Who rides in Philly? There’s the stereotype: the white, male, hip, young, upwardly mobile cyclist. And then there’s the much more diverse reality: the immigrant e-bike delivery riders, the scooterists, the skateboarders, the kids pedaling their way to school.
“We Ride in Philly” is a project, in conjunction with the grassroots bike advocacy organization Philly Bike Action!, to uncover the broader spectrum of micro-mobility users in the city. We set up at a fixed location and talk to whomever will stop to chat. We seek to not only see but to understand: Why do these Philadelphians ride? What dangers do they face on the street? And how do they use the city’s growing network of protected infrastructure?
The share of the population that rides in Philadelphia is ultimately pretty small. According to the U.S. Census, about 2% of Philadelphia workers commute by bike. That is, in large part, because many Philadelphians don’t feel comfortable getting around in the city’s current bike lane network. That begs the question: Who else might ride in Philly if we made it safer?
1. South Street Bridge
January 2026 → The South Street Bridge is one of the most-traveled micro mobility corridors in the entire state. According to the Bicycle Coalition’s 2024 bike count, nearly 300 cyclists crossed the bridge every hour.
Zoey
“I’m headed to my job at Penn Medicine. This is my usual route. On the bridge I’m mostly terrified, especially the turn coming onto the bridge. That’s where the protected bike lane ends, and so cars are constantly dipping over into the lane. Some of them will turn and their wheels go up on the sidewalk, leaving absolutely no space for a biker and a driver to turn at the same time. It’s a mess every day. You never know what you’re going to get.”
Max
“I work at Neighborhood Bike Works. Bikes are a very large portion of my life. It’s pretty integral to my transportation, my mental health as well. It’s my outlet for doing something creative and active. This is my cargo bike. It’s an old mountain bike that I scored off eBay for super cheap. I put a Crust [brand cargo] fork on it and made it into my grocery-getter. I’ve got some errands to run after work, so I’ve been riding this thing, but it’s very slow and it’s a lot to push.”
Kerry
“I like to bike to work because it both gets me where I need to go and it’s exercise. It’s invigorating to be out on a nice day, getting fresh air before heading into the office. But it’s a little harrowing. I think it would be nice if there were a physical barrier. I’ve definitely seen accidents at this intersection.”
Hao
“I work at Penn and I commute from Port Richmond. It’s like six to seven miles — 40 minutes, give or take, depending on which red lights I hit along the way. I like to maintain my bike. This is something that I’m nurturing. It’s not quite like our pets, but it does have the same feeling of something I’ve invested time and effort in, and that I care for.”
2. 52nd Street
December 2025 → West Philly’s bustling 52nd Street — also known as Philly’s “Black Main Street” — doesn’t have any dedicated bike lanes, but it is full of cyclists and scooterists.
Streets
“I’m homeless, and I use my bike for everything. It’s transportation, work, errands. Someone actually let me use the cart today because I had to grab some groceries. Bikes can get you everywhere, and without gas. I’ve had my bike stolen a few times. And it’s not a good feeling, especially because you use it for everything. My bike is something I keep dear to my heart. So, my bike is my heart.”
Mouhamed
“Sometimes I apply for work at the warehouse and can’t find it. So I deliver food by bike to find some money. I’m new here. I came here 8 months ago from Haiti.”
Yusuf
“I bought this because I didn’t want anybody telling me that they didn’t see me in the road. These people riding e-bikes in the middle of the street, in the middle of the night, wearing all black, they expect you to see them. How can I see you, man?”
TJ
“Riding my bike is helping me get my leg back together. I got in a motorcycle accident in August. It’s the third time I had to learn how to walk.”
Larry
“For [people] that don’t got cars or don’t feel like walking, a scooter can still get you around, you feel me? This scooter I’ve had for like three weeks. It’s like my sixth scooter. They all just broke.”
3. 45th & Spruce
September 2025 → In a neighborhood with several protected bike lanes — on Walnut, Chestnut, 47th and 48th — Spruce Street is unprotected, but is still a popular bidirectional route for riders.
Winniferd
“Commuting definitely raises my cortisol in the morning. I have to do a little chill before and after, but it’s worth it to me. This is a really easy bike, walking, biking, scootering city. I also take SEPTA. I actually have a car. I barely use it and I like that. It vibes with how I want to live.”
Moss
“I’m new to the city from Wyoming about a month ago, so I’m getting used to biking here. I don’t feel super confident when there aren’t bike lanes.”
Mick
“I mostly ride to get to and from work. It’s cheap and it’s good exercise. I usually head up Chestnut to the protected bike lane. The protected lanes are hit or miss, because there’s often cars parked in them. I’ve had cars try to hit me deliberately.”
Taryn
“I’ve been in the city for like 15 years and I’ve noticed the new infrastructure and it’s awesome. One of the things I love about Philly is that it’s so geographically dense that it’s possible to be a bike commuter for everyday stuff.”
Tara
“It’s nice to be able to get to work in a decent amount of time, get some fresh air, see things. I choose Spruce because I feel like a lot of drivers are prepared for bikers to be around, and they’re a lot less aggressive on Spruce.”
Anna
“Biking is often the fastest way to get places. I don’t like driving, and I don’t own a car. I usually try to stick to roads with bike lanes, which has been pretty easy in West Philly. I like the protected bike lanes on Walnut and Chestnut.”
