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Metro

Hundreds of bicyclists are blessed at NYC church ahead of 5 Boro Bike Tour on Sunday

By
Deirdre Bardolf
Published May 4, 2024, 5:25 p.m. ET

Godspeed!

Hundreds of bicyclists packed the Cathedral of St. John the Divine Saturday morning to have their rides blessed before they embark on a 40-mile journey through the city for the 5 Boro Bike Tour Sunday.

Rev. Patrick Malloy led the 26th annual non-denominational service at the Morningside Heights cathedral. Riders, many in helmets and racing gear, gathered alongside their bikes to be splashed with holy water.

The Very Reverend Patrick Malloy blessing bicycles with holy water at the annual event at St. John the Divine in Manhattan
Rev. Patrick Malloy said people come from all over the world for the annual Blessing of the Bicycles event at the Cathedral of St. John the Divine. Robert Miller
Crowd seen in church, including young girl with helmet on, holding up her bike, for the Very Rev. Patrick Malloy blessing hundreds of bicycles with holy water at St John the Divine Church before the 5 Boro Bike Tour.
Hundreds of bikers pedal to the church each year to get their rides blessed the day before the 5 Boro Bike Tour. Robert Miller

The cathedral welcomes bikers, skaters, scooter-riders and “users of self-propelled vehicles” of all ages to take part in the ceremony.

One woman even juggled atop a unicycle, while another rolled up on a Citi Bike.

“This is a great day,” Malloy told reporters outside the church.

Two people at bike blessing roll empty bike down aisle symbolizing bikers and pedestrians killed
A white “ghost bike” was wheeled into the cathedral to commemorate cyclists killed in the past year. Robert Miller
Father Patrick Malloy blessing bikes with Holy Water at St John the Divine with a group of helmet-wearing people around him, including Jeff Chase and Lin Bin.
The cathedral welcomes all bikers, skaters, scooter-riders and “users of self-propelled vehicles” of all ages to partake in the ceremony. Robert Miller
Cyclists carrying their bicycles up the steps of the St. John the Divine Cathedral for a blessing ceremony
Cyclists hauled their bikes up the steps to the Cathedral of St. John the Divine Saturday morning to get their blessings. Robert Miller

“People come from all over the world. They bring so much good energy to us, so much warmth,” he said.

“Maybe the energy comes from the fact that they’re also athletic.”

The service also honored bicyclists and pedestrians killed in the past year. Bagpipes were played as a white “ghost bike” symbolizing those killed was rolled down the aisle.

The city Department of Transportation set up tents outside the church and fitted riders for free.

About 32,000 people will cycle 40 miles across the Big Apple starting at 7:30 a.m. on Sunday, beginning in Lower Manhattan and looping through the boroughs, crossing the Queensboro, Pulaski and Verrazzano-Narrows bridges to end in Staten Island’s Fort Wadsworth Park.