Last week, we had 22 volunteers at our offices to help prepare over 1,000 bike lights ahead of our annual giveaway, an effort we do to help all cyclists have the necessary equipment they need to navigate our streets free from harm. They transformed what typically takes several days into just under two hours of work, all while connecting with fellow bicycle advocates. This is just a window into the value volunteers add to the Coalition.
As we reflect on an incredible summer and fall season, we want to extend our heartfelt gratitude to all of our amazing volunteers. Your dedication, passion, and expertise have been instrumental in helping the Bicycle Coalition of Greater Philadelphia fulfill its mission to make cycling safer and more accessible for everyone in our region.
This season, our volunteers stepped up in various roles, and the impact you’ve made is evident. Here are just a few highlights of your contributions:
Policy Advocates
Our Reform Rebels engaged in several campaigns, amplifying the voice of cyclists and influencing policy at both the city and state levels.
In the wake of the traffic violence on July 17th, the Bicycle Coalition, 5th Square, and Philly Bike Action ran a petition drive that delivered 6,000 signatures and 4,000 unique comments from Philadelphia residents to the council president and mayor, demanding concrete action to improve the safety of Philadelphia streets for all. Seven rebels canvassed their neighborhoods, collecting signatures, while six volunteers helped streamline our delivery operations by organizing and entering physical signatures into the database and making signs for the rally outside City Hall.
After the petition delivery, our fight for better and safer bike lanes continued. Thank you to our dedicated volunteers who provided public comment at council and streets committee meetings, ensuring that the demands listed in the petition remained top of mind for our local decision-makers. Your voices were vital in our advocacy efforts as you shared your insights with key stakeholders.
Another priority campaign, legalizing parking-protected bike lanes, brought a team of staff and volunteers to Harrisburg for a grassroots lobby day on October 7th. The team met with state legislators, distributed flyers, and urged the legislature to legalize this life-saving bicycle infrastructure. Since the lobby day, we’ve encouraged our policy advocates to call and email state representatives to bring the legislation to a vote, and their commitment has not wavered. Each call to state senators and representatives has made a difference in raising awareness for the issues that affect vulnerable road users. We hope to see this effort come to fruition when the Senate returns to session in mid-November.
Outreach Ambassadors
This summer and fall, our outreach ambassadors were actively engaging the community and raising awareness about the Bicycle Coalition’s mission. Tabling at community events like the Lucien Blackwell Community Day, Spring Garden Sunflower Festival, and Cobbs Creek Harvest Fest, our ambassadors conversed with attendees, distributed materials, and shared valuable information about cycling safety, our education programming, and advocacy. Their enthusiasm and knowledge helped foster meaningful connections with cyclists and non-cyclists alike, allowing us to reach more people and strengthen our presence in the community.
Lil’ Philly Safety Volunteers
The Bicycle Coalition leads programming for kids focused on bicycle safety, helmet fitting, and occasionally Learn to Ride classes at the Lil’ Philly Safety Village Bike Hub located in Hunting Park. Safety Village Volunteers supported our programming from May to October by assisting with Learn to Ride classes and engaging kids in bicycle and pedestrian safety activities. Thank you so much to all our Safety Village Volunteers! You help the Coalition reach its goal of ensuring that families have positive experiences and associate biking with safety and fun from a young age.
Ride Marshals
Our community group rides require traffic to be managed and guides to assist attendees through the route. Before and during events, ride marshals serve as ambassadors for the Coalition and points of contact for participants, ensuring any issues with equipment, routes, or traffic are handled appropriately and communicated to event organizers. Ride marshals have stepped up time and again to expand the Coalition’s capacity to hold large group rides, ensuring that all attendees have a safe and enjoyable experience.
Events Extraordinaires
Volunteers have joined the development staff at the Coalition, broadening and deepening our engagement with the community and potential members at BCGP and BCYC events. Volunteers supported in a variety of ways, such as greeting and checking attendees in, setting up, cleaning up, running supplies, manning tables, and taking photos or videos for social media.
Event extraordinaires were essential to the success of our Annual Gala and BCYC’s Philly Gran Fondo, which brought together our cycling community around the importance of a safe, supportive, and inclusive regional cycling environment.
Bike Counts
Over 30 of you spent at least 90 minutes (often more) counting fellow cyclists to ensure they were counted. Your diligent efforts help us gather essential data to advocate for better infrastructure.
Looking Ahead
Thanks to your efforts, we’ve reached more people, raised vital funds, and engaged in numerous activities that foster a safe and joyful cycling community. Each of you has played a significant role in our vision to create a more interconnected Philadelphia for all.
As we look ahead, we are excited to continue working together to inspire and empower more riders. Thank you once again for your invaluable contributions—your time and passion are what make the Bicycle Coalition thrive!
Interested in future volunteer opportunities? Fill out this form, and you’ll receive relevant volunteer opportunities in the future.