Join us for a unique biking tour through the past, present, and future of New York City’s first municipal airport—now a National Park Service (NPS) site within Gateway National Recreation Area and one of the city’s most extraordinary natural and historic landscapes.
This guided ride will take you across some of Floyd Bennett Field’s vast runways and hidden trails, highlighting its aviation history, important natural areas that provide critical habitat for birds and other wildlife, ongoing restoration efforts, and the careful stewardship that helps protect this special place.
Logistical notes:
No registration is required, though participants will need to bring their own bikes. Rentals are not available at Floyd Bennett Field.
For folks bringing their bikes via car, free parking is plentiful outside Ryan Visitor Center. Please note that you’ll need to access the park via Aviation Road, off of Flatbush Avenue. See the diagram below.
The full ride will be 5-6 miles in length, punctuated by stops to discuss each point of interest.
Please also make sure to bring water and snacks! There are no public concessions at Floyd Bennett Field.
The tour begins at the Ryan Visitor Center, where participants will be introduced to Floyd Bennett Field before heading up to the historic aircraft control tower for panoramic views of New York City, Jamaica Bay, and its surrounding communities. We’ll then proceed to historic Hangars 3 and 4 to learn about the exciting plans for their adaptive reuse.
Cycling the original concrete runways, we’ll head to the North 40 Natural Area, making a stop at the Jean Bourque Memorial Bird Blind overlooking a freshwater pond—a sanctuary for fall-migrating birds. From there, the ride will continue to the kayak launch for views of Mill Basin, then onward to the Seaplane Ramp, where sweeping views reveal Jamaica Bay’s surrounding parklands, marsh islands and the Rockaway Inlet.
The tour will continue to Hangar B, home to an extraordinary collection of historic aircraft beautifully restored by NPS HARP (Historic Aircraft Restoration Program) volunteers, before a final ride back along extensive grasslands, where we will scan the skies for hawks, kestrels, and other seasonal visitors.
This event offers a rare chance to experience Floyd Bennett Field’s expansive landscapes by bike, connecting its rich history with its exciting future as a hub for nature, innovation, and community in New York City.
Driving instructions to Ryan Visitor Center:
