Man suffers fatal heart attack during Five Boro Bike Tour

NEW YORK

Police say Michael Boren went into cardiac arrest Sunday morning after crossing the Ed Koch Queensboro Bridge that links Queens and Manhattan.

Authorities say he was declared dead on arrival at New York Weill Cornell Medical Center.

Boren lived in Almont, Mich., north of Detroit.

The first thing to remember is that this was a tour, not a race. And so 32-thousand cyclists took a joy ride unlike any other.

The 36th Five Boro Bike Tour kicked off Sunday in Lower Manhattan. From there cyclists from around the area and around the world took a 40-mile trek around the city.

It meant alternate plans for many drivers, with rolling closures on bridges, highways, streets, and in some parks throughout all five boroughs.

The only ones who might not have had a good time were motorists stuck in some monster traffic jams throughout the city. But this was a day for two wheels, not four.

In the wake of the Boston Marathon bombings, tight restrictions are in place for the event, and the NYPD is out in force.

"We have more uniformed police officers, things that riders will see and some things they won't see," said Police Commissioner Ray Kelly.

"We're going to have our helicopters in the air for the whole race, our skywatchers, we will be utilizing them, and they will see a police presence througout the whole 40-mile course."

Riders were not permitted to bring backpacks, saddlebags/panniers (front and rear) and hydration packs.

However, water bottles, fanny packs, (waist packs) and small bike frame bags (under seat and handlebar bags) were permitted.

There were checkpoints along the route to ensure compliance with these new regulations; confiscated items will not be returned.

This year's Finish Festival at Fort Wadsworth in Staten Island was strictly limited to registered Tour riders and will not be open to family and friends of participants or the general public.

"The safety and security of our 32,000 riders has always been our number one priority," said Ken Podziba, President & CEO of Bike New York.

For more information about the security measures in place for the 36th annual TD Five Boro Bike Tour, please visit www.bikenewyork.org/security. CLICK TO SEE PHOTOS OF BIKE TOUR