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The arrival of spring, and the 44th annual "Bicycle Sundays" could not arrive at a better time in Westchester County.
Nearly seven miles of the Bronx River Parkway will be closed to motorists between White Plains and Yonkers on Sunday, May 6 for the first of a summer's worth of bicycle freedom.
Bicycle Sundays, one of Westchester’s longest-running and popular recreational programs is held from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m.
In addition to this coming Sunday, the county program runs on May 13 and 20; June 3, 10, 17 and 24; and Sept. 9, 16, 23 and 30.
No bicycle Sundays are offered in July or August.
Greenburgh Supervisor Paul Feiner, a bike enthusiast,, said that when he got his start in government and politics in the 1970s, he served as the chair of the Task Force for Bikeways in Westchester.
"In 1973 we successfully lobbied the Westchester County Board of Legislators to appropriate funds for the first bikeway in Westchester," Feiner said of the paved path along the Bronx River Parkway, which many cyclists and runners continue to enjoy.
Bicycle Sundays, a Westchester County Parks program, is sponsored by Con Edison, New York Presbyterian Hospital, the Westchester Parks Foundation and Danny’s Cycles, with support from WHUD.
During Bicycle Sundays, the parkway is open exclusively for bicyclists, in-line skaters, scooters, walkers and joggers from Exit 22 at the Westchester County Center to Exit 4 at Scarsdale Road in Yonkers, a round-trip distance of 13 miles. The road is closed to automobiles in that stretch of parkway.
Admission to the event is free.
Parking is available at the County Center lot in White Plains for $7.
The late Alfred DelBello, then-County Executive, appointed Feiner to his Bicycle Committee in 1974 "and we successfully pushed the county to close the Bronx River Parkway for cyclists on Sundays. . . I am pleased that Bicycle Sundays starts this Sunday! And, hope it will never be discontinued," Feiner said.
Rules and Regulations:
• Bicyclists, in-line skaters, scooters, walkers and joggers ONLY; no unauthorized motor vehicles allowed.
• Walkers, joggers and slower wheeled traffic must use right lane; faster wheeled traffic must use left lane.
• Helmets are required by New York state law for children under 14 years of age, including those riding in bike trailers, and are recommended for all wheeled participants.
• New York state law prohibits children under age 1 from riding on bicycles or in a separate seat.
• All headsets are prohibited; this includes but is not limited to music devices and hands free cell phones.
• No skateboarding allowed.
• No dogs allowed.
• Bicyclists must obey posted parkway speed limit of 40 mph.
• Children riding in strollers must be strapped in at all times.
• Children under age 10 must be accompanied by an adult.
• All participants must be off the parkway by 1:50 p.m.
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