Children and Groups

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The TD Five Boro Bike Tour happily welcomes many families and groups to the ride each year.  Kids love the energy of the ride and the views of New York.  Here are some guidelines and suggestions for adults riding with children.

• There must be one adult for every one child.
• Children younger than three years old may not participate.
• Youth ages 3 to 9 must ride on a child bike seat, tandem bike, tagalong bike, or a bike trailer.
• Youth ages 10 to 13 can ride their own bicycles in proximity to their adult guardian.
• Youth ages 14-17 can ride their own bicycles but are subject to an adult registration fees and must have a registered adult riding in the tour.
• Complete the emergency contact information label inside your vest and those of any child you are escorting.
• Plan ahead in case you get separated. Instruct your child to seek out a Tour marshal wearing a yellow vest. The marshal will guide him or her to an info/reunion center. Staff there can communicate with other info/reunion centers and Tour Command to reunite you.
• Make sure your child has a phone. Decide on a nonriding person you both will call and make sure you have that phone number written out for each of you. If only the parent has a cell phone, make sure your young rider has that number.
• Finally, make sure your young rider has a little money so that if s/he reaches Fort Wadsworth before you, s/he can eat while waiting for you to arrive.

Riding with a group? Here are some tips to help you stay together.

• Make sure you and your friends have stored important phone numbers: a noncycling contact, the name and number of your hotel, and your group members’ home and cell numbers. Designate a noncycling friend to take calls during the Tour and be your personal message center.
• Make sure all cell phones are charged, and bring along quarters or a calling card for pay phones just in case.
• If you’re looking for someone, ride to the next rest area rather than waiting on the road, because your companion may be ahead of you. If you don’t find him or her at the rest area info/reunion center, tell the volunteers where you last saw the person.
• Plan to meet at the Festival info/reunion center at the end of the ride in case you need to regroup.
• Make sure everyone in your group knows the procedure.