Happy Bike to Work Day! Bike Week Highlights

Happy National Bike to Work Day!

The weather may have been lousy all week, but that didn’t stop the biking community from celebrating two-wheeled transportation. This morning, many cyclists met in front of the Penn Museum on 33rd & South Street, riding with Police Bike escorts to Dilworth Park.

At Dilworth park, the comment themes were Philadelphia’s biking culture, bike safety, and Vision Zero. Remarks were made by those including Bicycle Coalition of Greater Philadelphia Sarah Clark Stuart, City of Philadelphia, Managing Director Michael DiBerardinis, Commissioner Tom Farley, State Rep. Donna Bullock, Councilman Mark Squilla and Councilman Kenyatta Johnson.

As State Rep. Donna Bullock talked about her ride from North Philly this morning, she mentioned that despite bike lanes, she had to ride on the sidewalk because of road conditions. Potholes aren’t just an annoyance for drivers, they’re unsafe for bikers and pedestrians.

Rep Bullock also discussed how bicycles aren’t “just” an option for all commuters. For many who may not be able to afford other options, they depend on bikes to get around.

Bike to Work Day follows the annual Ride of Silence, to remember bicyclist lives lost to motor vehicles.

Ride of Silence 2018

The 2018 Ride of Silence began Wednesday night in front of the Art Museum steps to honor the 11 Delaware Valley cyclists who were killed in the past year.

Those cyclists killed included a beloved bike messenger while riding last Saturday on Spring Garden Street, one of Philadelphia’s most-used bike lanes and Philadelphia pastry chef Emily Fredricks while riding on Spruce Street, also among the most used bike lanes in the city.

We wrote about the importance of safe bike infrastructure earlier this week. This goes beyond bicyclists part of being “safe.” Philly.com said it best:

“The night he was killed, he was wearing a helmet. His tail light was lit. He was pedaling along a designated bike lane. He was the rule-following antithesis of those outlaw, rule-busting riders that the anti-bike crowd loathes.” — Columnist Ronnie Polaneczky on how protected bike lanes could have saved Pablo Avendano, a cyclist killed Saturday.