The Annual Gala & Awards Dinner celebrates Greater Philadelphia’s agents of change in the bicycling community, from youth athletes and their supporters to community organizers and advocates.
The I Bike PHL award recognizes an individual or group who embodies the joy of bicycling and has made a positive impact on bringing new people to bicycling in Greater Philadelphia. Stefan Zajic, Annie O’Brien, and Peter Kim are doing exactly that, as the co-organizers of the ever-growing Wednesday Night Rides.
Over the last year, the bi-weekly no-drop social ride series has become a Philly phenomenon, with groups of 150 people (or more!) on bicycles criss-crossing the city from Penn Treaty Park to West Philly, the Navy Yard to Lemon Hill, almost always ending at a local brewery or restaurant.
What makes Wednesday Night Rides so special? We think a big part of it is because they live up to the first principle of their “How We Ride” guide:
Everyone is welcome. WNR is for everyone! No matter how or how often you ride a bike, we’d love to have you join us.
That open ethos extends to ride planning – attendees are encouraged to volunteer to plan and lead their own routes, and the resulting rides have included Forbidden Drive at dusk, a guided tour of Philly’s AAPI art and architecture, and an exploration of the K&T trail north of Penn Treaty Park.
Many members of Wednesday Night Rides have also been quick to volunteer to marshal BCGP’s largest annual rides: the Holiday Lights Ride (for which they planned the route as well) and the Ride of Silence. Their presence in the Philadelphia cycling community makes it richer for all of us, and we are honored that Annie, Peter, and Stefan will accept the 2023 I Bike PHL award on behalf of this robust and joyful riding community.
The Annual Gala & Awards Dinner will be held on Thursday, September 28, 2023, from 5:30 to 9:00pm at The Ridgeland Mansion in West Fairmount Park. For tickets & more information, visit bicyclecoalition.org/gala2023