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MEDIA ADVISORY | PHOTO OPPORTUNITY
Bicycle Coalition of Greater Philadelphia
Tuesday, May 12th 2014
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CONTACT:
Alex Doty, Executive Director
Bicycle Coalition of Greater Philadelphia
alex@bicyclecoalition.org
o: 215-242-9253 x301 | c: 215-239-4749
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City and State Leaders Head Philadelphia's Annual Bike to Work Day
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WHAT: Bike to Work Day comes to Philadelphia on May 16th with a morning bike ride down the Ben Franklin Parkway. The annual ride celebrates the fun of bicycling to work and showcases Philadelphia as a national leader in urban bicycling. The Bicycle Coalition of Greater Philadelphia and the Philadelphia Parks and Recreation Department are organizing the ride.
Notable figures participating in the ride include:
- Representative Kenyatta Johnson
- Councilman Mark Squilla
- Councilwoman Blondell Reynolds Brown
- Philadelphia School District Deputy Superintendent Paul Kihn
- Parks and Recreation Deputy Commissioner Susan Slawson.
"Philadelphia is making impressive strides in becoming a safer city for bicycling, and Mayor Nutter and his administration deserve a lot of credit for that," said Alex Doty, Executive Director of the Bicycle Coalition of Greater Philadelphia. "The data shows that supporting bicycling through infrastructure and education makes our streets safer for everyone, not just bicyclists, while encouraging more people to discover the joys and benefits of travelling by bicycle."
"I am excited to be a part of Bike to Work Day this year, because it celebrates and encourages people to become a part of Philadelphia’s strong bicycling community and promotes safe bicycling for both adults and youth," said Deputy Commissioner Slawson.
WHERE: Riders are gathering at Lloyd Hall (1 Boathouse Row). The police-escorted ride leaves from Lloyd Hall, proceeds down the Ben Franklin Parkway, and finishes with a press conference at LOVE Park.
WHEN: Friday, May 16th. Riders gather beginning at 7:30 AM. The ride leaves Lloyd Hall at 8:15 and arrives at LOVE Park at approximately 8:30 AM. The ride is rain or shine.
BACKGROUND: Philadelphia has been a leading city for bicycle commuting for years. The U.S. Census reported that in 2012 Philadelphia's rate of bicycle commuting per capita rose from 1.8% to 2.3%. That rate represented the highest of the nation's ten biggest cities, and the 0.5% increase was also the largest gain among those cities. That figure stands to rise next year when Philadelphia's bike sharing program is set to launch.
The Bicycle Coalition of Greater Philadelphia has been organizing Bike to Work Day rides in Philadelphia since 1994. This is the first year as mayor that Mayor Michael Nutter is not participating in the ride.
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