4th Annual Bike Philly Ride - September 12th 8AM

Celebrate Bicycling on Car-Free Philadelphia Streets

Bike Philly is a morning of relaxed biking on certified car-free Philadelphia streets. Bring friends to celebrate with thousands of bicyclists of all ages. This once a year event is family-friendly, featuring a car-free 10 and 20 mile loop and a challenging 40 mile option on shared roads in the western suburbs. Enjoy the historic beauty of Philadelphia on two wheels and support the Bicycle Coalition's efforts to make the city more livable and sustainable. Make it a weekend of bicycling with the Scenic Schuylkill Century on September 11, an event of the Bicycle Club of Philadelphia.

Bicyclists of all skill levels are welcome. Bike Philly rolls rain or shine.











































Late-Registration ends August 31st

Bicycle Coalition Membership and Adult Entry - $ 70
Adult Non-member - $ 50
Adult Member - $ 40
Philadelphia Bicycle Weekend - $ 75
(Bike Philly on Sept 12 and the Scenic Schuylkill Century on Sept 11)
Student (w/ valid ID) - $ 15
Youth (12 and under) - $ 5

Register here

Note: there are also volunteer opportunities and some volunteer positions allow you to ride for free. Contact Caroline 215.242.9253 x8 if you are interested in volunteering.

NJBWC Wins REI Grant to fund NJ BikeSchool

$5,000 Award Will Benefit NJ Bicycle Education

This story also comes from our friends at the New Jersey Bike and Walk Coalition:

The New Jersey Bike & Walk Coalition has won a competitive grant from REI Inc. under their "REI Gives" grant program.

The grant will be used to fund operations for the NJBikeSchool, a free, comprehensive bicycle safety program that educates children about sharing the road safely with motor vehicles and pedestrians. This grant fills a gap in funding for transportation costs which has kept the NJBikeSchool from offering their programs thus far this summer, and will enable them to do so for the next year.

Leigh Ann Von Hagen, of the Alan M. Voorhees Transportation Center and a founder of NJBikeSchool said, "NJ BikeSchool is a key program of the NJ Safe Routes to School Resource Center funded by the NJ Department of Transportation. The REI grant helps us bring youth bicycle education resources into schools and camps, including trained instructors, a fleet of bikes, helmets, literature and other equipment. Without the grant to help cover transportation costs, we would not be able to provide as robust a program. We are excited about growing the NJ BikeSchool program though NJBWC."

Bikes and Baseball with the Coalition and Somerset Patriots

This comes from our friends at the New Jersey Bike and Walk Coalition:

America's National Pastime - Bicycling

Bicycling to a baseball game, anyway. NJBWC is organizing a ride to see the Somerset Patriots of the Atlantic League play on Cycling Night, September 14. The Patriots play at TD Bank Ballpark in Bridgewater, NJ.

The cost of a ticket will be $10 ($7 ticket and a $3 donation to NJBWC). While you could just bring your bike to the stadium with your car, we will be arranging a five-mile ride to and from the stadium on the evening -- what's the point of bringing your bike if you don't use it. Lights and helmet a must. Lights for the ride, and the helmet for the ride and any stray, flying beer bottles from the stands. Oh, it's baseball, not a Jets-Eagle game...

We need to guarantee 30 riders for the evening to participate in the "benefits" (promotion of the Coalition on the scoreboard, PA announcement, etc.) and we need to know fairly quickly. If you are interested, let us know.

Oh, one other benefit is taking part in a bicycle "parade" on the warning track prior to the game. Gee, I don't know... My road bike with skinny tires on sand... Maybe I'll pass, have a beer, and watch those with fat tires!

How was that Congressional Ride on the D&R Canal?

This past weekend around 50 people joined the New Jersey Bike & Walk Coalition (note the name), the East Coast Greenway Alliance, Trenton Cycling Revolution and the West Windsor Bicycle & Pedestrian Alliance to ride and celebrate the newly-constructed portion of the D&R Canal Path in Trenton. This portion of the Canal was lost long ago when NJDOT covered the canal to build the Freeway section of Route US 1. The new section of trail was built along side an active but rarely used freight line and around several billboards (oddly enough it was the billboards that cause more trouble than the train tracks - watch Rush Holt's comments in video).


View D&R Canal Final Link in a larger map

Joining the above groups in celebrating the completion of this trail were several elected representatives. Most notable was Congressman Rush Holt (Democrat 12th District) and Assemblywoman Grace Spencer (Democrat 23rd District - Newark / Hillside) (Grace gets extra kudos for coming down all the way from Newark and riding with us. PS - This lady can ride!!).

Here is a video that Paige of the New Jersey Bike and Walk Coalition did of the opening speeches given by the present elected representatives.




Here are some pictures of the ride to the Battle Monument in Trenton from the Brearley House in Lawrenceville, including the new section of trail. Also don't forget to check out the video of the new trail made by John at the Bicycle Coalition of Greater Philadelphia.

NJB&WC President Jim Nicholson shakes Congressman Rush Holt's
hand for a job well done by the Congressman in helping complete the trail.

Riders along a well established section of D&R Canal Towpath.

Cyclists ride down the ramp to the bridge over US Route 1.

Cyclists enjoy the new section of trail in Trenton.

Another view along the new section of trail.

Cyclists arrive at the beautiful Trenton Battle Monument.


Riders return back to the Bearley House by crossing the canal to continue on the trail.

A Ride on the D&R Canal Connector Trail

Finally the missing link in the D&R Canal Towpath in Trenton has been reconnected. Obliterated by Route 1 construction in the 1950's, canal towpath users had to negotiate neighborhood streets with no navigational signage.

Pennington NIMFY's Oppose Complete Streets Project on King George Rd.

The Times of Trenton reports that residents on King George Road in Pennington have organized into vocal opponents to plans to make their road more accessible to bicyclists and pedestrians. Residents oppose the addition of bike lanes and sidewalks to their street.

A look at Google Maps reveals that the west end of King George already has sidewalks, but the east end resembles a quiet country lane. Not knowing the traffic volumes King George there is probably a desire among planners to upgrade the road while neighbors like the look of their street.

And the question of traffic volume may be where bicycle and pedestrian advocates stand on this issue. If the road has become a cut through street with high volume then the complete streets solution is to add bike lanes and sidewalks. But if the traffic volume AND traffic speeds are low (less than 1500 vehicles per day and real speed of 25mph) then the neighbors may be on to something.

Anyone with more details on this project is welcome to submit comments.


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