Frequently Asked Questions
The greenway bike tour is a collaboration between the Office of Sustainability, Office of the Provost and Temple University Ambler that encourages environmental wellness, promotes bike safety and is designed to boost overall well-being within the Greater Philadelphia region. This event also gives students and the wider community the opportunity to experience the vibrant Greenway that runs through Greater Philadelphia and connects Temple’s Main and Ambler campuses.
To give students and the wider community the opportunity to experience the vibrant Greenway that runs through Greater Philadelphia and connects Temple’s Main and Ambler Campuses.
The Ambler Campus and Ambler Arboretum are a remarkable research and teaching institution as well as a valuable resource for both the University and the wider community. Our financial support will go towards Temple Ambler’s development and sustainability and help it expand its programs and offerings. Click here for more information about how to help us fundraise for this ride.
The ride is approximately 22 miles in length and may take around three hours to complete. We have tested the route with a 12-year-old child, who greatly enjoyed the experience.
The ride will mostly take place on existing bike lanes or trails through Fairmount Park, Wissahickon Park's Forbidden Drive and Fort Washington State Park. A short section of the ride will be on low volume streets. There will be signs along the tour to show you the route.
There will be marshals and volunteers who can assist with minor bike repairs and transportation available to the finish line in the event of bike failures.
Transportation will be available for cyclists before and after the tour if they request it upon registration. Please indicate that you will require transportation on the registration page. Otherwise, we will not be able to guarantee transportation availability.
Family members and friends of the cyclists, as well as the general public, are welcome to meet riders at Ambler Campus as the tour concludes and enjoy activities and light. If you are only planning to attend the Ambler Campus Celebration, which will run from 11 a.m. to 1 p.m., the event is free, but we do ask you to register.
The Ambler Campus Celebration following the ride will include a Beer Garden. Each cyclist riding in the tour who is 21 years of age or older will be given a ticket for one free beer after the ride. Beer will also be available for purchase. Please use this site to register as a cyclist for the Bike Tour or to attend the free Ambler Campus Celebration.
We encourage you to invite your friends to ride and register individually. We are not able to support group registration at this time.
TOUR ROUTE
View the planned route for the 2025 Bike Tour.
Tour Essentials
- Headphones, earbuds, selfie sticks, or other items that compromise safety are not permitted.
- Pass a slower rider ahead of you only to their left, when it is safe to do so, and announce, “On your left” when passing.
- Please don’t escalate any unfortunate interactions with motorists, as such actions may put the entire group in jeopardy.
- All bicycles must be in safe working order, with a functional brake and properly inflated tires. Be sure you are familiar with the operation of gears and other features on your bicycle. Riding with your seat adjusted to the proper height for pedaling efficiency makes climbing hills—and the overall ride—much easier.
- For traffic safety, cyclists should not arrange for personal support vehicles to follow them during the tour.
- Cyclists must wear a helmet at all times during the ride; each should carry water and a spare inner tube that fits their bicycle. Bright clothing and a red rear light are also encouraged.
- Cyclists may ride standard, tandem, or recumbent bicycles, including Class 1 electric pedal-assist bicycles.
- Be aware that significant parts of the roughly 20-mile course are on mixed surface trails, including gravel surfaces and wooden bridges, which can become slippery when wet.
- A hybrid bicycle is ideal, or a road bicycle fitted with tires 28c in width or greater, or a mountain bike with tires on the skinnier side.
- While the course takes advantage of one of the flattest routes between Temple’s campuses, most riders will prefer a bicycle with multiple gears to assist with uphill grades.
- At the Main Campus start line, Temple will provide each rider with a unique bib number and safety pins. This is to be affixed to the lower left back portion of your cycling jersey or jacket, for easy identification during the event. Your emergency contact information should also be written on the reverse of the bib number before pinning it on. We will also have air pumps for topping off your tires, a water cooler for filling your water bottles, light snacks and restrooms within walking distance. These same amenities (minus the restrooms) will be available at the mid-ride aid station outside the Morris Arboretum.
- There will be three mandatory rider check-ins at:
The Main Campus start line (Diamond Street Lot).
The mid-ride aid station outside the Morris Arboretum.
The finish line (Ambler Campus Parking Lot #2 by the Learning Center).
- For your safety, it is extremely important that you check in at all three locations! If we do not record your arrival along the route, the ride organizers will assume an incident has occurred or you are lost, and we will attempt to contact you and/or your emergency contact person.
- Should you depart the organized ride for any reason after starting, it is extremely important that you call the ride organizer at the number that will be provided on event day, to alert Temple of your departure.
- We must keep the event running within our permitted timeframe. Any rider who has not reached and departed the mid-ride aid station by 11:30 a.m. will be transported forward to the finish line by Temple vehicle.
- Remember to hydrate before, during and after the ride!