March 06, 2024
Mark Yanagisawa/Philly Bike Expo
Children ages 12 and under can attend the Philly Bike Expo for free. Outside of the seminars and demos at the Pennsylvania Convention Center, attendees of the Philly Bike Expo can participate in rides.
The Philly Bike Expo is gearing up for a return after a lengthy break. Founded in 2010 by Bilenky Cycle Works, the weekend event that traditionally takes place in the fall took a year hiatus and is scheduled to be back this month.
Set for March 16 and 17 at the Pennsylvania Convention Center, the 2024 Philly Bike Expo will feature almost two dozen seminars, several hands-on demos and multiple opportunities to ride with other cyclists around the city. The last Philly Bike Expo in October 2022 at the convention center was sold out and hosted nearly 200 exhibitors and 5,000 attendees.
Bina Bilenky, owner and director of the Philly Bike Expo Squad, says that the date change initially came from the organization being unable to secure fall dates.
"It’s important to be in a shoulder season and not in prime riding season," said Bilenky. "Once we started looking at early spring, we were excited for it to be the East Coast’s cycling season kick-off. Folks are really amped to start riding and check out new products at the expo."
The full list of exhibitors is extensive, featuring accessories and apparel companies, cycling advocates such as the Bicycle Coalition of Greater Philadelphia and local Philly bike shops like VeloJawn.
The expo isn't for just one type of cyclist: there's programming for recreational, competitive, commuter and other kinds of riders. The schedule includes activities for children, discussions about e-bikes, a seminar on vintage lightweight bicycle collections and a talk about multisport athletes and cyclists.
Bikers can join in for a Saturday night ride at Rail Park, or those looking to take on a mix of road, dirt and gravel can participate in a mixed-terrain ride in one of several Sunday morning rides that end at the convention center.
Naturally, the Philly Bike Expo Squad encourages attendees to arrive by bicycle and valet parking for bikes will even be provided.
A one-day pass for the expo is $20 purchased online and $25 at the door, while a two-day pass is $30 online and $35 in person. Children 12 and under can get in for free.
Philadelphia is looking to become more bicycle-friendly, with the city implementing protected bicycle lanes on several streets including Washington Avenue.
