NYC-to-PHL Ride Profile: Newton Dixon, Jr.

By Chloe Yopp // Communications Intern

New York City-to-Philadelphia Greenway Ride participant Newton Dixon, Jr. began cycling regularly in 2013. After years of using a scooter, a fall on the famously crooked Lombard Street in San Francisco made him reevaluate. “Once I fell, it made me think, why don’t I just get a bicycle instead?,” Dixon said. 

His main worry when selecting a bicycle was the ability to travel with it. With most bikes being so bulky, he didn’t think he’d be able to take his bike with him wherever he went. That’s when he discovered the Brompton folding bicycle, a full-size bike that can fold up for easy storage and transport, and he’s been using it ever since. 

For the NYC-to-PHL Greenway Ride, Dixon will be riding a Moulton bicycle, which is named after engineer and inventor, Dr. Alex Moulton. Similar to the Brompton, it is compact and contains small wheels with high pressure tires.  

While he spends much of his time biking through urban areas, he likes to cycle on the East Coast Greenway because it provides a change of pace and a new scenery. As a brand ambassador and club organizer for Brompton bikes, he is frequently in charge of organizing group rides in his area. Once he discovered the Greenway, Dixon began to base many of his group rides on it, which introduced his fellow cyclists to the Greenway, too.   

“You can be so close to a major city, but on the Greenway, you feel like you’re in a different world,” Dixon said. “We’re always used to the daily grind of intersections and pedestrians, and the Greenway provides an escape from that.”

Since the pandemic hit, Dixon has had inquiries from many new riders about joining group rides and getting involved in the cycling community. Many of these people swore they would never bike, but the pandemic gave them the push they needed. “Cycling has really gained in popularity over the past year, and I think it’s here to stay,” Dixon said. “I just love how the Greenway links communities together and allows you to meet so many new people.” 

When it came to the East Coast Greenway’s New York City-to-Philadelphia Greenway Ride, the decision to sign up was a no-brainer in Dixon’s mind. “Riding from New York to Philly was something I always wanted to do, and this was the perfect opportunity to do it,” Dixon said. “I have to ride from the cheesecake to the cheesesteak!” 

The NYC-to-PHL Greenway Ride, hosted by East Coast Greenway Alliance, will take place on August 28-29. Click here for more information on the event and to register.