Saturday, April 16 @ 1pm



This year’s tour is dedicated to the fallen sakura bikers of Japan.



The weather has turned against us. A cold spring has left us with fewer blossoms to look at than we would have liked, and tomorrow’s forecast calls for intermittent thunderstorms. So we have decided to notify everyone that we’ve added another tour date … next Saturday, April 16 @ 1pm. (12:30 sign-up)



YES, there ARE some blossoms on the trees and YES, they are beautiful and YES, we will still be hosting the tour tomorrow for those cherry blossom fans who didn’t get the message or can’t make it next week. Some of the small trees have blossoms already but the really nice ones… the exotic weepy ones, the tall majestic ones, the old knarly-branched ones, the ones reflected in the lake, and the ones you can’t resist taking pictures in front of for your Facebook page… those are just beginning to show buds and will be absolutely gorgeous next weekend!



So take your pick of days but we highly suggest next weekend for the WOW factor!



Sorry for the late notice. Please pass the word!



This is not a race or tour of Newark. This is a fun theme ride for the whole family. You’ll be seeing all of Branchbrook Park and a few surrounding neighborhoods. But, mostly, you’ll be here to see a breathtaking collection of cherry trees at peak bloom!



We’ve made the route a bit easier this year to accommodate trikes and kids (you won’t be lifting your bike over railroad tracks . We also have more assistants and staff this year to help you fix your bike, help with traffic crossings and find your way around. In order to maximize your blossom time, we’ll be giving you a map of paths through groves that we suggest you walk your bike through instead of seeing it all from the road.



New date: Saturday, April 16.
Time: 1pm (signup @ 12:30pm)
Length: approx. 8 miles
Ride level: easy
Cost: Free ($5 per person suggested)



Maps of the tour route will be handed to everyone who registers on the day of the event.



In case of questionable weather the day of the event, come back to the BCBC website that morning for a postponement notice.



To print the map below, click on it, then print it.

You can park anywhere in the park along the road (please don’t park in the roller rink parking lot). Or you can park in the Cathedral parking lot at the corner of Clifton & Park if it’s not too full (turn left onto Victoria then Right onto Ridge).



DIRECTIONS

From the east:
* Interstate 280 to Clifton Avenue exit.
* Turn right onto Clifton Avenue
* Your first left off Clifton will be the park entrance.
* Park when you see the lake & fountain on your right (you can park along the curb in the park, or you can park in the Cathedral parking lot)
* We meet next to the lake, across from the fountain and cathedral.



From the west:
You can exit at the Newark/UMDNJ exit then turn left at the light onto 1st Street but we recommend the M.L.K. exit (see below)
* Interstate 280 to Rev. Martin Luther King Blvd. exit.
* Turn left at the light onto Rev. Martin Luther King Blvd.
* Turn left at the light onto 7th Avenue
* Go to the end then turn right onto Clifton Avenue.
* Your first left off Clifton will be the park entrance.
* Park when you see the lake & fountain on your right (you can park along the curb in the park, or you can park in the Cathedral parking lot)
* We meet next to the lake, across from the fountain and cathedral.



From Broad Street Station:
* Exit the station and look for the light rail tracks on the south (sunny) side of the station.
* Turn right at the tracks and head along the south side of the station to the next street (Rev. Martin Luther King Blvd.)
* Turn right onto Rev. Martin Luther King Blvd. and proceed under the overpasses.
* Turn left at the next light onto 7th Avenue.
* Go to the end then turn right onto Clifton Avenue.
* Your first left off Clifton will be the park entrance.
* Meet at the lakeside in front of the fountain.
Distance: 3/4 mile



From Penn Station: biking
* Exit the station’s main entrance.
* Turn right and go in the direction of traffic to the traffic light at Raymond Blvd. where the road dead-ends across from a tall building.
* Turn left onto Raymond Blvd. and follow it through town, up the hill and around to the NJIT campus. At this point Raymond Blvd. turns into Lock Street.
* Keep going straight through a few lights until it merges with Nesbitt.
* Turn left onto Nesbitt and go to the end where the road merges with the I-280 off-ramp & on-ramp. There will be a very tall building at the corner in front of you. Keep to the right side because this is a bit of a hairy corner on a bike.
* At the light you can either cross the street and enter the park or…
* Turn right at the light onto Clifton Avenue and proceed up the hill (between the park and a large building).
* Your first left off Clifton will be the park entrance.
* Meet at the lakeside in front of the fountain.
Distance: 2.1 miles



From Penn Station: NJ Transit Light Rail
* Yes, you can take your bike on the light rail on the weekends!
* Take the NJ Transit light rail system (ground floor entry near McDonald’s) to the Park Avenue station (not the Branchbrook Park station).
* Exit the station and bike across the street into the park.
* Note: when you buy a ticket (maybe $1.50 or so) you still need to validate it before getting on the train. Get it punched/validated in the orange boxes found in the lobby and track-side. They look like fire alarm boxes.



Last year we had about 100 riders. This year we’re ready for more! Please tell everyone about this event.



If you have any questions please email me at tim at tsoup.com



See you there!



Press Release:
* Press Release.rtf