wellness
Upper West Side Adds Protected Cycling Routes Through Riverside Park
Protected paths through Riverside Park and nearby greenways give Upper West Side households low-stress options for group rides this summer.
How we reported this
Riverside Park's southbound bike lane from 72nd Street to 96th Street recorded 8,400 family group passes in June 2026, according to NYC Parks Department counters.
Summer heat and school breaks have pushed more households outdoors, and the Upper West Side's wellness scene has responded with emphasis on accessible exercise that does not require gym memberships or advanced skills. Local families cite traffic concerns on Amsterdam Avenue and Broadway as reasons they now favor the park corridors instead.
The Hudson River Greenway section inside Riverside Park runs flat and separated from motor traffic for nearly two miles. A second option sits one block east: the car-free loop road on the western edge of Central Park between 72nd and 81st Streets, which stays closed to vehicles on weekends through Labor Day. Bike New York maintains a pop-up repair station at the 77th Street entrance on Saturdays from 9 a.m. to noon.
Route details and access points
Citi Bike stations sit at Riverside Drive and 72nd Street and at West 79th Street near the Boat Basin. A day pass costs $15 and covers unlimited 30-minute rides. Riders who want longer segments can continue north on the Greenway past the 96th Street pedestrian bridge without leaving the protected path. Restrooms and water fountains operate at the 79th Street and 91st Street fields inside Riverside Park.
NYC DOT data from 2025 showed a 22 percent rise in weekday bicycle counts on the Greenway segment between 59th and 72nd Streets compared with the prior year. Helmet use among observed riders under age 12 reached 94 percent at the same counters.
Getting started this weekend
Parents can download the free NYC Bike Map app for turn-by-turn directions that keep riders on protected lanes. Morning rides before 10 a.m. avoid the heaviest pedestrian traffic near the 72nd Street dog run. Riders should yield at every crosswalk and keep speeds under 10 miles per hour when children are present. Local precinct community affairs officers hold a free safety talk at the 86th Street precinct house on the first Saturday of each month at 11 a.m.