As the year comes to a close, we reflect on an impactful year full of community connections.  Here are our top 5 moments from the past year, that highlight our community-based bike education and access programs across the city of Philadelphia.

1. We love to turn a parking lot into a kids biking paradise!  

On the last day of school in June, 2024, The Bicycle Coalition partnered with North 10 and Be a Gem Crossing to get over 30 kids and adults got to ride bikes at the Be a Gem Crossing Family Bike Day in just 2 hours, turning a parking lot into a bike paradise for kids.  Read the full blog here.

2. Bartram’s Bike Hub Ambassador, Iresha Picot, raised visibility of Bartram’s Bike Hub 

New this year, The Bicycle Coalition hired a Bike Hub Ambassador to activate the Bartram’s Garden Bike Hub and start talking about the Schuylkill Crossing Bridge (AKA Swing Bridge) that is set to open in 2025 and connect Bartram’s Garden to the Schuylkill River Trail.  The Bicycle Coalition hired Iresha Picot to help raise the visibility of the Bartram’s Bike Hub.  Check out this awesome video Iresha created.

3. Inviting more people to experience the joy of the Lil’ Philly Safety Village

At our Annual Family Bike Safety Fair in October at the Lil’ Philly Safety Village, the Bicycle Coalition invited the Hunting Park Aztec Cheer Team to bring their cheer to the safety village and ride with us!  Cheer team member, Savanna, won the bike giveaway raffle and the whole team got to ride.  Thanks to our partners, PECO, for their support to activate the Lil’ Philly Safety Village.

4. Connecting over 500 Philadelphians with access to bikes at the Bartram’s Garden Bike Hub

This year, despite a toxic spill that limited programming dates, our mighty Bike Education Team, Jack and Ling, connected over 500 participants at the Bartram’s Garden Bike Hub with free bike rentals, learn to ride classes and more.  We love to help families get on bikes, and teach people of ALL AGES how to ride and ride safely.

5. Lighting up the night, spreading bike lights and visibility in Kensington, West Philly and South Philly 

We wrapped up the bike education season with a successful Annual Bike Light Giveaway, spreading joy and safe biking in Kensington, West Philly and South Philly.  Teams of volunteers gave out over 600 bike lights at 4 spots across the city.  We love helping Philadelphians increase their visibility and safety as they ride, and building community partnerships along the way.

 

Stay tuned for 2025, there is so much more to come!

• Schuylkill Crossing Bridge (AKA The Swing bridge) is scheduled going to open late in 2025!  The Bicycle Coalition will be working to activate this game-changing bike infrastructure project that will connect Southwest Philadelphia with neighborhoods across the city.  We will be doing outreach to ensure members of the Southwest Philadelphia community are at the forefront of outreach and activation of this new infrastructure through outreach, rides, bike and bike safety giveaways and a bridge opening celebration.
• The Lil’ Philly Safety Village is open 365 days a year.  If you have not already checked it out, come visit in 2025!  Located at W Hunting Park Drive & W Cayuga Street in North Philly, Lil’ Philly Safety Village is a space for kids and adults alike to practice biking, rolling and walking in a colorful, playful area completely free of motor vehicle traffic. The miniature bike lanes, crosswalks, stop signs and other traffic markers help Lil’ Philly Safety Villagers learn to move through urban street space. From there, they can test their new skills on the sidewalks (for kids 12 and under) and street loops of the surrounding park.