Building healthy habits, leadership, and independence,

one ride at a time.

The Bicycle Coalition Youth Cycling (BCYC) program works with youth ages 12-18 across Philadelphia in building healthy habits, leadership, and independence through the sport of cycling.

Part of the Bicycle Coalition of Greater Philadelphia’s education department, BCYC builds entry level to advanced competitive cycling skills with its teams through the progressive program tiers, but it does not stop there.

BCYC embraces pillars of positive youth development through sport to inspire and nurture the growth of the whole athlete – emotional wellbeing, academic success, civic participation, career planning, and beyond.

The leadership ladder is key to this holistic youth development. Beginning by entering a core team at one of our eight partner sites, youths graduate through a series of programs and achieve increasing levels of accomplishment and responsibility, the highest of which is the Youth Advisory Committee (YAC). The YAC is a group of four youth leaders who drive the direction of the program and participate in local and national organizing towards their vision of safe streets and equitable access to the sport they love: cycling.

History

The Program was founded in 2007 as Cadence Cycling Foundation out of Jay’s Cadence Cycling & Multisport Center, in Manayunk, as a means to introduce more youth to the sport of cycling. The program began as a partnership model with a number of high schools, many of whom are still active partner sites to this day include champion school Shoemaker Mastery Charter. The founders of Cadence brought a strong legacy of professional cycling and racing and standards for academic and personal success that built a solid foundation for the programs growth.

In 2013, Cadence Cycling Foundation merged with the Bicycle Coalition of Greater Philadelphia and became one of our Education Programs. Since the merger, we renamed the program Bicycle Coalition Youth Cycling, and has grown the number of program participants, and expanded the program’s disciplines to include off road and advanced leadership programming.

Impact

Bicycle Coalition Youth Cycling

Learn more about Bicycle Coalition Youth Cycling’s impact on Philadelphia youth:

Sign up to be part of BCYC!

Philadelphia youth ages 12-18 may join the team by starting in one of our Core programs.

Youth Athletes: apply here and a staff member will follow up with you for team placement!

Coaches are the heart and soul of the Bicycle Coalition Youth Cycling program. They are teachers, BCYC alumni, real estate agents, working professionals, and more, but what they have in common is a love of bikes and working with youth. Does this sound like you?

Join us as a paid coach for an upcoming season! You don’t need to have experience racing—we’ll provide all the training. Email habib@bicyclecoalition.org to express interest and get added to our coaches outreach list.

Locations

  • Boys Latin of Philadelphia
  • Central High School
  • Kensington High School
  • Kipp DuBois Collegiate Academy
  • Mastery Pickett Charter School
  • Multicultural Academy Charter School
  • Neighborhood Bike Works
  • Roberto Clemente Middle School
  • W.B. Saul High School
  • Science Leadership Academy at Beeber

All Star Program

Students who complete the BCYC Core Program are eligible to test to be an All Star.  All Stars further explore the sport of cycling and build leadership skills on and off the bike.  BCYC All Stars join one of our summer and fall teams: Mountain Bike Team, Race Team, Road Team, Triathlon Team or Cyclocross Team. 

In addition, All Stars are eligible to:

 

    • Take a bike home to use independently while they are active in the program
    • Be a part of the BCYC youth governance as a part of the Youth Advisory Committee
    • Graduating seniors can apply for a BCYC College Scholarship
    • Take advantage of other professional readiness opportunities including Internships, Team Captains, and Junior Coaching.

BCYC Scholarship Program

In 2017, Jerry Jacobs and the Coalition launched a scholarship fund for Bicycle Coalition Youth Cycling (BCYC) program graduates. This post-high school financial aid further incentivizes our student athlete’s academic success and strengthens their path forward.

Donations to BCYC support our core program and the scholarship fund. These gifts give our young student athletes a smooth draft, a wheel to follow, and a boost just as they are ready to sprint into college. 

Gifts of $200, $300, $500 or any amount are an investment in our youth development program and the futures of these committed individuals. You can support graduating youth athletes by making a donation to BCYC today.

In the News

BCYC’s getting some press! From profiles of the team to athlete quotes about races around the region, check out the news coverage below for fresh perspectives on why there’s no program quite like ours.

2024

Looped in With Maritza – Listen as Youth Advisory Council Members Justin Suarez and Anthony Paris speak about their experiences on this local podcast.

This Rider Is on a MissionBicycling Magazine profiles Lana Harshaw, BCYC Program Director.

2023

At the Philly Bike Ride – Watch BCYC athletes & coaches as they join partner and sponsor Philly Bike Ride on Fox29 News.

2020 – 2021

Pedal Power – BeWellPhilly’s 2021 Health & Wellness Guide includes a feature on Philly’s cycling scene that highlights BCYC and the Bicycle Coalition.

2019 

Our once and future sport – profile of our Saul Mountain Bike Team focused on All Star Athlete Gael Campos in Dirt Rag Magazine, July 2019

2018

Equality on wheels – profile of BCYC Program Manager Taylor Kuyk-White and the team in Grid Magazine, November 1st

Your city needs a youth cycling program like this one – the Bicycle Coalition Youth Cycling Program empowers kids to aim higher and reach further – Bicycling Magazine, September 24th

Cyclocross in Trexlertown: run, jump, ride – BCYC athlete Qaasim Hayes pictured on the front page of Allentown’s Morning Call racing at the 13th Annual Nittany Lion Cross in Trexlertown, September 17th

2017

City youth advance education through bicycle program’s scholarship – BCYC seniors and scholarship program covered by the Philadelphia Tribune, October 24th

Main Line Bike Race created by teen takes off – BCYC athlete Devante Bivens quoted in local coverage of the first Main Line Bike Race and credited as one of the youngest racers at the event, August 20th

Jeremy Powers hosting Q&A and cross clinic in Philadelphia area this weekend – Bicycle Coalition and the youth cycling program showcased in Cyclocross Magazine‘s writeup of Jeremy Powers’ clinic, July 7th

Thank you to our sponsors!

Acrow Bridge

Rapha

Philly Bike Ride

Central Bucks Bicycle Club

Vie13 Kustom Apparel

Piscitello Law

Saint-Gobain

Bicycle Club of Philadelphia

QCW Cycling

Modern Woodmen of America

Keswick Cycle

VeloJawn

SRAM

Specialized

Quaint Oak Bank

Jamie & Lisa Maguire Family Foundation

Rapha Foundation

Philadelphia Foundation

Dolfinger-McMahon Foundation

Henrietta Wurts Foundation

Outride Fund

Vanguard Hometown Grants Program

District Attorney Asset Forfeiture Grant

Equipment Donations

Our athletes are outfitted from head to toe from community and sponsor donations! 

Drop off or mail to our headquarters to make an equipment/kit donation.

3250 Sedgley Drive, Philadelphia PA 19130

  • Email habib@bicyclecoalition.org to make alternate arrangements
  • If you wish to receive a tax deductible acknowledgment letter, please contact habib@bicyclecoalition.org with:
  1. Your full name and mailing, and email address
  2. Description and value of the item(s) you donated
  3. Date and location/description of how the donation was received (e.g. Mailed to Bicycle Coalition 12.22.20)
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