Creating Young Community Advocates For Active Transportation

Summer affords us the opportunity to test ideas and explore opportunities we don't have time to pursue during the school year.  One such opportunity is our recent partnership with BPSOS's new Summer Youth Bicycle and Environmental Program.  This new program is giving ten high school students a holistic, 6-week education in the funding and urban planning inequities present in their communities.

The students spent last week with us, going on rides all around Philadelphia.  Safe Routes Philly's youth educator Cy Maramangalam led the rides.  Together they explored bicycling infrastructure's impact on neighborhoods and livability.  Nine of the ten students live in South Philadelphia, a section of the city underserved by bicycling infrastructure despite high bicycling rates.

Cy with the students on the Schuylkill River Trail beneath the Walnut St bridge

Assistant director of education Diana Owens accompanied the group for part of the week, and found it an inspiring experience:

One moment that stood out for me was Tuesday's trip to the Schuylkill River Trail.  Eight out of the ten students had no idea this multi-use path even existed.  Later on in the day, during the group's debrief, many of the students shared how excited they were to explore this amenity again with their friends and family.  It has been an amazing experience to participate with this mature group of young adults, some of whom just started to ride a bike a week ago.

As a program concerned with bringing active transportation options to Philadelphia communities, it is refreshing and exciting to see this separate approach to the issue.  BPSOS's program is empowering students by giving them the knowledge, vocabulary, and leadership skills to become advocates for improved bicycling facilities and green space in their communities.  The week we spent with these students was revelatory for the glimpse it provided of the transformative power lying at the intersection of bicycling and community engagement.  The ability to organize and bring change to our under-served communities is not that far out of reach.

Community Engagement Workshop Tomorrow

Are you interested in bringing active transportation options to your community or local school?  Safe Routes Philly is hosting a workshop tomorrow evening to discuss these issues!

What: Community-Based Workshop from Safe Routes Philly
When: Wednesday, July 20th; 5:30 pm - 7:30 pm
Where: Circle of Hope, 2nd Floor (1125 S. Broad St, Philadelphia PA 19147)

Topics to be covered by this free, two-hour workshop:

• Starting a walking school bus and bike train.
• The do's and don'ts of running a bike rodeo.
• How to get involved in your neighborhood school.
• How to get involved in the Bicycle Coalition of Greater Philadelphia.
• Information on the Safe Routes to School movement. 

The workshop is free and open to the public.  For questions, contact Diana Owens at diana@bicyclecoalition.org.

Cheat Sheet to Great Philadelphia Bike Rides

Enjoying the city on your bicycle this summer and looking for a new place to ride?  Safe Routes Philly Youth Instructor Cy Maramangalam offers this cheat sheet to riding familiar and not-so-familiar corners of the city.

Volunteer or participate with Lose The Training Wheels

Lose The Training Wheels is an amazing program which teaches individuals with disabilities (mostly children) to ride bicycles.  Safe Routes Philly worked with them last year, and their camps are returning to the Philadelphia area this summer.  The program is now accepting applications for participants and looking for volunteers.

Safe Routes Philly Community Rep Steve Taylor worked as a volunteer last year, and has this to say about the experience:

Volunteering at the Lose the Training Wheels camp last summer was a powerful experience. The program and the adapted training bikes were well-designed, allowing each participant to take their first pedal strokes with confidence and be rewarded by conquering new challenges.  I was excited to see the progress the campers were able to make in one week as they gained independence as riders and individuals.

For more photos, visit the Saint Joseph's University gallery here.

Below is a press release from the program containing information about the program and how to get involved.