City Kicks-Off Bicycle Safety Month with #SafeRoutesPHL and #VisionZeroPHL Events

Officials will host walk to school events at Gompers Elementary and Pennell Elementary and a ribbon-cutting ceremony for the Fairhill Slow Zone; Philadelphia’s first Neighborhood Slow Zone

PHILADELPHIA- The U.S Department of Transportation’s National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) has designated May as Bicycle Safety Month. This is a month-long initiative reminding drivers and bicyclists to do their part to help reduce deaths and injuries along our roads. That is why the City, Vision Zero Task Force, Safe Routes Philly, and partners will join together to observe Philadelphia’s Bicycle Safety Month 2022.

“Philadelphia has the highest percentage of people who commute by bicycle of any large city in the United States – and we are committed to not only sustain but increase those numbers.” said Mayor Jim Kenney. “As highlighted in our Vision Zero Action Plan, creating a high quality bike network remains a priority for my Administration. Just last year, protected bike lanes in our City doubled to more than 16 miles.  We are proud to celebrate Bicycle Safety Month and remain committed to making our city’s streets safer for all.”

In Philadelphia, crashes involving bicycles have seen an average yearly decrease from 508 per year (2013-2017) to 304 per year (2017-2021). Unfortunately, fatalities and serious injuries resulting from these crashes remain high, as people bicycling are more likely to face serious injuries from a crash. Without the protection of a vehicle and safety features like airbags and seatbelts, the human body cannot withstand the force of many crashes.

During Bicycle Safety Month PHL 2022, officials will host several educational events and activities for children, celebrate a ribbon-cutting at the city’s first and newly completed Neighborhood Slow Zone, and take part in partner bicycle initiative events across the city.

“We know a key strategy to getting to zero traffic deaths is reducing the need to drive and biking is one sustainable way to get around” said Deputy Managing Director for Transportation Mike Carroll. “We are dedicated to implementing more safe streets and we urge everyone to slow down and help save lives.”

Events scheduled for Bicycle Safety Month 2022 include:

Gompers Bike to School Day
May 4, 7:30 a.m.
On Wednesday, May 4, Safe Routes Philly will be celebrating Walk/Bike to School Day with Gompers Elementary School. The day will begin at Tustin Playground, where students in grades 5-8 will meet and ride to the Science Leadership Academy at Beeber to meet younger students in K-4 and all ride together to Gompers. Throughout the day, students will participate in activities about biking, safe transportation, and health. Eat Right Philly will provide healthy snacks.

Pennell Bike to School Day
May 13, 7:30 a.m.
Students will meet at the Ogontz Library and ride together with their principal, teachers, City officials, and volunteers from the Bicycle Coalition of Greater Philadelphia. Leading up to the event the students will be learning Safe Routes Philly transportation safety lessons in school. Eat Right Philly will provide healthy snacks.

Fairhill Slow Zone Ribbon Cutting Ceremony 
May 13, 11 a.m.
City Officials will cut the ribbon at the completed Fairhill Neighborhood Slow Zone, one of the first two communities to have their traffic calming proposals funded under the Vision Zero Neighborhood Slow Zone Program. A media advisory with further details will be issued next week.

Ride of Silence
May 18, 6:45 p.m
City officials will take part in the Ride of Silence, an annual bike ride throughout Philadelphia to raise awareness of cyclists’ rights and to honor those cyclists killed in traffic crashes. The ride will begin on the North side of City Hall (Broad and JFK). bicyclecoalition.org/

Bike to Work or Wherever Day
May 20, 8:15  a.m
City officials will celebrate Bike to Work or Wherever Day with the Bicycle Coalition of Greater Philadelphia (BCGP) with a bike ride from Penn Museum to City Hall. Learn more and register here. 

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