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Where to get free perks on Bike to Work Day — Friday, May 17

Free yoga, bagels, bike lights, and more. Plus, half-off Indego bike share day passes.

This Friday, the Bicycle Coalition will host two Energizer Stations where cyclists can snag free swag, like bike lights and portable snacks. Find the stations set up outside at the Penn Museum and The Rail Park.
This Friday, the Bicycle Coalition will host two Energizer Stations where cyclists can snag free swag, like bike lights and portable snacks. Find the stations set up outside at the Penn Museum and The Rail Park.Read morePhoto courtesy Lora Reehling Photography

Want to score free bagels, bike lights, and coffee on Friday? Commute by bike and you can get all that and more.

May 17 is Bike to Work Day, a nationwide celebration of pedal-powered commuting. This year’s local host, the Bicycle Coalition of Greater Philadelphia, has renamed the event “Bike to Work and Wherever Day.”

“We wanted to include but also de-center the idea of only biking to your job. Riding to run an errand can be just as environmentally impactful,” said Amanda Ruffner, the coalition’s event and sponsorship coordinator. “No matter where you’re going, biking is also cheaper than almost any other form of traveling, and, I’d argue, definitely the most fun way to get to around.”

Those who want to join in are encouraged to register online to receive discounts from eight businesses, including free coffee at High Point Cafe, $5 off ice cream at Little Baby’s, and $1 off a cup of cold brew or nitro at Greenstreet Coffee Co. Other participants include Joe Coffee, Menagerie Coffee, the Monkey & the Elephant, Nook Bakery & Coffee Bar, and Rally.

The Rail Park will be one of two “Energizer Stations,” where cyclists can stop for free swag— bike lights and cookies and other snacks — from 7:30 to 11 a.m. The other station will be outside the Penn Museum at 33rd and South Streets from 7:30 to 10 a.m. For those who need to borrow a two-wheeler, the bike-share program Indego offers 50 percent off day passes (code: BIKE2WORK).

At 7:30 Friday morning, there will be a bilingual yoga session scheduled at the Rail Park with Roots2Rise. The first 50 registrants will receive a free hour-long class and Philly Style Bagels. A pop-up photo area will be available, too, as will a demo track to test electric bikes and scooters. To sign up, visit bicyclecoalition.org.

At 9 a.m. in Dilworth Park, city officials will briefly discuss forthcoming bike-related projects, followed by the Bicycle Coalition’s announcements of Bike Phriendly Business Awards winners.

There’s a Bike to Work and Wherever Day after party, too: Stop by Mantua’s Neighborhood Bike Works any time from 5:30 to 8 p.m. to enjoy boozy or regular water ice, beer, cocktails, snacks, and carnival games. Tickets are $10, and registration is encouraged but not required. Sign up at neighborhoodbikeworks.org.

“It’s a day where you really get to connect with other people over something that otherwise might be routine,” Ruffner said. “We encourage everyone who comes through the stations to stop and chat and meet one another.”

Friday, May 17 all day, citywide, 215-242-9253, free, bicyclecoalition.org