Joan Taitt (with Citi Bike) and Shaun Lynda go slow across the Williamsburg Bridge. (Rahav Segev)
Take a break from biking for a pin on Jane’s Carousel in Brooklyn Bridge Park. (AP)
Finish you “Tasty, Tea and Taxi” tour with a boat ride to Brooklyn.
You might run into actor Hugh Jackman at his tea shop. (Jackson Lee / Splash News)
The High Line leg of the tour includes al fresco sculptures and drinks at Intelligentsia Coffee. (Brian Zak)
The Post’s Tim Donnelly tries a slice of vegan pizza at Vinnie’s Pizzeria. (Brian Zak)
39th Street to South Street Seaport
Coast along the Hudson River Greenway bike path
Starting Point: Bike station just outside the Midtown Ferry Terminal (12th Avenue and 39th Street). Head 18 blocks downtown on the bike path and take in the picturesque views of Weehawken and the Hudson.
Pit stop: Drop off the bike at 22nd Street and 11th Avenue, and take a load off at Chelsea Waterside Park (23rd Street and 12th Avenue), where we recommend sitting and lounging on the park’s big lawn. There’s a ’wichcraft at the adjoining Chelsea Piers where you can cool off with a glass of lemonade ($2.50 for a large). But you can also just grab the greatest of all classic NYC treats: the pushcart hot dog ($2).
Cruise control: Move south along the Greenway bike path and keep an eye out for students at the Trapeze School New York swinging back and forth like a bunch of swashbuckling pirates at Houston and West streets. But the best way to appreciate Manhattan’s shoreline is from the South Street Seaport (southstreetseaport.com).
Destination: Drop off the bike at South Street and Gouverneur Lane. The food-friendly folks responsible for Brooklyn Flea have curated SmorgasBar at the Seaport, which runs from 11 a.m. to 10 p.m. Sunday to Thursday (till 11 p.m. on Friday and Saturday) and has some of our favorite food and drink vendors, such as Asia Dog, Red Hook Lobster Pound, Blue Marble Ice Cream and many others. But the Seaport is all about the views, so stop by the Topsider bar at the shipping containers at Fulton and South streets.
Lower East Side to Williamsburg and Chinatown
Bridges and Barbecue
Starting Point: Any ride should start with fuel, and we can think of no better fuel than the chicken wings ($5) at Georgia’s Eastside BBQ (192 Orchard St.; 212-253-6280) before embarking on a big tour of lower Manhattan’s bridges. From there, you can stop by the Rivington and Ridge station to pick up a Citi Bike.
First Stop: The Williamsburg Bridge. Sure, it doesn’t get the same love as the Brooklyn Bridge, but because of this, it has light tourist and pedestrian traffic, making for a smooth ride across the East River and into South Williamsburg. When you get off the bridge, go north until you hit Metropolitan Avenue, then drop off the bike at Metropolitan and Bedford.
Second Stop: If you’ve always made excuses for why it’s too caloric to make a trip to Fette Sau (354 Metropolitan Ave.; 718-963-3404), the barbecue mecca of Brooklyn, you’re out of excuses. You’ve just worked off, like, 150 calories. Now you can indulge in all the pork ribs ($24 per pound), brisket ($23 per pound) and potato salad ($4 for a small) that you want!
Cruise control: After picking up another bike, head west along Metropolitan Avenue until you hit the Kent Avenue bike path. From there, you have pretty smooth biking along the Brooklyn Waterfront, until you hit Flushing Avenue. Take a right on Flushing and stay on the bike path past the Brooklyn Navy Yard, which should take you all the way to the Brooklyn Bridge. Park your bike at the Old Fulton Street station.
Third Stop: The Brooklyn Ice Cream Factory (corner of Old Fulton and Water streets; 718-246-3963) doesn’t really look like a factory, but more like a New England lighthouse. But we’re not going to quibble once we taste the goods. There are only eight flavors (may we suggest vanilla chocolate chunk), and they’re somewhat pricey (a single scoop is $4), but the ice cream would make Haagen-Dazs melt with envy.
Destination: Brooklyn Bridge Park is as good a spot as any to sit and enjoy your ice cream, but we understand that you’re on the move. For bikers who don’t mind pedestrians strolling on the bike path, take the Brooklyn Bridge back into Manhattan and park your Citi Bike at St. James Place and Pearl Street.
Brooklyn Bridge Park from the Heights to Dumbo
On the waterfront
Starting point: Atlantic Avenue and Furman Street bike station in Brooklyn Heights.
The southern edge of the park links up nicely to a bike lane that stretches the East River waterfront along all the old piers that are gradually being converted into more parkland.
First stop: Hop on the path and take off toward the sand volleyball court at the edge of Pier 6. Rest your bike there for a few and take in some of the intense setting and spiking you while enjoying views of the Manhattan skyline.
Second stop: For a fun vista, take your bike up the newly opened Squibb Park Bridge — it’s bouncy! — to park at the bike dock on Columbia Heights and Cranberry Street. Grab your towel and head back down the bridge to visit the year-old pop-up pool at the park. It’s a small pool, and you have to wait until an assigned time to get in, but you can lounge at the sandy beach area and enjoy some Lizzmonade ($4.50), pork sliders ($12) or Steve’s Key Lime Pie ($5) at the refreshment stand.
Then: Grab another bike at the Old Fulton Street station (near Grimaldi’s at 1 Front St.) and head over to Jane’s Carousel, on the water at Dock Street. The carousel, which miraculously survived Hurricane Sandy, was originally built in 1922, and restored and installed in the park in 2011. Rides are just $2.
Destination: Park the bike at the dock at Pearl Street and Anchorage Place in Dumbo. Slake your post-ride thirst here with lemonade ($3.75) from Archway Cafe (57 Pearl St.; 718-522-3455). Team it with a $10 lunch sandwich at reBar (147 Front St.; 718-766-9110), such as the bacon Cheddar burger or falafel melt.
Union Square to South Street and Pier 11
Tasty pastries, Bubble tea and a water taxi
Starting point: Bike station at 16th Street and Fifth Avenue.
Before going, fuel up with a croissant-shaped rugelach ($1.50 a piece) at Breads Bakery (18 E. 16th St.; 212-633-2253). Pedal over to the Second Avenue bike lane, where you can enjoy an easy cruise through the East Village. Traffic tends to be dense around Houston Street, so watch for crazy cabs and trucks. Bear left to pick up the Allen Street lane, then continue on Pike Street.
Pit stop: Drop off the bike at the Pike Street and East Broadway station and refresh yourself with a cool taro bubble tea ($3) at Taiwanese chain Quickly (79 Division St.; 212-966-0933). Extra tapioca, please! Pick up another set of wheels and follow Pike all the way down to the East River. Bear right and follow the lane underneath the FDR Drive, then cruise by the South Street Seaport.
Destination: South Street and Gouverneur Lane station. There you can hop onto a water taxi and head over to Dumbo for a drink with stunning views at Pier 1’s Brooklyn Bridge Wine Bar, one of the most pleasant concessions in the ever-expanding Brooklyn Bridge Park.
Tribeca to Chelsea Market
En route, find a cornucopia of sights, sounds and tastes
Starting point: Duane and Greenwich streets station. Start off around the corner with an Australian flat-white coffee (an espresso shot with steamed milk, $3.55) at Laughing Man (184 Duane St.; 212-680-1111), whose investors include Hugh Jackman. What the heck, get a doughnut from Bed-Stuy’s Dough as well — you’ll work it off.
Head toward the river and get on the bike path, which is part of the sprawling Hudson River Greenway. Go north, then take the Clarkson Street exit.
Destination: Drop off the bike at Ninth Avenue and 14th Street, then walk a couple of blocks up to Chelsea Market — if you want to ride around the one-way streets, there’s also a station directly across the entrance at Ninth Avenue and 16th Street. There are plenty of post-ride options at the Market, but the single most refreshing can be found at L’Arte del Gelato (75 Ninth Ave.; 212-366-0570).
Chelsea and the High Line
From Chelsea Galleries to an elevated art tour
Starting point: Citi Bike station at 13th Street and Sixth Avenue, which is near the F, M and L trains.
On your way to the galleries, pop into the swanky Intelligentsia Coffee in the new High Line Hotel (180 10th Ave.; 212-933-9736), which opened in May in a former seminary that dates to 1895. Gear up for the ride with the cafe’s changing rotation of coffee cold brews ($4).
First stop: Park your bike at the dock on 22nd Street and Ninth Avenue and head to the Gagosian Gallery (522 W. 21st St.; 212-741-1111). Through Aug. 2, the gallery features “Fragments,” an exhibition of more than 30 years of architectural projects by the Renzo Piano Building Workshop.
Second stop: Grab another bike at the 22nd Street and 10th Avenue dock, and make your way uptown to the Paul Kasmin Gallery (293 10th Ave.; 212-563-4474). Through Aug. 16, you’ll find the “Junkies’ Promises” art and sculpture show curated by Iván Navarro. There’s a bike dock to park at 26th and 10th.
Third stop: Get on the High Line at 28th Street for a stroll along the city’s trendiest park. Walking south on the trail takes you past sculptures, flowering gardens, reclining benches and a number of local concession stands such as ice-pop purveyor People’s Pops. If you’re thirsty, pop into Terroir at the Porch (at 15th Street), the open-air cafe that’s only open seasonally. Beers such as Brooklyn Pennant Ale there run $8.
Destination: At the end of the High Line, walk down the 14th Street staircase for a Citi Bike to take you back home.
Fort Greene to Williamsburg
Vegan junk food crawl
Starting point: Red Lantern Bicycles (345 Myrtle Ave., Fort Greene). Fuel up for your ride and chat cycling at this bike store/coffee shop/bar, which makes its own rotating menu of nondairy milks (such as cashew or almond) in house. Pick up a Citi Bike at the station around the corner at Adelphi Street and Myrtle Avenue.
Cruise control: Head north up to Flushing Avenue and follow the bike lane along Kent Avenue and the Williamsburg waterfront. Turn down North Third Street. Park at the dock on Bedford and North Third Street.
First stop: Walk up Bedford to Vinnie’s Pizzeria (148 Bedford Ave.; 718-782-7078), where a daily selection of vegan pizzas awaits you. The slice specials are themed: The day of our trip, the pizzeria was celebrating the gay marriage Supreme Court rulings with Bert-and-Ernie-themed “pepperernie slices” containing soy pepperoni, nondairy mozzarella and cheddar and basil ($4).
Second stop: Grab another bike from the North Third Street station and make your way over to Champs Family Bakery (76 Ainslie St.; 718-599-2743) via Metropolitan Avenue. The all-vegan spot offers all the comfortable trappings of your friendly neighborhood diner (except with tattooed, punk-rock waitresses), including an excellent bake case. Nosh on one of their delicious treats to go: We recommend the cupcakes, which come in flavors such as strawberry shortcake and cookies and cream ($3).
Destination: Hop back on the bike and head down Grand Street via Havemeyer Street to Foodswings (295 Grand St.; 718-388-1919). Park your bike at the dock right in front of the restaurant and head inside for the ultimate selection of vegan junk food in town.
We recommend trying a combo platter of the veggie drumsticks that are so good, they’ve won over many a meat eater. You get three vegan wings done up barbecue, buffalo, Southern fried or sweet Southern fried style, with mac ’n’ cheese or mashed potatoes on the side ($10.75).
For rates, bike stations and other details, go to citibikenyc.com.