More than 200 cyclists embark on annual Tour de Flushing

More than 200 cyclists participated in the annual Tour de Flushing.

Photo courtesy of Flushing Chamber of Commerce

By David Brand

More than 200 riders, including two local lawmakers, pedaled through the parks and pathways of Eastern Queens Saturday for the third annual Tour de Flushing.

State Sen. John Liu and Assemblymember Nily Rozic participated in the 15-mile ride, which ended in Downtown Flushing. One participant rode in honor of Allison Hope Liao, who was killed by a driver on Flushing’s Main Street in 2014.

"The Tour de Flushing is an annual invitation to our beloved bike community to ride the borough's expanding bike paths and one-of-a-kind parks, as one,” Liu said. “The event has everything going for it — fellowship, the opportunity to share how biking in Queens can be made better, great food from local businesses and sophisticated organization by community members who understand the love of bike riding.”

The ride also featured an optional four-mile circuit in Douglaston, including a stretch of protected bike lanes on Northern Boulevard.

"The Tour de Flushing is an opportunity to showcase all that our borough has to offer cyclists — vast parkland, growing bike paths, and fun food,” Rozic said. “Congratulations to everyone involved for organizing a successful third annual event that continues to bring Queens' bike riding community together while commemorating all that we still have to accomplish to make our streets safe for all.”