On Friday, May 19, Reading Hospital will host a free, community-wide bike ride in honor of National Bike to Work Day. The six-mile route will take approximately one hour to complete, starting and ending at the Reading Hospital 7th Avenue parking lot (at Scottish Rite Cathedral). The ride will take participants through West Reading, the City of Reading, and along the Schuylkill River Trail. Registration for the event will begin at 6:30 a.m. and the ride will begin at 7 a.m.
The Bike-to-Work-Week Ride, sponsored by the Reading Hospital Community Wellness Department, Commuter Services of Pennsylvania, and Penske Racing Shocks, encourages community members to consider alternative modes of transportation and promotes safe bicycling habits.
Courtney Powers, Director of Community Engagement at Reading Hospital, said, “It is imperative to Reading Hospital that we are involved within our community, especially when it comes to improving the health and well-being of Berks County residents. It is events like these that draw us together to share and promote safe, healthy habits with our community.”
In recognition of “Bike to Work” Week, event sponsors will announce the donation of two state-of-the-art Trek Electric Bicycles to the Reading and West Reading Police Departments by The Friends of Reading Hospital. Each department will receive one electric bicycle designed by Trek specifically for those who serve others: police, EMTs, fire department personnel, park rangers, and forest service employees.
Sharon Keating, President, The Friends of Reading Hospital, said, “We are proud to participate in the Bike-to-Work Week Ride and support our local police departments through the donation of e-bikes in an effort to address 2022 Community Health Needs Assessment Implementation Plan strategies, which include green commute and violence prevention.”
Benefits of Commuting by Bicycle:
- Bicycling is a low-impact exercise that is easy on the joints.
- Cyclists save money on fuel.
- Bicycling reduces carbon emissions resulting in cleaner air.
The event will take place rain or shine, and media is invited to attend the event. All participants must be 18 years of age or older; bicycles and helmets are required. Please note, route is subject to change due to traffic.
Download the route for the event.
About Reading Hospital
Reading Hospital is the flagship, Magnet Recognized, acute care hospital of Tower Health. Located in West Reading, Pa., Reading Hospital is a 697-bed hospital that is home to many top-tier specialty care centers, including Reading HealthPlex, McGlinn Cancer Institute, Miller Regional Heart Center, Emergency Department, Level I Trauma Center and Beginnings Maternity Center, which houses the region's only Level III Neonatal Intensive Care Unit (NICU). With more than 1,000 physicians, specialists, and advanced practice providers across 49 locations, Reading Hospital has been recognized for its quality outcomes and clinical expertise across services lines. It is listed as one of America's 100 Best Hospitals for four consecutive years (and moving up to America’s 50 Best Hospitals in 2022) and received a 5-Star Rating from CMS two years in a row. For more information, visit towerhealth.org.