Mural Bike Tour

It's time to start paying attention to the art around us.

by Katie Karas

Last year, visitors from 36 countries toured Philadelphia's murals. The year before that, Prince Charles and his wife, Camilla, were so taken with the works that they examined dozens on their trip here. Foreigners clearly love our massive, colorful, proud murals — but do we?

"Sometimes it feels as though the international community is more aware of and excited about the magnitude of our murals than we locals," says Ryan Derfler, tour manager of the Mural Arts Program.

Guilty as charged: If you're anything like me, you've biked, walked and driven past towering murals all over the city without giving them much thought. Derfler thinks it's time we pay attention to the art around us. "The murals are a representation of the people of Philadelphia," he says.

In the first bike tour of the season, Derfler will guide attendees along the five-mile route that traverses Fairmount Park, Broad Street, Spring Garden and Boathouse Row. "The reality is that biking is the best way to see the murals," he says. "With bikes you can ride right up to them. It's great for pictures and there are never any obstructions."

Derfler also insists that the route is flat and suitable for bikers of all levels. "If you can ride a bike, you can pretty much do this," he says. The tour makes stops at 15 murals, including "Common Threads," "Fairmount Waltz" and "Where Girls Go Stronger." Derfler will also stop at his favorite piece, Paul Santoleri's "Pedaling Through" (pictured), which was designed to be seen by drivers on I-95, and shows an oversized bicycle traveling through Philly's neighborhoods. How apt.

Sat., May 9, 10 a.m.-noon, $10 (reservations required, bring your own bike), Lloyd Hall, 1 Boathouse Row, 215-685-0754, muralarts.org.