Thousands of cyclists flooded the Grand Concourse headed south at 161st Street on Oct. 6th, for the 30th Anniversary of Tour de Bronx.
More than 4,000 riders registered for the free, family-friendly event, which is sponsored by the Bronx Tourism Council and the Office of Borough President Vanessa L. Gibson and others. Riders can choose to complete 10, 25, or 40-mile routes across and through the borough.
All the rides culminated at the New York Botanical Garden, where riders relaxed in the garden with free food, raffle giveaways, and celebrated with a performance by Estella Star, Amadeus, and much more.
“It’s an amazing day to ride!” said 46-year-old Rosa Villa, as she strapped the helmet of her youngest daughter, preparing to tackle the 10-mile route with her husband and son and daughter. “My husband and I actually rode this back before the kids were born. It was probably like 2010 and so this is our first time riding as a family.”
Cindy Lamma, a 28-year-old Bronnxite, has been enjoying the streets of the Bronx since she was little. “It’s more like a flashback memory and I’m glad that I’m here in the Bronx,” she said, explaining that this year her father was riding with her and her sister for the first time.
Bringing families and community together, advancing fitness, and advocating for safer streets and the improvement of biking infrastructure throughout the Bronx, are among the goals of the Tour de Bronx, said Shawn Garcia, the director of advocacy for Transportation Alternatives, which organizes around access to the city’s streets for walkers and cyclists.
“Today is a beautiful social moment to bring everybody together, celebrate the world, celebrate, you know, the freedom of being on a bicycle in the world,” he said as the sun glared on his glasses at the Botanical gardens, awaiting the arrival of bikers.
Energy was high as riders stretched their legs, in the minutes before the ride began, grooving to latino music and afro-beats blasting from stereos along the Concourse. Among the crowd was 61-year-old Trisha Diggs, who was shaking her hips mirroring the moves of the zumba instructor on stage. Diggs was riding not only for fitness, but to show that she is alive and that she has more life in her, she said.
51-year-old Edwin Acosta, who was riding the 40-mile route, expected to be sore by the end of it. “Be ready to endure some pain,” he said.
Others rode to mark a tragedy or offer support for their community.
“You gotta ride for a cause. Whether somebody passes in your family or you do it for yourself,” said Leo Ortiz, 55, who rode the 40-mile route in memory of his father, and with the support of the Latino Americano bike group. “Bottom line, you gotta take care of your health, especially when you get to.”
Chris Acevedo took on the 40-mile route with friends from Con Edison. “I’m here to support one of my co-workers who’s been doing a bunch of these tours and we thought it would be fun to come do it as a group,” he said. “We work out of the Bronx and Westchester, and we’re just supporting one another today.”
Garcia, the Transportation Alternatives staff member, emphasized the important role volunteers and community members played in changing the landscape of bike transportation. In the first few years after the long Covid-19 shutdowns, fewer people showed up for the Tour de Bronx, Garcia said. Organizers and loyalists worked hard to make the 30th Anniversary a return to pre-pandemic number, energy and fun.
“Here it is kind of being reborn!” Garcia said.
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