Skip to Content
Streetsblog New York City home
Streetsblog New York City home
Log In
Bicycling

Kidical Mass NYC and Summer Streets Bring Out the Tykes on Bikes

kidical_mass_cadman
This just about captures the mood on the ride from Borough Hall to Astor Place. (Note: Biking on the sidewalk is legal in NYC if you're under 13.) All photos: Ben Fried

Mission accomplished for the first Kidical Mass NYC ride: The all-ages Saturday morning bike convoy from Brooklyn Borough Hall to Summer Streets was a ton of fun.

Moms, dads, and kids -- about two dozen people all told -- made the trip with an assortment of box bikes, child seats, trailers, and kiddie cycles. The self-propelled children were super impressive. No one had training wheels, and they all made it over the Brooklyn Bridge.

Here are some photos of the ride, plus some shots of Summer Streets, which seems to be drawing more families with kids every year. To plug into the next Kidical Mass NYC ride, follow them on Facebook.

kidical_mass_staging
At Kidical Mass, everyone got their cues from ride organizers Ali Loxton and Doug Gordon.
kidical_mass_cadman2
First leg: Cadman Plaza.
kidical_mass_brooklyn_bridge
Tourists all over the place on the Brooklyn Bridge? No problem.

Summer Streets itself has turned into a great family event and on-the-ground classroom for precocious cyclists. It is simply amazing to see kids as young as 4 pedaling down Park Avenue and Lafayette Street. And there are a ton of them...

summer_streets_kids3
summer_streets_kids2
summer_streets_kids9
summer_streets_kids7
summer_streets_kids6
summer_streets_kids5
summer_streets_kids4
summer_streets_kids8
summer_streets_kids1

That's a wrap for Summer Streets 2014. Next year, City Hall really ought to figure out how to do more of these kid-friendly open streets events.

Stay in touch

Sign up for our free newsletter

More from Streetsblog New York City

Cyclists in Criminal Court Say Mamdani’s Bike Crackdown is a ‘Waste of Time’

The hearings reveal that the mayor's promise to end criminal summonsing against cyclists has not been kept.

February 3, 2026

Opinion: Transit Watchword Should Be Synergy, Not Scarcity

Two fantastic transit ideas — fast and free buses, and a 17-percent expansion of subway mileage — are being set up as adversaries. But they're complementary.

February 3, 2026

Does Hochul’s 125th Street Subway Have to Be That Expensive?

The western extension of the Second Avenue Subway has a $7.7-billion price tag that calls into question the very logic of building it at all — but advocates and researchers say the train is a good idea that could cost a lot less with some minor alterations.

February 3, 2026

Tuesday’s Headlines: ‘Stop Super Speeders’ Edition

The Super Bowl is Sunday in Santa Clara for sports fans, but it's today in Albany for us. Plus other news.

February 3, 2026

The Explainer: How Gov. Hochul’s Car Insurance Agenda Hurts Victims, Helps Big Car, Big Insurance

Why is Hochul fighting for worse insurance protections for victims of traffic violence?

February 2, 2026

Motorcycle Rider Killed by Ambulance Driver

A man on two wheels was killed.

February 2, 2026
See all posts