Bicycling and Walking

Bicycling magazine rated Philadelphia [1] as one of the best large cycling cities (population more than one million) in the country and About Inc. rated it as one of the top walking cities in the country. Center City is compact and the grid-like streets are easy to navigate. Active types will enjoy spending the day walking or biking around the city, especially when the weather is mild. In addition to allowing you to enjoy the scenic trails in Fairmount Park, bicycling is a quick way to get around without having to worrying about parking or traffic. As in any major city with car traffic, bicyclists should exercise caution when riding on busy city streets and a helmet should always be worn. While somewhat limited, there is an increasing network of wide bike-friendly streets with designated bike lanes. A map of routes can be found at the visitors center or online at the Streets Department website (www.phila.gov/streets/ [2]), and these routes should be used whenever possible.

The Bicycle Club of Philadelphia (www.phillybikeclub.org [3]) is a great resource for bike enthusiasts. The club sponsors recreational cycling activities open to everyone for a small fee. It also promotes bicyclists’ rights and safe biking practices. See the Recreation [4] section for specific trails [5] and repair and rental locations [6].