A New York bike tour: Ride the B-M-W bridges

By Virgin Atlantic | 4 November 2025 | 3 minute read

Brooklyn waterfront cyclists

New York City has earned many nicknames, but none fit better than “The Centre of the Universe.” Home to over eight million residents and more than 50 million annual visitors, it’s a city built for exploring.

While tour buses and subways cover Lower Manhattan and Brooklyn, a bike tour offers a more scenic, up-close way to see the sights. With miles of new cycle lanes and growing bike-friendly access, there’s no better way to experience the Big Apple than on two wheels.

Map of New York bike tour

B-M-W bridges Tour

In order to highlight New York’s excellent cycling and sightseeing offerings, Virgin Atlantic teamed up with urban explorer Nick Reale. He talked us through the B-M-W bridges tour, one of his favourite routes which just so happens to include three renowned NYC architectural structures; the Brooklyn, Manhattan and Williamsburg bridges (B-M-W).

Not content with simply describing the route, however, we also enlisted the help of Michael Green from Bike Blog NYC. Armed with a camera fitted to his helmet, he took to the streets and filmed his journey along the B-M-W route. Check it out for yourself below and then read on to learn more about the landmarks, neighbourhoods and attractions featured in Michael’s video tour

The B-M-W bike tour covers just over 12 miles in four hours, beginning at City Hall in New York’s political heart. From there, it’s a straight ride to the Brooklyn Bridge, a marvel of 19th-century engineering linking Manhattan and Brooklyn. The elevated pedestrian path offers perfect photo stops along the way.

Brooklyn Bridge pedestrian

Nick Reale - The B-M-W bridges tour

In Downtown Brooklyn, you’ll pass Borough Hall, once Brooklyn’s own City Hall before it joined New York in 1898. The borough still proudly retains its independent spirit, now home to more than two million residents.

Next stop: Cobble Hill, a charming neighbourhood of tree-lined streets, boutiques and cafés. Pause for a browse at Collyer’s Mansion or grab a locally roasted coffee at Café Pedlar before heading back across the Manhattan Bridge. Built in 1909, its elegant design and dedicated cycle path make for a smooth and scenic return to the city.

DUMBO New York

DUMBO

“Everybody ought to have a Lower East Side in their life,” said songwriter Irving Berlin, and he wasn’t wrong. This part of the tour takes you through Sara D. Roosevelt Park, a leafy stretch of green space surrounded by the Lower East Side’s mix of international restaurants, bars, and indie boutiques.

Next, you’ll ride east toward the Williamsburg Bridge, built with over 17,000 miles of cable and still carrying cars, cyclists, pedestrians, and the subway line once used by local legend Jay-Z. The bridge offers incredible views of Manhattan and the Brooklyn Navy Yard, once a vital WWII shipbuilding hub.

From there, explore the laid-back streets of Fort Greene and Clinton Hill, filled with restaurants, bars, and that classic New York brownstone charm. The tour’s final stretch passes through DUMBO,  “Down Under the Manhattan Bridge Overpass”, a creative hotspot turned upscale neighbourhood. Stop by Building 92 at the Navy Yard to learn about the area’s history before finishing at Fulton Ferry Landing in Brooklyn Bridge Park, where ferries whisk you back to Manhattan with unbeatable skyline views.

Take on the challenge of B-M-W cycle tour and reap the rewards of seeing some of the city’s landmarks on two wheels. From the marvellous architecture of the three bridges towering over the East River to the history and culture of some of NYC’s most interesting neighbourhoods, it’s an exciting way to explore one of the world’s greatest cities.

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