The Tour de Flushing is back for its second year.
On Sunday, Aug. 19, cyclists of all ages are invited to this free, family-friendly event that takes participants on a scenic ride through Queens’ Greenbelt in Flushing. The 11-mile ride begins on the Western End of Kissena Corridor Park at the intersection of Main Street and Elder Avenue and will be broken up into two legs with an optional third leg.
Transportation Alternatives Eastern Queens Committee, The Greater Flushing Chamber of Commerce and Eastern Queens Greenway are the co-hosts for Sunday’s event.
The first leg of the ride is five miles long, starting at Kissena Corridor Park and going through the Queens Greenbelt to Cunningham Park. Following that leg, the second leg starts at the Vanderbilt Motor Parkway Greenway and finishes at Flushing Quaker Meeting Houses.
Those who are up for the challenge can participate in the optional third leg, which takes riders an extra three miles on the Vanderbilt Motor Parkway.
Free valet bicycle parking will be available at the Flushing Quaker Meeting House in Downtown Flushing and hosts will direct participants to a variety of eateries to try.
In addition to the ride, participants are also invited to learn and support several petitions related to the Tour de Flushing and expanding safe cycling in eastern Queens. The first petition requests a family-safe path through Kissena Corridor Park, with connections to Kissena Park and Flushing Meadows-Corona Park.
Another petition proposes to create a connector between the Motor Parkway bike and pedestrian trail in Queens and the planned 14-mile long Motor Parkway bike and pedestrian trail in Nassau County.
A third campaign proposes a redesign of Utopia Parkway, which includes reducing the speed limit, curb extensions at intersections, protected bike lanes and upgraded bus stops with shelters.
The Tour de Flushing takes place on Sunday, Aug. 19, beginning at 9 a.m. For more information on this free event, to make a donation or to RSVP, click here.
