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Transportation Alternatives’ Half Century Bike Tour Fundraiser celebrates 50 years of advocacy and community

August 16, 2023 Special from Transportation Alternatives
About 2,000 bike riders to participate in the NYC Half Century.
Photos courtesy of Transportation Alternatives
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INDUSTRY CITY — On Sunday, Sept. 10, about 2,000 cyclists from all across New York City and beyond will participate in the one-time-only NYC Half Century bike tour to celebrate Transportation Alternatives’ (TA) 50th anniversary and legacy of creating safer streets. The ride — sponsored by Bike Rent NYC, Brooklyn Brewery, Vaccaro Law, Adam White Law, and NYC Ferry — and hosted at Industry City supports Transportation Alternatives’ advocacy work benefiting all five boroughs.

Open to all abilities, the NYC Half Century takes cyclists through Brooklyn, Manhattan, and Queens. Bike Rent NYC will provide convenient bike rental options. The 10-, 35- and 50- mile routes highlight iconic sites of TA advocacy wins such as the Brooklyn Bridge’s fully protected bike lane. The route also spotlights active campaigns like the Queensboro Bridge, while offering expansive views of the city, including from the Hudson River Greenway.

More than 200 TA volunteer marshals will ride alongside participants, providing route guidance, ensuring safety, and helping with minor repairs.

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“We invite everyone to experience the unbridled energy and pulse of the city on bike,” Kathy Park Price, Transportation Alternatives Brooklyn Organizer, said. “The ride is also a testament to how far we’ve come as a city in advancing the needs of cyclists and pedestrians alike.”

The ride culminates in a Finish Line Festival at Industry City and will feature music, specials on food and drinks, sponsor tents, a VIP picnic on the lawn, and more. The festival will be a celebratory time for participants to eat, drink, and gather for fun before the summer ends. Beloved New York City brands such as Ample Hills will be creating special victory-themed sweets. Brooklyn Brewery, SixPoint, and City Winery will be sampling a variety of alcoholic and non-alcoholic beverages, available while supplies last.

“Transportation Alternatives’ mission for safer NYC streets is vital to communities like ours at Industry City, and we are excited to partner with them on this iconic event. 50 years of advocacy for vibrant and accessible streets is an incredible milestone, and we are proud that they’ve chosen to celebrate with us at the Industry City campus,” said Jim Somoza, Managing Director at Industry City.

Tickets range from General Admission to VIP, and include a Finish Line Festival only ticket for non-cyclists wishing to partake in the festivities. VIP ticket holders are guaranteed first-wave ride access, a VIP picnic lawn, and a branded Half Century t-shirt.

All finishing cyclists take home a victory medal to commemorate the anniversary ride.

Map highlighted above is from a previous year’s bike tour by TA.

WHAT: NYC Half Century Bike Tour

WHEN: Sunday, Sept. 10, 2023

WHERE: Ride begins and ends at Industry City, Brooklyn.

WHO: About 2,000 cyclists of all ages biking up to three boroughs.

MORE INFORMATION: transalt.org/half-century

About Transportation Alternatives

For 50 years, Transportation Alternatives has led the movement for safe, equitable streets in New York City because streets belong to the people of New York City. TA uses a combination of neighborhood-level grassroots organizing and citywide advocacy to push for changes in public policy, street design, enforcement, and resource allocation that transform our city’s streets for the better.

About Industry City

Industry City is an iconic 6 million-square-foot complex located on the Brooklyn waterfront, featuring 16 buildings and a vibrant mix of tenants that represent today’s innovation economy as well as traditional manufacturing. Over $450 million has been invested in infrastructure improvements to give visitors a truly unique experience with open courtyards, international cuisine, design retail, event programming, and designated event spaces. With both whiteboxed and raw industrial spaces, the campus offers diverse backgrounds for a variety of event types– from corporate trade shows and meetings to fashion shows, film shoots, and large scale celebrations. Visit industrycity.com to learn more.


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