UPDATE: the route and content for this tour has changed.

Join JBRPC for a unique biking tour through the past, present, and future of New York City’s first municipal airport—now part of Gateway National Recreation Area and one of the city’s most extraordinary natural and historic landscapes. This guided ride will take you across some of Floyd Bennett Field’s vast runways and hidden trails, highlighting its aviation history, important natural areas that provide critical habitat for birds and other wildlife, ongoing restoration efforts, and the careful stewardship that helps protect this special place.

The tour begins in front of the Ryan Visitor Center, where participants will be introduced to Floyd Bennett Field. We’ll then proceed to historic Hangars 3 and 4 to learn about the exciting plans for their adaptive reuse. These landmarked buildings are poised to be transformed into a dynamic destination for community and art events, food and beverage offerings, visitor amenities for adventures in nature, and a new hub for nature-based jobs and technologies.

Cycling the original concrete runways, we’ll head to the North 40 Natural Area, making a stop at the Jean Bourque Memorial Bird Blind overlooking a freshwater pond—a sanctuary for fall-migrating birds and a testament to grassroots conservation efforts led by Jean Bourque and her husband Ron. From there, the ride will continue to the kayak launch for views of Mill Basin, then onward to Raptor Point and the Seaplane Ramp, where sweeping views reveal Jamaica Bay’s surrounding parklands and marsh islands.

The tour will continue past Hangar B (currently closed, but housing an extraordinary collection of historic aircraft beautifully restored by NPS Historic Aircraft Restoration Program volunteers), before a final ride through extensive grasslands, where we will scan the skies for hawks, kestrels, and other seasonal visitors.

We will then cycle over to the Marian Heiskell Native Grass Nursery, Ecology Village, and the Floyd Bennett Field Archery Range. Our final stop of the tour will be at the fishing beach on Rockaway Inlet – the gateway to Jamaica Bay, one of the most ecologically significant estuaries in the region – before heading back to the Ryan Visitor Center.

This event offers a rare chance to experience Floyd Bennett Field’s expansive landscapes by bike, connecting its rich history with its exciting future as a hub for nature, innovation, and community in New York City.

Tour Details: Approximately 7.5 miles, flat terrain on paved and packed surfaces. Suitable for beginner cyclists; ages 12 and up. Participants should bring their own bicycles, helmets (mandatory for all riders), and water.

Participants are required to bring their own bicycles, water, and helmets. Helmets are required for all riders. This bike tour will cover approximately 7.5 miles of flat terrain on paved and packed surfaces. Much of the ride will be on open runways with limited shade. Riders should wear sun protection.

The tour is suitable for beginner riders, ages 12+. Every person attending, including children, requires a ticket.