'The Ride' New York, is it worth it?

What is it?

On a recent trip to New York, we found out that one of the more unusual things you can do for an hour or so is take a trip on The Ride. What is The Ride, I hear you ask? It’s a sentient bus that takes you on a whistle stop tour of Manhattan and reads the minds of passersby on the street.

No, really. It is.
Okay, it’s not. But it is a tour bus set up with seats all facing one side of the street, that spends over an hour driving round with two entertaining hosts giving you information about the city and playing interactive games. Plus along the route you catch ‘New Yorkers’ on the street who just so happen to have microphones and earpieces attached to them, who sing, dance, rap and make the streets of the city come to life.

Is it worth it?

That’s the marketing spiel done. I was really sceptical of this. It’s an ambitious and expensive idea that immerses you in the most touristy elements of the city. I think your experience will hinge on a few different things - how sensitive your cringe meter is, if you’re travelling as part of a family or you’ve had a drink and are up for a laugh.

I went early in the afternoon on a weekday, with a group of international strangers who were all initially a bit reserved. However, after the first 20 minutes, the hosts did a fantastic job of both giving you an interesting and entertaining tour while also acknowledging how unusual the experience was.

As with most things in life, if you let go and throw yourself into it completely you will have a great time. You’ll learn a lot and will have a unique view of Midtown and Times Square. It’s probably at it’s best if you’re almost completely new to the city and want to deepen your base knowledge. If you know your bagels from your lox while treading the streets of NYC, then you won’t get much from it.

Got kids who are yet to be turned into cynical teenagers? It’s perfect.