TD Five Boro Bike Tour Is Great For Riders, Not So Great For Drivers
NEW YORK (CBSNewYork) - It's a gain for some, a pain for others.
Organizer Ken Podziba told 1010 WINS' Glenn Schuck that the TD Five Boro Bike Tour is a major gain for "our great city."
1010 WINS' Glenn Schuck reports
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"It's the largest biking event in the United States, with 32,000 people riding throughout the five boroughs," Podziba said. "It's a wonderful event. It's a liberating event because it's the only day of the year where cyclists can ride car-free throughout the city of New York."
WCBS 880's Monica Miller reports
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But it's certainly a pain for many taxi drivers. One told Schuck that he worked early Sunday morning and then packed it in.
"Two hours from now I'm not going to continue the day," the driver said. "I can't take the traffic!"
The Staten Island-bound lanes of the Verrazano-Narrows Bridge was closed to car traffic until 6 p.m., and traffic heading towards Brooklyn at the Brooklyn-Battery Tunnel was diverted to Hamilton Avenue until 3:30 p.m. Also, the ramp to the Robert F. Kennedy Bridge off the FDR Drive was closed until noon, causing all Manhattan-bound traffic to be directed to exit at 125th Street.
But event participants told CBS 2's Dick Brennan that they were not bothered by the bridge and tunnel closings.
"I love the energy and the spirit, it's absolutely the most energetic event in America," said cyclist Susan Grinshpun.
The event isn't just a healthy way to see the city, it also helps support a good cause. Proceeds from the event will go to Bike New York's Education Fund.
Did you drive in the city today? Was the traffic unbearable? Offer your stories and comments in the section below...
