2025’s Bike to Work & Wherever Day celebration, group ride, and press conference is sponsored by Independence Blue Cross. Thank you to the Penn Museum, Philly Bike Train, the Office of Multimodal Planning, Senator Saval, Council Members Squilla and Landau, Center City District, and Jawnt. Featured image courtesy of the Office of Multimodal Planning.
Farah Newcomb of Independence Blue Cross speaks at the 2025 Bike to Work & Wherever Day gathering on Dilworth Plaza at City Hall. Photo by Leo Atwell-Walsh
On Wednesday, May 14, 2025, Philadelphians from five different parts of the city participated in this year’s Bike To Work & Wherever Day along with Philadelphia Council Members Mark Squilla and Rue Landau, and State Senator Nikil Saval. In partnership with Philly Bike Train, rides began from North Philadelphia, South Philadelphia, and West Philadelphia, and ended at City Hall. Biking for transportation and recreation is an important action people can take to address the climate crisis, traffic congestion, and road safety.
“The Bicycle Coalition of Greater Philadelphia is working to ensure everyone can start anywhere, choose how to travel there, and arrive safely to their destination. Bike to Work & Wherever Day is a great way to highlight the fun aspect of cycling around our great city,” said Chris Gale, Executive Director of the Bicycle Coalition of Greater Philadelphia.
L to R: Council Members Mark Squilla and Rue Landau, and State Senator Nikil Saval. Photo by Uma McGuire
This ride highlights not only the joy and health benefits of choosing to ride a bike to work or wherever but it also shows the importance of high quality bike lanes. Riders were lucky to highlight several bike lanes on their routes, having a safe place to ride is integral to increasing ridership. Just last week, Jeff Ishibasi was killed biking on his way to work. He will be remembered along with 12 other riders who were killed in the last year at next week’s 21st annual Ride of Silence.
“By ensuring safe, reliable travel options – including biking – are available for all our residents, we are one major step closer to securing a safer, cleaner, greener city with economic opportunity for all,” said Kelley Yemen, Director of the Office of Multimodal Planning.
Smiling bicycle commuters pose with “I Bike PHL” sign. Photo by Caroline Robertson
Based on a report released this week by the Bicycle Coalition bike counts taken at rush hour decreased slightly from 2023. However, data from other sources, including Indego Bike Share, Center City District, Delaware Valley Regional Planning Commission and Strava Metro show bike and e-scooter traffic increasing in the City throughout the entire day.
Indego saw a 17% increase, with more than 1.2 million trips taken in 2024. According to the US Census data estimates, South Philadelphia has one of the highest rates of bicycling in the nation, with more than 5% of all work trips taken by bicycle.
The Bicycle Coalition hosts Bike to Work & Wherever Day to celebrate bike riders everywhere, and to encourage and support people who are interested in increasing their active transportation efforts. Biking saves time, money, lowers stress, is a good form of exercise, good for the earth and—perhaps most importantly—is fun. New to cycle commuting or just want a group to ride with? Find out more about a Philly Bike Train near you at phillybiketrain.org
Philly Bike Train Leadership photo courtesy of the Office of Multimodal Planning