The annual Bike to Work Day originally scheduled for Friday has been moved to Monday after forecasts predict heavy rainfall will hit the region Friday.
"Rescheduling is never a good thing for an event, but we think a lot of people would look at Friday's forecast and say I'm not going to want to bike home in this," said Nicholas Mirra, spokesman for the Bicycle Coalition of Greater Philadelphia.
Mirra anticipates hearing some flak from critics about biking being a poor choice for commuters because of weather variations, but explained that a downpour would take away from the celebratory nature of the event.
"You can certainly bike to work in the rain," he said. "But the communal, celebratory aspects of this aren't going to be facilitated by riding in the rain."
Aside from the date, no other details about the event has changed.
Bicyclists will meet at Lloyd Hall at 1 Boathouse Row along Kelly Drive beginning at 7:30 a.m. Monday. The group of riders will depart around 8:15 a.m., heading towards the Art Museum and then down Ben Franklin Parkway to LOVE Park at 15th Street and John F. Kennedy Boulevard.
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A few hundred bicyclists, including Mayor Michael Nutter, participated in last year's event.
Officials with the Mayor's office have yet to confirm if Nutter will lead the pack this year.
Regardless of who shows on Monday, Mirra expects Bike to Work Day to show biking is a feasible transportation option.
"Bicycling is a viable and enjoyable way to get around the city," he said. "Bike to Work Day is a celebration of bicycling as a fun way to get to work."
Contact Alison Burdo at 610.668.5635, alison.burdo@nbcuni.com or follow @NewsBurd on Twitter.
