PHILADELPHIA, PENNSYLVANIA – Population 1.6 million
Philadelphia, the 6th largest city in the USA, is making steady bicycle gains and has seen massive increases in cycling since the pandemic hit, ranging from 75% to 471%.
Philly updated its Bicycle Network Plan, completed in 2000, with the City’s first Pedestrian and Bicycle Plan in 2012, aiming to increase cycling’s modal share from 1.6% to 6.5%.
With close to 20 miles of protected bicycle lanes slated to be completed by the end of 2021, the City recently completed infrastructure modifications that connected 70 miles within the 350-mile Circuit Trails, one of the largest multi-use pathways in the country.
The force behind much of Philly’s cycling success comes from the Bicycle Coalition of Greater Philadelphia, founded in 1972. The Coalition is lobbying to increase the Circuit Trails to 500 miles by 2025 and hopes to see the network reach a whopping 814 miles when completed.
The city ranks 7th in the USA for commuting on a per capita basis, with 2.6% of residents commuting by bike. The Circuit Trails is a big reason for Philly’s recent cycling surge.
Indego, Philadelphia’s bike-share program, operated by Bicycle Transit Systems, currently offers 1,400 shared bikes including e-bikes across 140 stations. With a 5-year plan to expand to 350 stations and double the number of units to 3,500, with half being electric, the program aims to provide sustainable, accessible and affordable transportation to all residents.
Safety is another key element of the strategy with a formal commitment to a Vision Zero policy to eliminate traffic deaths by 2030. In addition, the City has also created a new Office of Complete Streets, dedicated to re-engineering streets according to Vision Zero’s standards.
Philly’s cycling culture is also supported by numerous other organizations, including the Bicycle Club of
Philadelphia, the Quaker City Wheelmen, the Neighborhood Bike Works and others.
The city also boasts a plethora of bike shops and a year-round calendar of cycling events including the tasty ProfiteROLL, a scavenger hunt that tours the city’s bakeries.