SKYSCRAPERS AND SWAMPS: 3,000 FROM NEW YORK AND BEYOND GET READY TO SEE IT ALL BY BIKE ON THE NYC CENTURY BICYCLE TOUR!

HOSTED BY TRANSPORTATION ALTERNATIVES ON SEPTEMBER 12, 1998

September 4, 1998
Visit the NYC Century Web site.

Look out! Transportation Alternatives' 9th Annual New York City Century Bike Tour is on your wheel! On Saturday, September 12th 3,000 riders from NYC and beyond will hit the streets, greenways, and parks of Manhattan, Queens, Brooklyn and the Bronx for the ultimate urban adventure.

For the past eight years the NYC Century has been a tour of discovery for visitors and natives alike. "The route really goes deep into the heart of the city. There's no better way that I can think of to explore New York. On the one hand there are these sweeping vistas like the view from the Triborough Bridge or from the bikepath along the bay. On the other hand, because you're on your bike, you have the chance to peek into all of these different neighborhoods, different worlds," said Ellen Cavanagh, the event's co-director. Riders will also enjoy six rest stops and the Central Park finish for the three R's - refueling, rehydrating, and relaxing. Munch out on tasty fare with style ¾ who else has PowerBars, hummus and pita, Ben and Jerry's ice cream, Krispy Kreme Doughnuts, gourmet bread, fruit galore and more?!

Three route distances are available - 40(starts- 8 am), 75 (starts- 7am), or 100 miles (starts-6 am). All routes begin and end at Central Park's gorgeous Harlem Meer at 110th St. Registered riders receive a commemorative Century t-shirt in 100% organic cotton by Patagonia. The registration fee is $35 till 9/11 and $40 on ride day. (Transportation Alternatives members receive $5 off all fees.) Riders who fundraise by getting sponsors to pledge a donation are in the running for prizes - top prizes include a bike trailer donated by B.O.B. Trailers and a Specialized mountain bike courtesy of New York's own Metro Bicycles. Additional details are available in registration brochures available at local bike shops, or on the web at www.transalt.org. Interested riders or volunteers can also call 212 629 3311 and leave a message.

Sponsors of the 1998 NYC Century Bike Tour include the Wildlife Conservation Society, Patagonia, PowerBar, Ben & Jerry's, Bicycle Habitat, Metro Bicycles, Toga Bike Shop, Krispy Kreme, Tribe of Two Sheiks Hummus, Kontos Foods, Chiquita, NY Apple Institute, Terra Chips, Breuggers, Gatorade and Bicycling Magazine.
* Gear Up for the Century Night at Patagonia, with Toga Bike Shop, is Sept. 2nd at 6:30 pm.*

Come for free Bike Safety Checks, Century Q&A, PowerBars, Ben and Jerry's & more!
The NYC Century Bike Tour - still the nation's only urban century - benefits Transportation Alternatives, (T.A.). T.A. is a grassroots non-profit organization working for a better urban environment through sustainable transportation such as cycling, walking, skating and transit. T.A.'s victories include ramped bike access to the George Washington and Brooklyn Bridges, wide on-street bicycle lanes, 24-hour/day subway bike access, commuter train bike access, federal funding for bike racks, traffic calming measures like speed humps, and more.