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 at #BiketoworkPHL talks equity in cycling. She Biked in from North Philly this morning, said there were some bike lanes, but had to ride on sidewalk, and in front of Streets Dept truck. We need better infrastructure all over Philadelphia. pic.twitter.com/cZlrBiJLSz

— Randy LoBasso (@RandyLoBasso) May 18, 2018

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.

“Some of us are here because we choose to bike, for some it’s the only option.” The importance of safe bikes – some are not able to Afford cars or other options. #bikephl #BiketoWorkDay2018 pic.twitter.com/CSKm3Ij6gq

— Green Philly (@greenphillyblog) May 18, 2018

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.

The Ride of Silence last evening honored 11 bicyclists ? killed by motorists in Philadelphia in the last year. Included are 24 year old Emily Fredrick, who ditched her car for a bike after moving to Philly and was hit by a sanitation vehicle at 11th and Spruce, and Pablo Avendano, who was hit In the Bike lane on 10th and a spring garden, while wearing a helmet and working as a @trycaviar courier this past Saturday. The light rain and silent ride was pretty incredible throughout the city. ? . . Careless attitudes towards cyclists is dangerous – people’s lives are at stake when you’re texting and driving, beeping horns and driving a 2000+ lb vehicle. Regardless of how you get to work, Home and around town, we could all have a little more compassion and care. Stay safe, and it’s better to be alive than right. Thanks for the @bicyclecoalition for hosting this event and advocating for Bike safety. . . . . . . . #philly #rideofsilence #phillybikelife #ibikephl #bikephl #rideofsilence2018 #bikelife

A post shared by Green Philly (@greenphillyblog) on May 17, 2018 at 4:34am PDT

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.

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Julie Hancher is Editor-in-Chief of Green Philly, sharing her expertise of all things sustainable in the city of brotherly love. She enjoys long walks in the park with local beer and greening her travels, cooking & cat, Sir Floofus Drake. View all posts by Julie Hancher