Estimated reading time: 7 minutes

There are so many options when it comes to transportation in New York City. Whether you prefer taking the subway, hailing a cab, or walking the streets, the city has covered you. We had a lot of ground to cover on our recent trip to the Big Apple, and I wanted to bike my way through it.

The Empire State Trail

First, let’s discuss the Empire State Trail in New York City. At over 750 miles, it’s one of the longest multi-use trails in the nation. The trail was officially opened on December 31, 2020, fulfilling Governor Andrew Cuomo’s vision to create a continuous pathway connecting New York City to Canada and Albany to Buffalo.

While you are more than welcome to bike to Canada, this guide focuses on the section I took through New York City and highlights some other biking trails.

We rented our bikes from Citi Bikes (which I will give you some tips on in a bit). We started in Chelsea, taking the street bike paths to the Empire State Trail, next to the Hudson River Greenway.

The Hudson River Greenway is part of the Empire State Trail. It offers a scenic pathway along the Hudson River on the west side of Manhattan. This greenway provides a vital link for cyclists and pedestrians, connecting to other trails and parks along the riverfront.

The bike path is for bikes only; a pedestrian path runs alongside it near the water.

Part One: Bike Riding From Chelsea To One World Trade Center

The first part of our biking adventure brought us from Chelsea to One World Trade Center, which took about 20 minutes and covered almost 3 miles.

We first passed Little Island and Chelsea Market, where you can stop. Just check in your bike.

Then we continued as I could see the visuals of the One World Trade Center in the distance.

We docked our bikes across the street from the One World Trade Center to walk around and admire the area.

After exploring, we walked over the Brooklyn Bridge before catching a ferry to Williamsburg.

Part 2: Bike Riding From Williamsburg To Chelsea

We decided to take the 40 minutes, 8-mile bike ride from Williamsburg to Chelsea, which was ambitious.

But we thought working off the Hot Dog Cocktail was a good idea!

And the slices of pizza and Unique Olive Oil Gelato At L’Industrie Pizzeria! It is NYC after all!

First, we made our way onto the Williamsburg Bridge, which is no joke. It was hard, and I had to pull to the side to stop a few times. This wouldn’t be an issue on an electric bike, but if you’re going old school like we did, prepare to sweat.

Once we got over the Williamsburg Bridge, we passed along the East Village before turning left towards Battery Park. These trails are not part of the Empire State Trail; they are through an industrial zone. Just be aware of cars; you will see plenty of other bike riders.

Once we reached Battery Park, we returned to the Empire State Trail and went back towards Chelsea. We passed the One World Trade Center, Hudson Yards, and Little Island and then eventually arrived at our hotel.

Tips For Bike Riding The Empire State Trail

Here are a few tips.

• Always stop for pedestrians crossing the path. They have the right away.
• However, pedestrians are not allowed on the bike path. So if you see one, use your bell and tell them to leave.
• Don’t go too fast, and sometimes people get out across the way.
• Stay to the right so faster cyclists can pass.
• Bring antibacterial wipes; some of the CitiBikes are gross.
• Pack water and bike riding is a workout!
• Plan your route in advance and know when to stop off.
• Never stop on the trail. Pull the side. There are tons of pullouts along the route.
• Remember to have fun!

How To Rent A Bike For The Empire State Trail

Okay, now let’s talk about some tips for renting a bike in NYC. We did the 24-hour pass for $20 from Citi Bike.

Which meant we wouldn’t have to pay to unlock a bike, and the first thirty minutes were free. We would then be charged every minute after that.

We set a timer on our phone every time we unlocked the bike for 25 minutes. Once we approached that, we docked the bike and took it back out. This made it seem like a new ride, so we didn’t have to pay anything other than the $20.

This life hack may not work in smaller cities, but New York has a Citi Bike on almost every corner, which makes it easy.

$20 for twenty-four hours of bike riding can be cheaper than taking the subway. We also worked off all of the slices of pizza, ice cream, and cocktails we had.

Pro Tip: Download the Citi Bike App before heading to the docking station. Sometimes, service can be spotty, and you don’t want to have to load your credit card information in at the docking station.

Explore More Of New York City!

Want more to do in the area? Here 8 Amazing Things To Do In Chelsea NYC This Year.

Enjoy a night out: Best Speakeasies In NYC: 4 To Check Out.

Want good Italian Food? Visit Bar Primi: The Best New Italian Restaurant In NYC’s Penn District!

I recommend trying NYC’s Chinatown Ice Cream Shop: Soft Swerve. Then head over to Little Italy: Home To This Famous Cannoli.

Want some New York Pizza? Grab A Slice At The Pie Guy Pizza In NYC

Going to Brooklyn? Here is My Honest Review Of The Hot Dog Cocktail and a trip to try the The Unique Olive Oil Gelato At L’Industrie Pizzeria.

What are some of your favorites places in NYC?