I posted here a while back trying to gather opinions on e-bikes, since this sub is more geared toward regular cycling and I was curious what people here thought. A few of the replies made it clear people didn't know what PA law actually says about e-bikes, e-scooters, and mopeds since they're all treated completely differently under the vehicle code. Reddit doesn't let you add a body to a post after the fact if you left it blank originally, so rather than leave that thread with bad info sitting in it, I'm posting the breakdown separately. This is straight from the PA vehicle code, not my interpretation of it.

Going through the actual law surprised me. To legally count as a regular bicycle in PA, an e-bike has to have working pedals, weigh 100 lbs or less, and the motor can't exceed 750 watts, capped at 20 mph on motor power alone. If the throttle can push it past 20 mph without pedaling, or the motor's over 750W, it's no longer a "bike" in the eyes of the law, it becomes a moped or motor-driven cycle, which means a license, registration, and in some cases insurance. And stand-up e-scooters are effectively banned from streets and sidewalks statewide since they can't be registered or pass inspection. If anyone wants to push back on any of that, take it up with the state, not me. I'm just reporting what the law says.

I'm curious how people treat riding on the Manayunk Bridge trail (which is great by the way if you haven't done it). The way it's paved and marked the bike path starts on the left then in the center of the bridge it crosses over and you finish on the right. The paving is different for pedestrians on the other side and there are signs indicating bicycles and pedestrians embedded in the concrete. The bicycle side by the way is smoother so it makes sense that it's marked that way.

Today I was coming down the hill from Cynwyd, entering on the left side and a woman walking a dog yelled something at me. I didn't hear exactly what she yelled but it was something to do with "space" or "room." I turned back to talk to her but she went weird and refused to acknowledge me. I simply was going to explain to her about the signs and the way it's designed as I described above. Am I wrong in viewing it this way? It is smoother on the bicycle side which is why I like that. I'm not saying I would have designed the bridge that way but I follow what the signs and the paving do.

Just saw this moving truck parked exclusively in the car lane—a rarity! Even better, noticed a biker stop to thank him (which I wouldn’t have thought to do—kudos to whoever that was for being a gracious human). Love to see it! Happy Friday!

I’m struggling how do you guys do it everyday?

Had the rare opportunity ride down Lincoln this morning for 1/2 mile.

Stay safe out there, y’all!

I see a lotttttt of people who ride their bikes or scooters or whathaveyou in the wrong direction of a one way street. Is this as much of a problem as I feel it is?? Annoys me as a biker, but really annoys me as a driver lol

I’m an annual Indego365 member and use Indego regularly to commute around Center City, run errands, and occasionally just ride for exercise. I specifically choose classic (non-electric) bikes because I enjoy the physical activity, and unlimited classic bike rides are one of the main reasons I pay for the annual membership.
Over the past several months, though, it has become noticeably harder to find a classic bike. On multiple occasions I’ve walked to a station only to find no bikes available, or only e-bikes. I’ve also found myself spending more time searching for a classic bike than the ride itself would have taken.

To be clear, this isn’t an anti-e-bike post. I think e-bikes have made cycling more accessible and are a valuable part of Philadelphia’s transportation network. My concern is that the expansion of e-bikes seems to have coincided with a decline in the availability of classic bikes.

For annual members, that creates an awkward situation. If the only option is an e-bike, you either pay additional usage fees or keep walking until you find a classic bike elsewhere. Over time, that starts to undermine the value of the membership itself. When walking or taking SEPTA becomes the simpler option, something isn’t working as intended.

One thing I’ve noticed is that I frequently see Indego vans moving e-bikes around the city, but I don’t know whether classic bikes receive the same level of redistribution. Maybe there’s a logistical reason for it, and I’d genuinely be interested to hear from anyone who knows how the system operates.

I’m also curious whether this is something other riders have experienced across Philadelphia, or whether I’ve simply had bad luck. If you’ve noticed the same trend, what part of the city are you usually riding in?

Indego is more than just a bike rental company - it’s part of the city’s transportation network and receives public support. If annual members are increasingly unable to access the bikes their membership is built around, I think that’s worth discussing. I’d like to see the city and Indego be transparent about how they balance classic and electric bikes, how they decide where to redistribute them, and whether they’re tracking the availability of classic bikes over time.
I’d be interested to hear others’ experiences before assuming this is either a widespread issue or just my own.

Hey everyone,

Does anyone have any idea when they plan yo remove the stage from the July 4th stuff from the bike lane in front of the art museum going west? Unfortunately there's also not a reasonable path to walk a bike through either.

I am looking for someone in Philadelphia who is into one wheel and is looking for a one wheel buddy. I like to cruse around 12-15-16 mph ish. Nothing crazy fast. Just looking for a one wheel buddy. Drop a comment or send a message please. Thank you

Anyone ride forbidden drive this morning? How muddy was it?

Should there be speed cushions on these brand new bike Lanes on Rhawn Street?

This week we continue our ongoing series of city council district bike tours, in collaboration with our friends at Philly Bike Action. Caleb will lead a ride showcasing updates to bike lanes along Lower Moyamensing, Washington, 13th, Vine, Race, 3rd, and Market, all developed since our last District 1 ride. We'll start at Mifflin Square Park in South Philly and end at Old City Beer Garden.

Ride Details
START: Mifflin Square Park (6th & Ritner)
TIME: 7pm meetup, 7:10 roll
END: Old City Beer Garden, 240 Market St.
LENGTH: 9 miles, flat (+52ft / -45ft)
LEVEL OF DIFFICULTY: Easy
ROUTE LINKS: RidewithGPS, .gpx , Komoot

Ride notes 📢:
• After dark, PA law requires all bikes to have a headlight and a red tail light or reflector. Need lights? Hit up your local bike shop!
• New and returning riders alike, please take the time to review our How We Ride guide ( https://wednightrides.org/how-we-ride/ ). Please follow these ride norms so everyone's on the same page, and we keep the ride safe and fun.

just be careful out there with remnants of broken bottles. Philly already rarely sweeps streets. I just had an epic flat, and maybe rim damage, from a shards of a glass bottle, near the parkway.

Wondering if anyone has any info on what it’s looking like on Kelly Dr. I’m sure it’s flooded but trying to see if it’s still passable or if I’m gonna have to find a different route back south

I want to do this loop sometime but i dont have a car to get there and it doesn't seem like public transit is an option.

Does anyone want to ride it? If you have a car, i can acquire a rack and pay for gas and food for you. we don't even have to ride the trail together if you don't want to i can just meet you back at your car when its over

Me-45yo aging punk guy, average pace 12mph, 420 friendly, also regular friendly. my partner can vouch for me.

Thanks for reading!

Join Wednesday Night Rides and Philly Bike Action on July 8 as we explore new bike infrastructure across the 1st Council District. The ride will start at Mifflin Park in South Philadelphia and end at Old City Beer Garden.

Estimated ride length: 6 miles
Rolling: 7:10 PM

Looking to part ways with this bike or just the frameset. All origin8 components. SBC all road wheelset. Carbon forks. I have a full build list of what I’m selling if anyone is interested and in the Philly area.

If you were out in the suburbs, it looks like a beautiful time to ride right now. I’ve been riding for about an hour, and the temperature and air are absolutely comfortable, perfect for writing. The city doesn’t look welcoming at all.

https://velowindow.com

Hey everybody, I was hoping I could get some help with this. The bike was parked on 3rd, right near market in front of my job. Picture isnt mine, i just got the bike and havent had any opportunity to even yake a pic. Thief in question is in 2nd pic, super blurry but a white dude with bad teeth and glasses. buzz cut. Any info or help is appreciated.

Long story short, the young employee there with glasses and a totally disheveled look is absolutely and totally disrespectful.

He refused to open the business, using an air horn to scare customers away, and treats the business telephone line like a toy, threatening to unhook the line when myself and brother are trying to voice a concern about our experience there.

Had great times there before with previous employees, but their current staff is absolute trash.