A past ghost bike display on the state Capitol steps.
Upcoming cycle celebrations may have you ready to roll right into May.
Harrisburg bicycling groups have lots of fun and educational events lined up for the city in honor of National Bike Month in May, including one to bring awareness to bike safety concerns.
“We need to encourage more people to ride,” said Ross Willard, founder of nonprofit Recycle Bicycle in Harrisburg. “I want to see more families riding bikes.”
And while there will be plenty of festivities, bike safety is an important topic for organizers to highlight during the month, Willard said, as cyclist fatalities on roads continue to increase.
On Wednesday, May 15, a group of local bikers will host the Harrisburg Ride of Silence to honor those killed or injured while cycling in the state. The 2.5-mile ride will begin at 7 p.m. behind the Armed Forces Reserve Center on the 2900 block of Green Street. The group will ride in silence to the state Capitol to raise awareness of the need for safer roadway conditions for cyclists and pedestrians.
Also that day, “ghost bicycles” will be on display on the state Capitol steps to represent the 27 bikers killed in the commonwealth in 2023. One red bike will represent the thousands of cyclists who are injured each year.
“Please slow down when you see a biker,” said Diane Dankman-Riley of the Harrisburg Bicycle Club. “We might be riding to school, a job or we might need to be on a bike because we have a handicap or cannot afford a car.”
To celebrate cycling in the city in May, Bike Harrisburg, a city-based organization, will promote group rides, bike workshops and family-friendly events.
Recycle Bicycle is offering Bike Bingo, which gives community members a chance to win a prize by completing tasks like biking to work, biking to a coffee shop or biking to see the sunset.
The Harrisburg Bike Crew will also host several casual social rides in the city throughout the month. The Harrisburg Bicycle Club will hold Sunday morning rides and Friday lunch rides, as well.
On Sunday, May 5, there will be a Capital Area Greenbelt ride at 1 p.m. Participants can meet at the trailhead behind the City Line Diner, 3302 Derry St., for a 20-mile casual ride.
Bike Harrisburg also encourages people to participate in National Ride a Bike Day on May 5, Bike to School Day on May 8 and Bike to Work Week from May 13 to 19.
If after all the biking, you’re in need of a tune up, Recycle Bicycle will offer free bike repair and education on May 17 and 18 at the Broad Street Market.
As Willard begins to see more and more people take up cycling in the city, he’s hopeful that these events will give newer riders a framework for safe cycling practices and bring awareness to the need for better bike and pedestrian infrastructure.
“We need to educate our riders on all levels,” Willard said. “I’m also looking forward to Bike Month because hopefully it’ll bring attention to some of our problems.”
For a full list of Bike Month events, visit Bike South Central PA’s website. To learn more about the Ride of Silence, visit their Facebook page. For more information on Recycle Bicycle, visit their website.
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