Come this fall, Philadelphians and visitors alike will be able to enjoy the city like never before with an inaugural and family-friendly event.
The Philly Bike Ride comes from the American Bike Ride, in partnership with the Bicycle Coalition of Greater Philadelphia—and early bird registration for the opening event (the official date is set for Oct. 15, 2022) is now open.
“Our team members and partners are happy to bring this type of celebratory bicycling experience to the Philadelphia community,” said Chris Browne, Managing Director of American Bike Ride in a statement. “Whether you are on a road bike, a beach cruiser, or renting a bike for the day, this event is for you.”
As you can tell by Browne’s statement, this ride is not a race. It’s meant to be an experience.
In fact, as a release states, bicyclists will have the unique opportunity to cruise through Philly neighborhoods, famous sites, and scenic skyline views in a closed-road, non-competitive format. Iconic city locales and areas being highlighted in the event include Center City, Independence Hall, Penns Landing, Kelly Drive and Manayunk.
Riders will be able to choose between a 20-mile course or a shorter 6-mile version, both of which start and finish by the Philadelphia Museum of Art steps and the Rocky Statue. The ride will then be followed by a post-ride festival, free and open to the public, that will feature live music, entertainment, food trucks and family-friendly activities.
The Philly Bike Ride’s first year is already expected to bring in 5,000 participants from all over Philly and Mid-Atlantic states. And as a release states, the event is also projected to grow in the coming years as the popularity, accessibility, and diversity of riding continue to increase in the region.
Through the event organizer’s partnership with the Bicycle Coalition of Greater Philadelphia (BCGP) a portion of proceeds from the event will go to support the Bicycle Coalition Youth Cycling program. As their official site states, the BCYC builds entry-level to advanced competitive cycling skills with its teams through the progressive program tiers, but it does not stop there. This specific program also embraces pillars of positive youth development through sport to inspire and nurture the growth of the whole athlete –including emotional well-being, academic success, civic participation, career planning and beyond.
2022 is a special year for this team-up, with it being the 50th anniversary of the BCGP. To celebrate, the Philly Bike Ride will be a big celebration of their work and legacy in advancing bicycling through advocacy and education.
“This is a unique opportunity for bike riders of all ages and abilities to see Philadelphia’s iconic sights from the seat of a bicycle and enjoy a stress free ride on streets without motor vehicles. We’re excited to see a car-free bike ride return to Philadelphia and I can’t wait to ride it,” finished Sarah Clark Stuart, Executive Director of BCGP in a statement.
Those who don’t have a bike can still hop on for the Philly Bike Ride this year. The event will be offering affordable bike rentals to help make bicycling more accessible for those who don’t own one, visitors, or groups looking for a fun outing.
As the release states, early bird registration for the Philly Bike Ride is open through May 24 for $58. Kids (ages 3-7) are free, and youth (ages 8-17) are half-price. Registration includes a 2022 Philly Bike Ride water bottle, access to the 20-mile car-free course, and a Rider Identification Kit. VIP packages and group pricing is also available.
More information on the Philly Bike Ride, including the course map, will be available at phillybikeride.com. Those interested can also follow Philly Bike Ride on social media: @BikeinPhilly and #PhillyBikeRide for updates and bicycling tips.
