April 6, 2007 (New York, NY) – The largest cycling event in the nation is turning 30! Bike New York, in association with the City of New York and the New York City Department of Transportation, announced today that the COMMERCE BANK FIVE BORO BIKE TOUR will return to the city streets on Sunday, May 6, 2007. The Tour, which is presented by Con Edison, travels 42 miles through New York City using traffic-free streets, highways, and bridges. Prospective riders and volunteers should visit www.BikeNewYork.org for more information.

Founded in 1977 with just 250 participants, this non-competitive ride has grown to involve more than 31,000 cyclists and 1,500 volunteers, including fitness enthusiasts, families, and friends from around the globe. Changes in store for the 30th anniversary edition include welcome stations as riders cross borough lines, expanded facilities for riders with disabilities, enhancements to the post-ride Festival, and an optional scenic loop through Fort Wadsworth in Gateway National Recreation Area on Staten Island.

“We are thrilled to celebrate the Commerce Bank Five Boro Bike Tour’s 30th anniversary,” stated Bike New York Executive Director Pam Tice. “To be eligible for landmark status in New York, a building has to be 30 years old. We’ve reached that milestone and are stronger than ever thanks to the special nature of the event and the city it travels through. There truly is no better way to see New York than from a bike, on Tour day.”

The Tour starts in Battery Park in Lower Manhattan. Taking advantage of traffic-free roads, it travels north through the heart of Manhattan to Central Park and continues on to historic Harlem and the Bronx, returning south along the East River on the FDR Drive. From there it crosses into Queens and then Brooklyn, where cyclists take over the highway before making the thrilling climb up–and down–the Verrazano-Narrows Bridge. The Tour ends with a celebratory Festival on Staten Island. After enjoying the live entertainment, exhibits, and food concessions, riders take a free ride on the Staten Island Ferry back to Manhattan, completing the ultimate of New York experiences.

Bike New York’s Bicycle Education Program is a primary beneficiary of Tour proceeds. Its offerings this year include a Family Bike Fest in Manhattan’s Riverside Park on April 21, some 20 editions of “Teach Your Child to Ride a Bike,” monthly Savvy Cyclist classes for adults, a new Bike Commuting seminar, and custom programs for groups. All programs are free and focus on cycling skills and safety.

The Commerce Bank Five Boro Bike Tour receives valuable support from its partnerships with sponsors. A multiyear title sponsorship agreement with Commerce Bank, beginning with the 30th anniversary Tour, was announced earlier this year and marks the event’s first top-level sponsorship since 1990. Long-time presenting sponsor Con Edison is returning for its 11th Tour, and Bonita Bananas, Jamaica Hospital Medical Center, Snapple, New York Sports Clubs, the Toyota-United Pro Cycling Team, and the New York Marriott Financial Center are also returning. New sponsors this year include Promise Buttery Spread, Fresh 102.7 FM, and the CW 11.

Registration for the Tour is available online, by mail, by fax, and in person for the discounted price of $42 until April 6, after which the fee increases. After April 23, the only way to register is in person. Early registration is encouraged; come Tour day, if the event has reached capacity, no new registrations will be accepted. Riders who register in time will receive their 2007 Tour vest, rider and helmet number, and the Tour Program/Ride Guide in the mail. For more information and to register, please visit www.BikeNewYork.org or call Bike New York at 212 932 BIKE (2453).