Is prior biking experience necessary?

No, the tour is suitable for all skill levels and includes options for casual riders.

What should I bring on the tour?

Bring a water bottle, sun protection, comfortable clothes, and a camera if desired.

Are children allowed?

Yes, the tour is family-friendly and appropriate for older children.

How long is the ride?

The tour lasts approximately 2 to 3 hours, covering several miles of urban and waterfront scenery.

Is the tour suitable in all weather conditions?

Yes, but check the weather forecast and dress accordingly for rain or shine.

Do I need to rent a bike?

Bikes can be rented through the tour operator or participants can bring their own.

Urban Ecology Cycling at Brooklyn Navy Yard

The Brooklyn Navy Yard, a historic naval shipyard turned industrial hub, offers a distinctive backdrop for outdoor enthusiasts seeking a blend of urban energy and ecological awareness. Located in Brooklyn, New York, this vibrant area is accessible from nearby Brooklyn neighborhoods and Manhattan via bike paths and public transit. The Brooklyn Navy Yard: Urban Ecology Bicycle Tour is a one-of-a-kind experience that combines history, sustainability, and active exploration. Riders glide past towering cranes, repurposed warehouses, and green spaces that showcase the Yard's transformation from a 19th-century military base to a modern eco-conscious enterprise hub. The tour emphasizes local ecology, highlighting native plantings, green roofs, and urban wildlife thriving amid the city's bustle. Participants will learn about the Yard’s role during World War II, its transition to eco-friendly initiatives, and current innovative projects such as urban farming and renewable energy installations. Our guides are passionate about ecological resilience and urban renewal, making this ride educational as well as exhilarating. The route takes in lesser-known spots like the Bush Terminal Piers Park, where views of the Manhattan skyline meet waterfront wetlands teeming with birdlife. Expect to spot hawks soaring overhead and swallows darting along the shoreline. The ride is suitable for all skill levels, making it accessible to families, casual riders, and seasoned cyclists alike.

What makes this tour stand out is its focus on sustainability inside a working industrial landscape, inspiring visitors with stories of environmental progress amid urban development. Whether you're a history buff, ecology nerd, or just enjoy dynamic cityscapes from two wheels, this experience deepens appreciation for Brooklyn’s maritime and ecological history.

About Turnstile Tours

Turnstile Tours provides guided walking and bicycle tours that explore Brooklyn’s history, architecture, ecology, and industrial transformation. The company leads multiple itineraries, including the Prospect Park Walking Tour and a two-hour Prospect Park Tour that examine the park’s landscapes, historic architecture, and conservation efforts.

Turnstile Tours offers several Brooklyn Navy Yard experiences: a World War II Tour, an Urban Ecology Bicycle Tour, a Past, Present & Future Walking Tour, and an Architecture & Infrastructure Tour. The Past, Present & Future and Architecture & Infrastructure tours are described as two-hour walking tours that highlight historic buildings, a working 1851 dry dock, modern LEED‑certified structures, and ongoing development at the Yard.

Additional programming includes a two-hour Brooklyn Army Terminal Tour that covers the terminal’s history, architecture, and contemporary industrial uses, and an SVP Street Heroes Gala listing.

Tours are presented as guided experiences focused on factual storytelling, on-site interpretation, and close observation of architecture and landscape. Routes traverse public spaces, historic structures, and active industrial sites in Brooklyn, using walking and bicycle formats when indicated.

Published trip information specifies tour formats and durations for many itineraries, enabling visitors to select tours by interest—history, architecture, urban ecology, or industrial heritage—and to plan time and mobility needs accordingly.

Several itineraries incorporate personal stories from workers and sailors, connecting visitors to the lived history of industrial sites. Prospect Park itineraries emphasize conservation, recreation, and cultural heritage within Brooklyn’s green space. Tour presentation can include interactive commentary and paused stops to examine notable architectural and natural features.