Empire State Ride Rundown
You are embarking on the adventure of a lifetime, and the funds you raise will power cutting-edge clinical trials and cancer research at Roswell Park Comprehensive Cancer Center.
Whether this is your first Empire State Ride or your eleventh, we have you covered with everything you need to know for a successful week on the road.
Key dates in 2026
June 1
ESR Travel Survey due date.
July 17
Shipped bikes must arrive at Campus WheelWorks in Buffalo, NY. ESR will bring shipped bikes from Campus Wheelworks to bike drop-off on July 23.
July 23
Bike drop-off (bikes only) at 901 Washington St., Buffalo, NY 14203, from 2 – 6 p.m.
July 25
Charter bus departs 203 Park Club Ln. Amherst, NY 14221 to Wagner College on Staten Island for any riders who signed up. Cost is $150, one way. Please arrive at Roswell Park by 7 a.m. Bus departs as soon as it’s full, no later than 8 a.m. Bus arrives at Wagner College around 3:30 – 4 p.m.
July 25
Mandatory Wagner College Orientation opens at noon with dinner at 5 p.m.
631 Howard Ave, Staten Island, NY 10301.
July 25 – August 1
500+ Miles to Niagara Falls!
August 1
Finish Line at Niagara Falls!
Traveling for Empire State Ride
Traveling to the Start Line
Orientation and the Empire State Ride start line are both at Wagner College on Staten Island, starting on July 25. Here’s how you can get there.
Charter bus
(Registered riders only. Find information on transporting your bike here.)
ESR offers a charter bus on July 25 from 203 Park Club Ln. Amherst, NY 14221, directly to Wagner College, where the adventure begins. The cost for this door-to-door service is $150 per person, one way, and no transfers are needed. Includes riders and luggage, not bicycles.
ESR also offers a charter bus from Niagara Falls, NY, to Wagner College on Sunday, July 28, departing at 9 a.m., for riders returning to the NYC area. The cost is $150 per person, one way.
The registration form to reserve your bus tickets will be available in Spring 2026.
Airports
Fly to Newark, LaGuardia or JFK airports in New York City, then find ground transportation to Wagner College in time for orientation on Saturday, July 25, beginning with orientation at 2 p.m. and dinner at 5 p.m. Travel with your bicycle and luggage or ship your bike to Buffalo by July 17 (see bike shipping below).
Train
Take Amtrak to Penn Station in New York City, and then take the subway to the Staten Island Ferry. From there, order a taxi or Uber/Lyft to Wagner College in time for orientation at Wagner College at 5 p.m. Travel with your bicycle and luggage or ship your bicycle to Buffalo by July 17 (see bike shipping).
Driving and parking
The charter bus is for registered riders and luggage only (no bikes). Riders, including those flying or taking the train, can drop their bikes off at 901 Washington Ave. in Buffalo, NY, on July 23 for the bike truck. On July 25, charter bus riders traveling to Wagner College should gather at 203 Park Club Ln. Amherst, NY 14221. Weeklong parking is available at that location for any rider, free of charge.
Alternatively, riders can be dropped off at Wagner College or drive there and park their car for the week at no cost.
Traveling Home from Empire State Ride
The Empire State Ride finishes on Old Falls Street in Niagara Falls, NY. Here are your options for getting home.
Charter Bus to Staten Island
(Registered riders only. Find information on transporting your bike here.)
ESR offers a charter bus from Niagara Falls, NY, to Wagner College on Staten Island on Sunday, August 2, departing at 8 a.m., for riders and luggage (not bikes) returning to the NYC area. We will truck your bike from Niagara Falls to meet you and the bus at Wagner College on Sunday. The cost for the bus is $150 per person, one way.
A hotel block near the finish line is available for riders at their expense on Saturday night. Note that hotel shuttles are not available after the finish line.
The registration form to reserve your bus tickets will be available in Spring 2026.
Shuttle to Roswell Park
If you utilized the free weeklong parking at 203 Park Club Ln. Amherst, NY 14221, we’ll transport you from the finish line in Niagara Falls back to the parking ramp at no cost. The shuttle will depart after the group photo, around 5:30 p.m. You’ll be able to select this option in your travel survey!
Order an Uber/ Lyft or Ask a Friend
Rides to the airport, train station or elsewhere are at riders’ own expense. If you know someone in the Buffalo area, ask them if they’d be willing to help!
Transporting your bike
Shipping your bike
Ship your bike with Bikeflights. Bikeflights built a custom Empire State Ride Shipping Guide to streamline your event travel. All bookings are monitored by their expert team until delivery. Bikeflights also offers easy-to-pack bike boxes, packing how-to videos and excellent customer support.
Ship your bike to Buffalo, NY, before ESR, to arrive no later than July 17 at Campus WheelWorks, our Buffalo bike shop and bike shipping partner. Campus WheelWorks will unpack and rebuild your bicycle, and we will transport it to Wagner College. We will also transport your bicycle from the Niagara Falls finish line to Campus WheelWorks for return shipping. Bike shipping both ways is at your expense.
Bicycle shuttle truck
The bike truck departs from Roswell Park on Friday, July 24, and will bring shipped and local bicycles directly to the start line at Wagner College. If you are in the Western New York area, bring your fully assembled bike, without attachments, to 901 Washington Street, Buffalo, NY 14203 on Thursday, July 23, between 2 and 6 p.m.
Bike rentals
Though we encourage riders to train on and ride the same bike for Empire State Ride, we recognize that this may not always be an option. If you can’t get your bike to Staten Island, you can rent a bike for the week through GPA’s Bike Shop in Highland, NY.
GPA’s is owned and operated by fellow ESR alumnus Mark Elia, who will transport bikes rentals to Wagner College and return them from the ESR finish line. Rentals will arrive by orientation for a mechanic safety check and rider pick-up.
845-742-7625
Have an eBike?
Read our blog all about eBikes at ESR.
Camping and hotels
Catered camping is the core of the Empire State Ride experience and is strongly encouraged. We camp at state parks, fairgrounds, colleges and schools. A tent, air mattress, towels and shower trucks are included at each campsite. A room block is available to riders who are unable to camp, at their expense. Riders who choose to stay at hotels will have the option to take an ESR shuttle to and from camp. The fees for the shuttle are $140 for the week or $20 per day.
Apps to download
Download the Empire State Ride navigation apps prior to check-in to stay connected and informed while on the road. Check the route page for official maps! The Empire State Ride team will continue to provide details for registered riders as we get closer to the weeklong adventure.
Both of the mandatory ESR apps may drain your phone battery. Please bring a backup battery or portable charger to assist you on the road.
TraQCentral.
Prior to check-in at Wagner College, all riders must download the TraQCentral app from the App Store or Google Play.
The ESR Ride With GPS Experience App includes day-by-day details, route maps and daily map meeting updates. We’ll be using this app to post daily updates, so it’s a must-have for all riders.