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Bicycle GPS Art Running Route in New York City — 14.0 km

A 14.0 km loop through New York City that draws a bicycle when you upload it to Strava. The line follows public streets and paths, climbs 71 m in total, and covers a footprint about 2.9 km wide by 1.9 km tall.

Distance14.0 km
Elevation gain71 m
Elevation loss71 m
Estimated time88 min
DifficultyModerate
Average gradient0.5%

Video preview

A satellite flyover of the finished bicycle over New York City, rendered from this exact GPX file.

Route map

Start point: 40.72619, -73.98943 — about 1.9 km north-east of the centre of New York City. It is a closed loop, so any point on the line works as a start.

Elevation profile

Measured from the elevation data in the GPX file: 71 m of ascent and 71 m of descent across 14.0 km, an average gradient of 0.5%.

17 m1 m0.0 km3.5 km7.0 km10.5 km14.0 km

Kilometre by kilometre

SplitHeadingElevation changeRange
km 1Runs south-east-3 m7–11 m
km 2Runs south-east-5 m2–8 m
km 3Runs south-south-west+4 m2–7 m
km 4Runs west0 m4–9 m
km 5Runs north-north-west+5 m5–12 m
km 6Runs west-north-west+2 m10–13 m
km 7Runs south-south-west0 m11–17 m
km 8Runs west-south-west-4 m5–13 m
km 9Runs north-west-4 m4–12 m
km 10Runs north-north-east0 m4–6 m
km 11Runs east-north-east+7 m1–12 m
km 12Runs north-north-east0 m8–13 m
km 13Runs south-east+1 m11–14 m
km 14Runs north-north-east-1 m9–12 m
km 14Runs east0 m11–11 m

Turn-by-turn outline

The 24 direction changes below are the ones that define the drawing. Hitting them accurately matters more than pace — the shape only reads well if the corners are sharp.

  1. 0.01 km — turn right, then continue east-south-east.
  2. 0.23 km — turn right, then continue south-south-west.
  3. 0.47 km — turn right, then continue south.
  4. 0.60 km — turn right, then continue south-south-west.
  5. 0.77 km — turn left, then continue south-east.
  6. 0.96 km — turn left, then continue east-north-east.
  7. 1.09 km — turn right, then continue east-south-east.
  8. 1.70 km — turn right, then continue south.
  9. 1.83 km — turn left, then continue south-east.
  10. 2.22 km — turn right, then continue south-south-west.
  11. 2.52 km — turn right, then continue west.
  12. 2.64 km — turn left, then continue south-south-west.
  13. 2.80 km — turn right, then continue north.
  14. 2.94 km — turn sharp left, then continue south-west.
  15. 3.10 km — turn right, then continue south-west.
  16. 3.32 km — turn right, then continue west.
  17. 3.45 km — turn right, then continue west-north-west.
  18. 3.73 km — turn right, then continue north.
  19. 3.88 km — turn left, then continue west.
  20. 4.02 km — turn right, then continue north.
  21. 4.17 km — turn left, then continue west-north-west.
  22. 4.30 km — turn right, then continue north-north-east.
  23. 4.55 km — turn left, then continue north-west.
  24. 4.71 km — turn right, then continue north-north-east.

Difficulty and terrain

Moderate. Flat profile, but 14.0 km of concentration on the line. Expect the distance, not the climb, to be the limiting factor.

Surface: Urban roads, park paths, and mixed city surfaces.

Safety: Check traffic flow, sidewalks, and route lighting before your run.

Best months: Year-round, based on local weather and race calendar.

How to run this shape

  1. Download the GPX file with your subscription and load it onto your watch, or open it in the ShapeMiles app.
  2. Start anywhere on the loop — beginning near a landmark makes the finish easier to find.
  3. Keep GPS recording continuous. Pausing mid-run leaves straight lines that cut across the drawing.
  4. Follow the corners precisely; short detours are what blur the shape.
  5. Upload to Strava and the bicycle appears on your activity map.

Other GPS art routes in New York City

All 18 GPS art routes in New York City

Questions about this route

How long is the bicycle route in New York City?
The bicycle covers 14.0 km with 71 m of ascent and 71 m of descent. At a steady 6:00/km, allow about 88 minutes plus stops.
Do I need a paid plan to download the GPX?
Yes. The GPX file is included with a ShapeMiles subscription — sign in and subscribe to download it. The file works with Garmin, Coros, Suunto, Strava and any app that reads GPX, and your subscription also covers turn-by-turn navigation in the app and route generation for your own city. The map, elevation profile and kilometre splits on this page are free to view.
How accurate is the drawing?
The track follows real, runnable streets and paths, so the shape is recognisable once uploaded to Strava. The drawing spans about 2.9 km east to west and 1.9 km north to south across New York City.
Where does the route start?
The start point is at 40.72619, -73.98943 — roughly 1.9 km north-east of the centre of New York City. The route is a loop, so you can begin anywhere along the line.
Bicycle GPS Art Running Route in New York City — 14.0 km | ShapeMiles