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Tour D - Secret Streets
From High Finance to Hidden Chinatown
Tuesdays, 10:15 am - 5:00 pm
Get ready for a tour that has you smack in the middle of New York City’s action.
First, we head past Union Square, the place of every protest, from basic to bizarre.
Next, we’re in Greenwich Village at the Stonewall Inn, symbol of the
Gay Liberation movement. From “the Village,” we ride along the
Hudson River Greenway to Wall Street, where we are caught up in the frantic
pace of high finance. Bankers rub shoulders with bike messengers, and
brokers down their lunch as fast as the fluctuation of the stock market.
Then to Ground Zero, to experience that tragic day and the agonizing months
that followed. In typical New York fashion, the city has bounced back.
The new Number 7 World Trade Center, with its amazing streaming video,
captures this sense of optimism.
Crossing the Brooklyn Bridge, we’ll learn the story of this architectural
wonder. Once in Brooklyn we’ll find tranquility, colorful life, spectacular views,
and some amazing history of an underground railroad stop. We’ll discover how
unique churches, a few tropical fruits, and a fabulous hotel made Brooklyn
Heights one of New York’s gems.
If the Brooklyn Bridge is New York’s heart, the Manhattan Bridge is its pulse,
which we ride over into busy Chinatown. On one street secret meetings were held
to overthrow the dynasties of China. On another, an alley leads to the site of
one of New York’s strangest gang fights. Dim Sum cafes, street signs stacked
one behind the other, and Chinese funeral parlors-they’re all there.
Our final stop has us coming face to face with our ever changing city.
Here we ride through a thin strip of territory that was once a
very big "Little Italy." As waiters serving pasta and saltimbocca
from open air cafes pause to salute us, we realize that only one
floor above, other residents are burning incense and setting
fruits aside as offerings to Buddha.
Our return to the bike shop allows us time to reflect and realize something
very special. Wow, we’ve just conquered the Big Apple!
Note: This vibrant tour is designed to experience New York City on a typical
workday. The very nature of the locations will involve some traffic congestion.
If you are uncomfortable riding in these conditions, you may wish to choose one
of our other tours.
This tour leaves every Tuesday, year-round, weather permitting, at 10:15 am, a few blocks from Union Square in Manhattan. It
is approximately 12 miles and will last about 7 hours.
The $90 cost includes the bike, a helmet, and the licensed tour guide (food and drink extra; $10 less with your own bike).
Click below to reserve your spot:
(Enter the date you would like a reservation on, then click "Reserve Spot")
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