After unanticipated delays due to supply chain issues and structural design complications, the Philadelphia Streets Department announced that the Schuylkill River Crossing Swing Bridge will be opening this summer! Here at the Coalition, we’ve been incredibly excited to celebrate and activate the Schuylkill River Crossing bridge, which will connect Southwest Philadelphia with neighborhoods across the river once it opens. To ensure that low-income communities and communities of color that make up the Southwest Philadelphia community are at the forefront of the outreach and activation of this new infrastructure, we’ve brought on a Swing Bridge Ambassador to facilitate in-person outreach, bike rides, and bike safety giveaways!
Meet Our Swing Bridge Ambassador
My name is Mable Bakali and I am the Swing Bridge Ambassador for the Bicycle Coalition of Greater Philadelphia.
When I was 3 years old, I moved to Philadelphia from Malawi with my family. As an immigrant from southeast Africa, I love that Philly is a culturally diverse and vibrant city filled with hardworking, creative, passionate and resilient people from all walks of life. My time speaking to residents in Southwest has only emphasized how deeply Philadelphians care about their city.
In my free time I like to take long walks or relax in parks, soaking in my surroundings and hearing the stories people share about who they are, the people they love, and what matters to them. I also like to read and ride my bike.
At the age of 16, I purchased my first bike on Craigslist: a cobalt blue, single-speed vintage bicycle with coaster brakes. Since then I’ve enjoyed the freedom of riding around the city and beyond.
As the Swing Bridge Ambassador, I’m excited to connect with neighboring communities and explore the Swing Bridge and the surrounding Schuylkill River, Circuit Trail, and East Coast Greenway trail networks. I hope you’ll join me for a ride.
About the Swing Bridge
The opening of the swing bridge connection is a major step forward in making Greater Philadelphia’s Circuit Trails network more connected and accessible. Right now, there are nearly 15 miles of existing Circuit Trails west of the Gray’s Ferry Swing Bridge and 25 miles to the east and north of the swing bridge in Philadelphia. Once completed, the swing bridge will close a critical gap creating a continuous multi-use trail now from Bartram’s Garden into Manayunk in Philadelphia, and eventually connecting trail users to Berks County by way of the Schuylkill River Trail and to Delaware County by way of the East Coast Greenway.
Bridging the gap between Bartram’s Garden and the residents of Southwest Philadelphia to the Schuylkill Banks is a really big deal for the network as a whole. It shows the importance of providing new ways to reach your destination by way of walking and biking that can make a positive impact on a person in so many ways. Whether it’s improvements to their mental health, their physical health or building community, each new mile of Circuit Trails changes the way we can get around our region in a very positive way.
Our continued partnership with Bartram’s Garden through the Bartram’s Garden Bike Hub has engaged nearly 300 participants in 2025, offering free bike rentals and learn to ride classes for kids and adults as well as beginner group rides. Once the new swing bridge connection officially opens later this year, we anticipate the number of participants who join us at Bartram’s Garden will increase significantly, offering more neighbors the opportunity to enjoy the expanding Circuit Trails network.
We can’t wait to see you out there!
The Bicycle Coalition of Greater Philadelphia leads the movement to make every bicycle ride safe, to empower youth and adults to ride, and to foster a ridership that reflects the diversity of the region. Join or renew to continue that advocacy and education work throughout the region. More info here.