CycleGram
NATIONAL BIKE MONTH

Philadelphia events - Full calendar with details 

 

Mural Arts Bike Tour

Sat, May 14 

 

Commuter Race

May 18  

 

Ride of Silence

May 18 

 

Philadelphia Celebrates National Bike to Work Day 

May 20   

 

West Chester Celebrates National Bike to Work Day

May 20 

 

Delaware County Celebrates National Bike to Work Day

May 20  

 

Commuter Challenge begins

May 20   

 

Kensington Kinetic Scuplture Derby 

May 21 

 

Bike Rodeo in Schuylkill River Park

May 21 

 

Washington Avenue Green Bike Clinic

May 21 

AROUND THE REGION
'Two Wheels for Healthy Recreation Cycling'
Core Creek Park, Langhorne PA
May 15  
  
Cobbs Creek Trail Extension Exploratory Walk
  
Chester County Cycling Coalition Meeting
  
DVRPC: Regional Citizens Committee


SPINZONE
Highlights from Greater Philadelphia Bicycle News

The Bicycle Coalition issued a major report on bicycle commuting in the Greater Philadelphia Region.  It received significant media attention.

 

The Mayor's Office of Transportation & Utilities announced a pilot program of North-South bike lanes in Center City and a new education and enforcement campaign.
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Greetings!

 

Bike Month is off to a rollicking start -- we announced to the world that Philadelphia has twice as many bicycle commuters, per capita, as any other big city in the country, made our voices heard in Harrisburg at the PA Walks and Bikes Summit, and saw Philadelphia announce the site of two new bike lanes in Center City!

 

You can take part in Bike Month by coming out to an event like Bike to Work Day or the Kinetic Sculpture Derby or by signing up for our Commuter Challenge.  Or just get on your bike and enjoy the most bicycled big city in the US!

 

Your support is critical to the progress we are marking in getting so many people across the Delaware Valley to take to two wheels.  Thank you!  

  
Alex Doty
Executive Director
COMMUTER CHALLENGE 2011

The Bicycle Coalition's Commuter Challenge, presented by AAA, begins on May 20th.

 

The Commuter Challenge is a friendly and free workplace competition which encourages folks in the Philadelphia area to walk or bike to work this summer.  Each workplace can sign up a team (or multiple teams!), and team members will log their miles commuted by walking or biking on our Commuter Challenge website.

 

Participants can challenge other individuals, pour obessively over statistics, and view estimated calories burned and CO2 emissions avoided.  Monthly winning teams receive prizes and glory, and all participants who log 5 commutes a month are entered to win a Breezer bike, a Burley Travoy, ZipCar gift cards, Bike Philly registration, and more!

 

The Commuter Challenge runs from May 20th to August 20th.  Individuals and teams can register at any time.  Register or log in at:  http://commutebetter.com/


For safety tips on commuting by bicycle, visit our education blog.

 

Follow the Commuter Challenge on Twitter:

Follow BikeCommutePHL on Twitter 

 

Interested in sponsorship opportunities? Email caroline@bicyclecoalition.org for more information or call 215.242.9253 x307.  

ADVOCACY HIGHLIGHTS

On May 9, the Bicycle Coalition released Mode Shift: Philadelphia's Two-Wheeled Revolution In Progress.  This report is a detailed examination of bicycle commuting in the Greater Philadelphia Region, using US Census data and our own counts.

 

The findings are remarkable, and have attracted serious media attention.  Among them:

  • Philadelphia has twice the number of bicycle commuters, per capita, as the next-best big American city.
  • Center City and South Philadelphia have bicycle commuting rates which place them in the top 25 for bicycling neighborhoods nationwide, alongside famous bicycling cities like Minneapolis and Santa Barbara.
  • Bike lanes reduce bad bicycle behavior like sidewalk and wrong-way riding.

 

The full report is available on our website

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Complete the Trail Campaign
Segments of the Schuylkill River Trail are making progress! The West Bank Connector feasibility study should begin very soon.  The Wissahickon Gateway engineering study is underway and a public meeting will be scheduled for June.  The section of sidewalk along Kelly Drive between Falls Bridge and Ridge Avenue is CLOSED and under construction, which should be finished by the end of June.  The detour for that project, which is Calumet Street and Ridge Avenue, should be getting sharrows the week of May 16th, according to PennDOT.  We urge everyone going through that section to please use the detour as it is illegal and dangerous to cycle through an active construction zone.  A consultant has been selected for the Manayunk Bridge and Ivy Ridge Trail, so that project will get underway very shortly.  The Cynwyd Heritage Trail is under construction and had its groundbreaking on May 5th.

BICYCLE COALITION EDUCATION UPDATE

Bicycle Rodeo 

On April 27th, Safe Routes Philly staff ran our first bicycle rodeo of the year.  The bike-skill-building event was held for fifteen students at Williard Elementary School in the Kensington section of Philadelphia.

 

Bicycle rodeos are a big part of our education programming.  They give children valuable two-wheeled confidence and the skills they need to safely and enjoyable bike to school and around their neighborhoods.  Our education blog has a recap and photos of the rodeo.

 

Last Rites for Dead Bikes 

Last week we performed last rites upon, and then respectfully removed, 24 dead bicycles from Center City.  Working with the Philadelphia Streets Sanitation Department, the Bicycle Coalition periodically removes dead and abandoned bikes.  These dearly departed are given to Neighborhood Bike Works.  A more detailed recount of this sobering (yet hopeful!) procedure is available on our education blog.

VOLUNTEER AT THE BICYCLE COALITION

Interested in volunteering for the Bicycle Coalition? We have 3 exciting volunteer opportunities coming up! Interested? Email caroline@bicyclecoalition.org

 

 

Ride of Silence: May 18

Time: 6:15pm-8:30pm



Bike To Work Day: May 20

Time: 7:00am-9:15am



Kensington Kinetic Sculpture Derby: May 21

Time: 9:00am-12:30pm OR 12:30pm-5:00pm  

 

 
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