Youth and the Ride to the City

Join the Consortium for Sustainable Urbanization (CSU) for a participatory bike ride exploring how young people experience New York City’s streets. Organized as part of CSU’s youth engagement during Urban October (UN-Habitat’s month dedicated to conversations and action on sustainable urban development) the event connects everyday cycling experiences with broader questions about urban design, public space, and access to the city.

Through a shared ride in Manhattan, participants will explore how street design shapes safety, comfort, and enjoyment. Along the way, we will observe cycling infrastructure and public spaces, identifying both successful design features and areas that could be improved, from protected bike lanes and welcoming streetscapes to difficult intersections, missing connections, and obstacles.

Participants are invited to document their observations through photographs taken during stops and share feedback about where they felt safe, unsafe, comfortable, or inspired. These observations will contribute to a collaborative map of riders’ experiences, bringing together locations, images, and suggestions for a safer and more connected cycling network.

The ride creates an opportunity to meet others interested in cycling and sustainable cities, exchange perspectives, and contribute firsthand knowledge to CSU’s youth-led conversation about urban mobility. You do not need a background in architecture or urban planning, your experience of the city is the starting point.

EVENT DETAILS:

• Start-end time: TBA (midday)
• Meeting point: Meet outside the Chrysler Building, Manhattan. Exact entrance / street corner to be confirmed. The proposed route identifies the Chrysler Building as the meeting location because of its proximity to public transportation.
• Route: Approximately 11.8 miles, with an estimated duration of 1.5 hours, including stops and discussions, according to the proposed itinerary. Main locations include the Chrysler Building, United Nations Headquarters, the Queensboro Bridge area, Central Park, Central Park West, Times Square, Herald Square, the Broadway Vision corridor, Cooper Square, the Williamsburg Bridge approach at Clinton and Delancey Streets, and the Seaport / East River Promenade.
• Who can attend: Open to everyone.
• Cycling level: A casual-paced ride with stops for observation and discussion.
• Bike situation: Bring your own bike!
• Cost: Free
• What to bring: Helmet, phone, water etc. recommended.
• Weather policy: October 25 is the rain date.