For work I'm finding that more of my life involves sharing half a car trip with a colleague and then I'm on my own for the return. I have a full bicycle i love so much but it doesnt easily fit in everyone's car and it's getting weird to ask people to rearrange their trunks so i can throw a bike in. I want a folding bike that fits in a sedan trunk, can go from West Philly to Manayunk in reasonable comfort for the 8 miles (not every day, but often enough that it's a serious factor), is readily serviceable in shops here (few weird specialty parts), does ok on our road conditions, and weighs in at 40# or less because I have a back problem and can't lift heavy things. Ideally it could fit my spouse or me, or a guest if we want to get around with a visitor. Recommendations welcome!

Wiped out this afternoon trying to cross trolley tracks on Girard. On a fuckin INDEGO bike. 🙄I felt like such a noob(because I am!). Very thankful I chose to wear my helmet and traffic was paying attention. Could’ve been much worse than the cuts/bruises I’m now nursing.

Funny though, I fell and couldn’t get up for a moment as the wind was knocked out of me. When I turned over- a nun, a homeless guy, and the lady who almost hit me with her car were all standing over me. Felt like the start to a joke.

Any tips for crossing the trolley tracks?

I commute everyday for work. About 6 miles round trip. I've been riding a basic huffy mountain bike 21 speed. I'm ready to buy a new bike and I think I want a single speed/fixie. In my price range, I like the State Bicycle Co. Core Line, But I don't want to order a bike. I just want to walk into a local shop and buy one. I see a lot of retrospecs out there. And I'm ready to settle for the Retrospec Harper Plus. But I just figured I would double check on here before I pull the trigger. to see if there's a spot I could buy the Core Line.

Also open to other suggestions if you guys got any.

I hope Jason pulls through from the injuries he sustained from the crash he was involved in when he was riding his bike in Kensington! https://gofund.me/3cbfdd67

I often commute home going north on 13th. It’s got a great bike lane until a block before Spring Garden where it disappears for no good reason. Then you hit some potholes and squeeze past parked cars, and then the bike lane is back, though the paint is worn away. Then it’s gone again at Brown, past a bunch of houses with driveways (they don’t need to park on two sides of the narrow street), and then it’s better than ever on the other side of Girard past Temple until Cecil B. Moore.

This is not unique and it’s incredibly frustrating, because the route is only as good as its weakest link. The infrastructure alternates between perfect and protected and nonexistent.

Anyone have insight? Does it have to do with the paving schedule, the city council district, the presence of individual institutions or businesses that lobby against the bike lane? Basically how can I help bug the city or streets department to simply finish what they clearly have started and know how to do?

Just needed to vent to no one in particular. I have a short, 10-minute commute from Fairmount to Market where I come home on 22nd, which has a couple of safety challenges. One, the bike lane on 22nd shifts from the left to right side, crossing two lanes of traffic. And two, I have to navigate the entrance to the Whole Foods parking lot at 22nd and Spring Garden while in the middle of a moderate incline.

Today, I had just moved across lanes on my commute home (around 11 AM) when I heard a motor behind me in the bike lane. I turned around and saw a 20-something kid on an electric scooter zooming up towards me, so I started to move to make room for him while looking behind me. He turned off the street but yelled something at me. I couldn't hear so I carried on. About two blocks later, while I'm on the bridge over the Vine, he zoomed back up next to me (which I didn't hear) and yelled at me, "did you have something to say?" He scared me nearly out of my wits. I said no, I hadn't said anything, and he said, sort of menacingly "okay, just making sure," then turned around and zoomed back away.

A few minutes later, still shaken from that, I crossed Pennsylvania towards the Whole Foods only to find a car sitting in front of the entrance to one of the only protected bike lanes on my entire route. I had to come almost to a stop to get into the lane while climbing. Being frustrated, the bad ideas won and I yelled at the driver, "it's a bike lane!" Once I was halfway up the block, I saw him pull out and into the travel lane, and I was so scared he was going to retaliate with something much worse.

I'm so tired of fighting for the little bit of space we need to commute in this city. I've been yelled at, followed threateningly, cut off, had my foot rolled over (in a protected bike lane no less!), and other nonsense more times than I can think of. I love getting on my bike to get to work and around the city, but it feels more dangerous now than pre-COVID. What do we have to do to get drivers (and these days, electric scooters and e-bikes) to respect us and our safety??

They were my favorite Americano/nature break spot along the SRT.

In case you were wondering, yes(!) we will ride on Thanksgiving Eve, November 27, 2024. We’re planning a special ride that ends with a shared meal. If you have friends and family visiting, feel free to invite them!

This will work best if everyone brings something to share! The ride will start and end at Resurrection Philadelphia’s Woodland Annex at 401 S 42nd St (42nd and Pine). You can drop off your food and drink starting at 6pm. All food (entrees, apps, snacks, sweets) and drink (including alcoholic) are welcome. We’ll be buying some hoagies to fill out the table but not to feed everyone, so your contributions are appreciated! But if you can’t bring food or drink, please don’t let that stop you from coming.

We're accepting voluntary contributions to help pay for the hoagies and table supplies: a suggested donation of $5 to @peterskim12 (last 4 digits 8621) on Venmo would be greatly appreciated! Any leftover contributions will go into our sticker/swag fund.

One of our organizers, Jo Noonan will be leading us on this 8 mile jaunt through West Philly. The route features long stretches of quiet streets, lots of bicycle infrastructure, and a couple of short hills to warm you up.

Start: Resurrection Philadelphia, Woodland Annex, 401 S 42nd St
Time: Meet at 7pm, roll at 7:10pm
End: Resurrection Philadelphia, Woodland Annex, 401 S 42nd St. Outdoor seating available.
Length: 7.8 miles, mostly flat (+202 ft / -196 ft)
Level of difficulty: Standard
Route: Ride with GPS | Komoot | .GPX download

Route map

Special ride notes:

• After dark, PA law requires all bikes to have a headlight and a red tail light or reflector. Need lights for the winter? Hit up your local bike shop.
• Watch out for trolley tracks!

As usual, we’ll ride according to our How We Ride guide. Please follow these ride norms so everyone’s on the same page, and we keep the ride safe and fun.

We're always looking for new ride leaders, volunteers, and organizers. If you'd like to get more involved, reply to this email or DM on Instagram. The more voices and ideas our community can contribute, the better.

Thanks for riding -- see you Wednesday!

Hi all, can you recommend a shop preferably in Philly, but I’m will to drive if needed , where I can purchase cycling shoes?

I want to go to a shop so that I can try on different pairs that I plan on using on my upcoming 200k ride. Thanks!

Hey all,

I took my bike on the 6:45am outbound train to Trenton this morning and was confused when the conductor walked towards me and explained that bikes weren't allowed (regardless of direction). Fortunately, he didn't kick me off.

The website states: https://wwww.septa.org/bikes/

Bicycles are allowed:

On weekday trains except: morning inbound trains arriving at any Center City station between 6 am and 9:30 am; and, afternoon outbound trains departing from any Center City station between 4 pm and 6:30 pm. Center City stations include Penn Medicine Station, William H. Gray III 30th Street Station, Suburban Station, Jefferson Station, and Temple University Station.

I showed the above policy to the conductor and inquired if this policy has changed. They shrugged and said not to worry about it.

So, just checking my sanity here: did the policy change or not? If so, I might have to invest in a folding bike. 😅

There is a homeless guy who I constantly have to chase away from camping on an abandoned house next door to me who suddenly has what appears to be a brand new folding bike. West Philadelphia. Checking here to see if anyone is missing one. Not going to provide color, make, or model as a truth check.

EDIT: There is a barcode number on the frame. Perhaps it’s registered?

EDIT: I have the bike in my possession. Reach out if you think it might be yours.

tomorrow (saturday) and sunday, will cyclists be able to cross arch or will the route cut off north/south? anyone know what’ll be impacted?

I know this is a yearly post, but does anyone know of a good timing/a group that rides the marathon course before the race starts?

Hello, and I hope this sort of post is allowed. Soon I will be moving from Columbus Ohio to Philadelphia. Working at CHOP. Columbus has extremely poor transit, and extremely poor bike infrastructure. It's not safe to bike almost anywhere. Once I move to Philly I plan on selling my car, and I'd like to bike instead. Everything I read online suggests Philly is leagues ahead of Columbus, which of course isn't very difficult. This subreddit though has me wondering how true that is and I'd really like to hear what people who have been to both places think. I of course am especially nervous because I know a pediatric oncologist at CHOP was just murdered by a drunk driver. Has that incident led at all to the city to more seriously consider protected bike infrastructure?

I hope he pulls through. At least the motorist remained on the scene of this crash…

https://6abc.com/post/bicyclist-critically-hurt-after-being-struck-driver-frankford-avenue-philadelphias-kensington-section/15568435/?ex_cid=TA_WPVI_FB&utm_campaign=trueAnthem%3A+New+Content+%28Feed%29&utm_medium=trueAnthem&utm_source=facebook&fbclid=IwZXh0bgNhZW0CMTEAAR1wWDAt3NWwA7-10qLDa8HgnbAdqL9k32XIyrFVrwEDgkatkZ6kQxZVbdo_aem_3en2s8rF6pky53RJ8ijf1w#m3rni0m3ebv4hpkn9r6

Hello everyone,

I just finished my new bike build (see the picture) and I am thinking it’s time for a bike fit. Yes yes I know I am probably doing this in the wrong order but here we are. There seems to be massive differences in opinions, pricing and the systems. I’ve read the older posts out there and still feel confused. I would love some opinions on the following.

Computer vs “experience” based bike fitters? Best shops out there? Do you get more when you spend more?

I am certainly willing to travel a bit for a good experience

Here are a few of the shops on my list:

1. Befitting bicycles - highly rated and recommended but 600 bucks for their premium service (mind you that does include saddle mapping and foot beds)
2. cadence - a real mixed bag from people I’ve spoken to and 300 for just the fit is still up there
3. bells bike shop - claims to be retul certified but I find basically no reviews about this. Dirt cheap at 165
4. firehouse cycles (yardley)- seems very highly rated but not much info on fits. Seems like more of an experience based thing and they claim a pretty no nonsense approach. 150 including a tune up.
5. bike works in Doylestown - highly recommended by a friend but can’t find much other info. Cost is in the middle at 200.

Any help sorting through all the options would be greatly appreciated.

Come tell Jamie Gauthier and the community at large how much it would mean to have a protected southbound bike lane on 47th Street to compliment the successful northbound one on 48th!

https://preview.redd.it/auriwxk0e02e1.png?width=1125&format=png&auto=webp&s=d18a47b8ec4aea4b865988e26f2da98c22186845