Bike New York is hosting its first ever Bike Expo, 3 May through Saturday, 5 May at Pier 36, Basketball City.
The event, which started yesterday, is a precursor to the annual TD Five Boro Bike Tour (May 6th) and the inaugural Expo celebrating NYC’s thriving biking community, Bike Expo New York features lessons, BMX stunt shows, pop-up spin classes, nutrition advice, presentations, lectures, jugglers, film screenings, live music, merchandise from over 90 exhibitors, and much more.
The Expo’s concept and design is inspired by the overwhelming recent influx of bikers into NYC streets and aims to “emulate its host city in intimate detail.” Crosswalks, simulated bike lanes, iconic NY images and street signs will decorate the event. Moreover, the Expo is intended to herald New York’s development into a major center of cycling culture. “With more than 700 miles of bike lanes, expanding bicycle education programs and the imminent launch of bike share, New York is now a world class cycling city,” claimed promoters on their website. Bike Expo New York was developed in this spirit, to not only highlight biking, but to showcase its growth in the greatest city in the world.”
The Expo kicked off at noon, yesterday, with themed, pop-up spin classes hosted by Kiwi Sweat, which will take place on a terrace overlooking the Hudson River. Other highlights include a slideshow about Frank G. Lenz hosted by bike historian David V. Herlihy, a Fastest Mechanic Competition in which “amateur bike mechanics go head to head in an all-out bout for bike repair supremacy,” and a presentation about the benefits of the Mediterranean diet for athletes, presented by Parmesan.com.
Friday’s line-up features the BMX Action Sports Showcase at noon and at 3pm — the course will be open to the public when shows are not in session. The Expo continues in style on Saturday, with two bike fashion shows presented by Momentum Magazine, amongst other events. The TD Five Boro Bike Tour closes out the festival on Sunday. Riders start out north of Battery Park at 7:45am and arrive at Staten Island’s Ferry Terminal by early evening. For a full schedule events, check out the Expo’s calendar.
Presentations will be held in mock parks (Courtesy Anna Shukeylo)
As a non-profit bicycle education and safety group, Bike New York have been helping shape the city’s urban biking community since 1977, though Communications Director Brent Tongco says the organization has truly come into their own during the last decade, alongside the rising popularity of commuting by bike. “We had five education centers in 2011,” he said, “and we’ve already expanded to nine in 2012.” Tongco’s estimate for the Expo’s attendance numbers is 32,000, but it will likely be much higher, as this figure only represents the people registered for the Sunday’s Tour.
Best of all, admission to the Bike Expo New York is free, and all proceeds raised from its events and lessons will all go towards Bike New York’s expanding bicycle education program.