As I have said before, Central Park is my favorite place in New York City.  There is so much to see and it is beautiful all year around.  It is such an oasis in this amazing concrete jungle I now call home.  

I spend a lot of time in the park running, picnicking, taking pictures, and attending events.  However, it took me eleven years to go biking in Central Park.  It was worth the wait!

Are you thinking about doing a bike ride in Central Park? Let me share my experience and give you a few tips.

Anisa biking in Central Park.

Anisa on her bike from Central Park Sightseeing.

Renting a Bike in Central Park

If you don’t have a bike at your disposal, don’t fret.  It is easy to rent one at Central Park Sightseeing.  

They have a Central Park bike shop where you can rent bicycles by the hour, day, etc.  They also have helmets (only required if you are under 14), locks, maps, and baskets if you like.  In addition to their Central Park bike rental services, Central Park Sightseeing does bicycle tours and rollerblade rentals too!  

My readers can use the discount code Tex50 on the Central Park Sightseeing website to get 50% off renting a bike in Central Park.  They recommend booking 48 hours in advance and you will need either a valid ID or credit card for a deposit.

I decided I would give biking in Central Park a try and my friends, Teju and Kerry, came along for the ride.  We wanted to get to the park early so that it wouldn’t be too crowded. 

We arrived at the Central Park Sightseeing store a few minutes before it was supposed to open.  People were already getting bikes.  You could tell the operation was a finely tuned machine and they knew what they were doing.  They got everyone on their way quickly.  

We walked our bikes to the entrance of the park.  Right away, we noticed the seats seemed to have extra cushioning which was nice.  

Our plan was to bike the six-mile loop that goes around Central Park.  This road has marked bike and pedestrian lanes so it is great for running too.  Doing this route is a great way to see the park, but if you wanted to see more or less, you can ask the folks at Central Park Sightseeing for advice creating your own self-guided bike tour.

The six mile loop has lanes for biking in Central Park and running.

The six-mile loop has lanes for biking and running.

Our Bike Ride in Central Park

None of us had been on a bike in years, but as they say, you never forget how to ride a bike.  

We entered the park at the intersection of 59th St. and 6th Avenue.  Inside the park, 6th avenue turns into Center Street and feeds into the main loop, just keep right when you get to the next intersection.  All bikes are supposed to go counter-clockwise around the park.

Those of you that have been in Central Park know it is pretty hilly.  There were some challenging uphills but it was nice that there were also some nice downhill sections that where you could coast and catch your breathe.

Taking a little break from biking in Central Park.

Taking a little break from biking in Central Park.

The first landmark that we passed was the Mall.  This is one of the most iconic spots in Central Park.  From the Central Park bike loop, you can only see the beginning of it, but at this point in the year, it is just beautiful with the trees full of leaves.  If you like, you could walk up the Mall and check out the Bethesda Fountain.

The next notable spot that we biked by was the Loeb Boathouse.  This is where you can rent rowboats and it is also a very nice restaurant.  The Boathouse is a great place to have a fancy lunch and watch all the people rowing on the Lake, but we didn’t stop because we were in our workout clothes.

We saw the Metropolitan Museum of Art biking in Central Park.

The six mile loop goes right by the Metropolitan Museum of Art.

A little further up the road you will see the Metropolitan Museum of Art on your right and Cleopatra’s Needle on your left.  Cleopatra’s Needle, also known as the Obelisk, is the oldest man-made structure in Central Park.  It was actually commissioned in Egypt back in 1350 BC and then erected in 1881 in Central Park!

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We saw the Obelisk also known as Cleopatra's Needle biking in Central Park.

The Obelisk also known as Cleopatra’s Needle.

Once you get to 103rd street, there is a turnoff to the left if you want to make the loop 4 miles.  

After the 103rd St Transverse, you will hit what I call the Heartbreak (or Harlem) Hills.  These are the toughest hills in the park.  You go downhill first.  As you go down you will see the Harlem Meer on your right.  Then the long uphill starts.  I have run these hills many times, and I will say that while biking them was not easy, it was easier than running them.

At the bottom of the biggest downhill while biking in Central Park you see the Harlem Meer.

At the bottom of the biggest downhill, you see the Harlem Meer.

The next landmark you pass is the Pool on your right.  The Pool is one of the most beautiful spots in the northern end of the park that a lot of people don’t know about.

Then, you will catch a glimpse of the tennis center on your left. You can also see the Reservoir, which is a great place to go running.  

A little further up the Lake will be on your left and you may be able to see some people rowing.  As you continue biking, you pass by the Sheep Meadow, which is my favorite spot in Central Park.   

We passed by the lake biking in Central Park.

Through the trees, you can see the Lake.

Lap Two and Brunch in Central Park

We were having so much fun we decided to go for another loop.  This time we took the turnoff for the 103nd St Transverse to make the loop a little shorter and avoid those steep hills.  

We stopped off at Le Pain Quotidien by Sheep Meadow and got a bite to eat before returning our bikes.  There is a small outside seating area, and it’s casual enough that you don’t feel out of place in workout clothes.

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My brunch - smoked salmon, soft boiled egg, and riccota - a nice break while biking in Central

My brunch – smoked salmon, soft boiled egg, and ricotta

Also, I should mention that we noticed an obvious police presence in Central Park.  Occasionally, we saw police cars (which would patiently wait for you to move out of the way) and also police on horseback.  I think they were mostly watching out to see if anyone was injured.  So if you wanted to do a Central Park bike ride by yourself, you should feel comfortable.

You can get a better idea of what it is like to go for a bike ride in Central Park in my video.

Is Biking in Central Park Worth It?

Yes, I’m glad I finally went biking in Central Park.  It’s a different way to see the area.  We had a lot of fun and got great exercise too.  I will definitely do it again.  

Anyone else want to rent bicycles in Central Park?   Have you gone biking in Central Park? I would love to hear about your experience and any tips.  

-Anisa

Pin for Later

bike with central park and nyc skyline in background with text

Expert Tips for Your Central Park Bike Rental

  • Use the code Tex50 to get 50% off your bike rental with Central Park Sightseeing.  Bike Rentals are also included in some NYC sightseeing passes.
  • Plan to go for your bike ride early, before Central Park gets crowded.
  • Take a break and refuel at Le Pain.

Disclosure: No financial compensation was received, but the Central Park Sightseeing Bike Rentals & Tours did provide complimentary bike rentals.  As always, opinions expressed here are my own. 

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Last Updated on January 26, 2022