Spring 2026 Bicycle Interest Group Newsletter

Dear Columbia Bicycle Interest Group,  

Welcome to Spring! As the weather warms up, we are excited to share the latest updates on bicycle news and events across the University and the city.

We strongly encourage the Columbia community to use safe bicycling as a healthy and sustainable transportation choice. Bicycle commuting supports Columbia's commitment to sustainability, detailed in Plan 2030.

Happy riding!

Columbia News

Redesign of Wien bike enclosure to accommodate scooters and larger e-bikes

A redesign of the Wien bike enclosure will better accommodate scooters and e-bikes. Currently, the racks are double-layered and do not allow comfortable parking for e-bikes, and scooter switches are usually heavier and larger than regular bikes. The new design will remove a section of existing double layered racks and replace with three U racks that would accommodate six e-bikes, as well as the addition of a scooter rack for four scooters. While this will reduce total bike spaces, estimates show enough capacity for existing riders with room for an increase. The redesign date is yet to be decided but is anticipated for this summer. See a rendering of the design below.

Tagging of abandoned bikes in enclosures set for late spring

In accordance with policy, to ensure valuable campus space is effectively being used and to allow for the upkeep of the enclosures, Columbia will tag bikes that are suspected of abandonment in the coming weeks. Bikes will be inspected for dusty seats and flat tires indicating abandonment. Owners will have up to 90 days to contact Columbia using the details on the tag to ensure their bike is not removed. Columbia will email and call owners using the information associated with registered bikes.

Bike Events

Ride Your Bike to Campus Days – April 17, 20, and 27, 2026

Mark your calendar for Public Safety’s Ride Your Bike to Campus Days on the Morningside, Manhattanville, and Medical Center campuses! At the events, you can meet other cyclists, receive free bicycle registrations, bike tune-ups, and more. Ride your bike to campus and get involved on these dates and locations:

Medical Center Campus: 10:00am-3:00pm; Friday, April 17, West 168 St / Ft. Washington Ave (Haven Plaza)

Morningside Campus: 10:00am-3:00pm; Monday, April 20, Butler Plaza near sundial

Manhattanville: 10:00am-3:00pm; Monday, April 27, Lenfest Plaza (Small Square)

Bike Ride to Earth Day Festival - Apr 25, 2026

From 11:30 AM to 1:00 PM ride to the Earth Day festival, which will take place at Randall’s Island Park. You will start at Thomas Jefferson park (free Citi Bikes will be provided) but only a limited number of free helmets will be available. To find out more please visit: https://www.nycgovparks.org/events/2026/04/25/bike-ride-to-earth-day-festival

May is Bike Month

The following are some bike riding events in the NYC area.

TD Fiveboro Bike Tour - May 3, 2026

Thousands of cyclists are set to ride a 40-mile spring bike marathon that works to bring New Yorkers together rain or shine and hits all five NYC boroughs in one ride. The event is led by Bike New York, a non-profit that is working to raise funds for free bike education programs to thousands of New Yorkers.  They even have a rest stop in the Bronx to snack on food sponsored by Nathan’s. If you want to learn more please visit: https://www.bike.nyc/

The North Fork Century - May 16, 2026

Curious to explore Long Island’s North Fork? Consider The North Fork Century ride, which offers four distances and welcomes e-bikes. The ride will start and finish at Orient Beach State Park (about as east you can get). Riders will be able to ride through lower-traffic country roads and through farmland, past flower fields and wineries. There will be optional transit from New York. For more information on the terrain, how to sign up, and what to pack, please visit: https://northforkcentury.bike/

Gran Premio NYC (GP NYC) - May 17, 2026

The 3rd Gran Premio New York City Bikeathon takes place in 2 months. The event brings together Union Cycliste Internationale professional cyclists and amateur cyclists onto the same track. The 85-mile course starts on the George Washington Bridge with views of the NYC skyline, and finishes in Fort Lee, NJ. To learn more, visit: https://gpnyc.gfny.com/

Go the Distance for Autism Bike Event + 5 Fun Run - May 31, 2026

Overpeck County Park, Teaneck, NJ

This event will bring the community together and attempt to raise funds for three foundations: Alpine Learning Group Foundation, EPIC Foundation, and REED Autism Services. There will be three rides: a 5-mile ride, 15-mile ride, and a 50-mile ride (only for ages +18). Bikers over the age of 18 are required to fundraise a minimum of $250 for the 5- and 15-mile rides and $500 for the 50-mile. To learn more please visit: https://www.gtd4autism.org/pages/1058

June

Empire State Ride to End Cancer in Long Island - Jun 13, 2026

This biking event in the Town of Oyster Bay will raise money to support cancer patients at Catholic Health Cancer Institutes and help research at the Roswell Park Comprehensive Cancer Center. The event has four different routes to accommodate varying levels of difficulty, all with the same start and end location. To learn more about the organizations benefiting from participant registration, please click here. For more information on what to expect, please click here.

Micromobility updates around the city

Bike news as it relates to a new NYC mayor

According to Streetsblog, Mayor Mamdani’s preliminary budget includes $5 million per year for bus and bike lane projects over the next four years. The budget aims to meet NYC Street Master Plan targets and will add 20 positions to the Department of Transportation. Projected implementation of these jobs will be June 2027. To read more about the new mayor’s bike plans please visit: https://nyc.streetsblog.org/2026/03/04/the-mamdani-streets-master-plan-big-bold-no-mileage-benchmarks

Construction of halted bus and bike projects to be restarted

Mayor Mamdani has decided to restart four bike and bus lane projects. The redesign and implementation of these projects will help about 130,000 riders access quicker and more reliable transportation services. The four projects are as follows: Fordham Road Bus Lane, Ashland Place Bike Lane, Midwood, Flatbush, and East Flatbush Bike Lanes, and Brooklyn and Kingston Ave Bike Lanes. The projects help address public space concerns, safety issues including visibility, and protection for students that account for large amounts of pedestrian traffic along these areas. Read more about it here: https://www.nyc.gov/mayors-office/news/2026/02/mayor-mamdani-announces-city-will-restart-construction-of-four-h

Mayor Mamdani launches Office of Curb Management at NYC DOT to modernize curb space and improve street safety

This is good news for cyclists, particularly as cyclists' safety is often compromised by double-parked vehicles due to competing curb space. “The new Office of Curb Management builds on a number of other recent agency structural changes that center our streets, curbs and sidewalks on the needs of all users, including the creation of the Office of Livable Streets, which houses the new Public Realm team and the Cycling and Micromobility unit, and the creation of the Reconnecting Communities Planning unit that focuses on connecting neighborhoods divided by infrastructure.” Learn more here: https://www.nyc.gov/mayors-office/news/2026/04/mayor-mamdani-launches-office-of-curb-management-at-nyc-dot-to-m

More resources:

All our transportation services:

For additional information about your travel options, including important information for being a cyclist at Columbia, visit Columbia’s Transportation website. On behalf of the Sustainable Columbia Working Group for Transportation, thank you for being enthusiastic about bicycling and active travel.

Columbia University Well-Being:

Columbia’s Well-Being programming is now fully coordinated by Human Resources and includes offerings like the Take A Break program, designed to help you pause and recharge during the day. To learn more about available resources or to register for upcoming programs, visit the CUHR Well-Being Resources page. Questions? Contact [email protected].

Be well,

Daniel Allalemdjian, Director, Sustainability & Transportation, Office of Sustainability

Amisha Manhas, MPH, Senior Health Promotion Specialist, Columbia University Optum Workplace Well-being

These initiatives contribute to the goals outlined in Columbia’s Sustainability Plan.