In the last 7 weeks of 2023, we called on 700 members to renew or join us for the first time. In the final tally, 591 folks answered generously from across our region and beyond. While we didn’t quite make our goal this year, the support we received brought us a long way closer to meeting our goals to keep our education programs and advocacy projects funded in 2024. (It’s never too late to join or renew, by the way!)
One of those 591 members who renewed this fall was Patricia White, the winner of this year’s bike raffle of a Retrospec Ascent mountain bike (donated by Keswick Cycle)! Membership to BCGP is more than just financial support of safer, more accessible, happier communities—BCGP members are a critical mass of voices for change and active participants in their community. An active member of the Families for Safe Streets Philadelphia program, as well as other community initiatives working for safety and prosperity in our communities, Patricia is a representative of the citizen values BCGP membership is all about. She was kind enough to make some time to speak with us this week:
“Safety, by any means necessary”
The Bicycle Coalition is important because the work extends through communities to the level of policy in Philadelphia, locally, regionally, and in Harrisburg—without that, we can’t make any changes at all.
After my sister was killed by a drunk driver while getting off the bus, I went searching for support, someone who could understand the pain. I was working for Goodwill at the time, and a coworker, who was a member of the Bicycle Coalition, always talked about the work they were doing. Through him, I connected with Families for Safe Streets Philadelphia—from the first meeting, I could tell they were on the right paths. It’s been 5 years now, and I am still amazed by the progress being made.
Patricia successfully advocated for the placement of a Stop sign at an intersection in her own West Philly neighborhood, where traffic poses an ongoing threat to the safety of local children and other community members—a yearlong process that took perseverance:
“We’re all responsible for the safety of our citizens.”
As a retired person, I feel like I’m more busy now than ever—it’s hard, but I’m proud that I can get out here and have my voice heard. I attended the district meetings every month on Mondays just to get a stop sign up in my neighborhood. Now, I’m working on getting Children at Play signage. Two kids were hit on bikes here this past year. All we’re asking is to make people aware that this is what’s happening and be cautious, to recognize that children in our community are doing what children do.
When I was a young girl, every day after school we rode our bikes. We recycled bike parts before it was a thing. If you got a flat, someone would lend you their tire while we patched yours so you could ride where they needed to go. We rode together.
I owned a Schwinn in my 20s and used to ride with my kids, but that bike was stolen. When I visit my daughter and granddaughter in Middletown, I usually borrow their bike to ride while I walk the dog. Having a bike again will be great. I can’t wait until the summer to ride on MLK. I remember going to parks in the areas where bike paths didn’t exist. So revisiting parks where I once rode my bicycle is great. I want to be riding again.
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And we look forward to riding with you, Patricia! Thank you for your support and for making our region a better place to live.
Join us for our Open House to meet our staff, board, and other great members like Patricia—we look forward to meeting you, too!