will take place on Sunday, October 22, 2017.
The Tour de Bronx was established in 1994 by the office of the Bronx Borough President and The Bronx Tourism Council as a means to promote a healthier lifestyle, encourage alternate modes of transportation and as a way to see the borough and its attractions.
“This is one of my favorite events of the year,” said Bronx Borough President Ruben Diaz Jr., who plans on participating in the event as he has done in the past. “The Tour De Bronx not only emphasizes maintaining a healthy lifestyle, complementing our ‘#Not62’ initiative to improve the overall health of our borough, but it also highlights our historical sites, beautiful waterfronts and vibrant neighborhoods, showcasing the best we have to offer to both our residents and visitors from around the world. We welcome riders from across the region and around the globe to see The Bronx as they have never seen it before.”
Participants come from all over the country and choose from two possible routes; a 25-mile ride or a 40-mile route; taking riders through different areas of The Bronx, including Clason Point along the East River, Castle Hill, Morrisania, Pelham Bay Park, historic Fort Schuyler on the Throggs Neck peninsula, the nautical community of City Island, and more. Both routes culminate at the iconic New York Botanical Garden, where riders receive a complimentary souvenir T-shirt and enjoy a live musical performance and refreshments as they relax from the day’s event.
The Tour De Bronx has grown exponentially since its inception. In 2016 the event saw a record-breaking 8,000+ registrants. This year, The Bronx Tourism Council has partnered with Ride with GPS, a route-mapping tool designed for cycling and walking. This app will, not only, alert riders where to turn using voice navigation, it will also indicate neighborhoods and give a brief history of various parts of the borough as riders make their way to the end point.
“We’re thrilled to partner with The Bronx Tourism Council to help promote the longest-running free cycling event in New York. With easy-to-use maps and voice navigation, riders will stay on course to appreciate the rich culture and history of the Bronx,” said Kevin Prentice, director of support & business development at Ride with GPS.
“This is a highly-anticipated event for many cycling enthusiasts and casual riders alike. Utilizing the GPS technology Bronxites and visitors will experience the borough in a more fun and unique way,” said Olga Luz Tirado, executive director of The Bronx Tourism Council.
“There’s a reason we continue to be involved in this wonderful event year after year”, said Steven M. Safyer MD, President and CEO, Montefiore. “It reinforces the deep ties we have to the Bronx and our dedication to supporting a fit and healthy community. This year, more of our Montefiore physicians are riding as they know firsthand that exercise is not only good preventive medicine, but it’s also fun. Believe it or not, our goal is to keep people out of the doctor’s office! Kudos to the Borough President and the Bronx Tourism Council for making this such a priority too.”
The Tour de Bronx is made possible by Montefiore; Bronx Lebanon Hospital Center; St. Barnabas Health System; and Mercy College. Additional support is provided by The Bronx Overall Economic Development Corporation; The Business Initiatives Corporation of New York; The Coca Cola Company; Domino’s Pizza; The Nature’s Bounty Co.; the Castle Hill Y; Woodlawn Cemetery; the New York Botanical Garden; and Fordham University.
The event is also supported by the New York City Department of Transportation; the New York City Fire Department; the New York City Police Department; The New York Department of Sanitation and Transportation Alternatives.
Log onto www.tourdebronx.com to register or for more information.