Sustainability Forum With David Byrne Wrap Up

Musician, Artist and Bicycle Advocate David Byrne spoke along with BCGP Executive Director Alex Doty, Urban Planner Ignacio Bunster-Ossa, and City Sustainability Director Katherine Gajewski at the Urban Sustainability Forum to a full house at the Academy of Natural Sciences.

Immediately after the introduction Byrne went right to his PowerPoint presentation which looked at the failed urban design schemes of the last 80 years like GM's Futurama Show at the 1939 Worlds Fair. The crowd enjoyed some of Byrne's most surprising images such as the (architectually) attractive boathouse brothels of Amsterdam and the high rise termite colonies in Australia, complete with climate control.



Futurama 1939 Worlds Fair Part 2 on YouTube

Bunster-Ossa presented real world plans for places like the Trinity River Project in Dallas and the rejected plans for the rebuilding of New Orleans. Alex focused on how the Bicycle Coalition has influenced the bicycle environment of the region while Gajewski discussed the City's future plans to become a Greenest City in America.

Neighborhood Bike Works provided Guarded Bike Parking while the museum book shop sold pre-signed copies of the Bicycle Diaries. The expected surge of Talking Heads fans either never emerged or were extremely well behaved. One person was actually ejected for carrying vinyl Talking Heads albums which I assume he wanted Byrne to sign.

Complete the Schuylkill River Trail Walk from Bartram's to Dupont Crescent

Saturday, February 27th  9:30-12:30

Come join members of the Complete the Schuylkill River Trail Coalition for a mid-winter guided walk through several future Schuylkill River Trail segments in Southwest and South Philadelphia. Meet us at the Bartram’s Garden parking lot, located at 54thst and Lindbergh Boulevard.
Wear old clothes and durable shoes; some of the areas we walk through will be shrubby, grubby and potentially muddy. We will walk through the Bartram’s property to 51st Street, to Paschal Avenue, and then over the Gray’s Ferry Bridge to the Dupont Crescent site on the east side of the river.


The walk ends at the Philadelphia Trolley Works. After light refreshments, a trolley will kindly “bus”
everyone back to Bartram’s Garden parking lot. Register/RSVP (for free!) at: completethetrailwalk.eventbrite.com
For more information contact: Sarah Clark Stuart sarah@bicyclecoalition.org

Complete the Trail Presentation in Swarthmore, PA

The Bicycle Coalition, in conjunction with a coalition of organizations, has been working to raise public awareness about the need to fill in the gaps of the Schuylkill River Trail in the Greater Philadelphia region and extend the trail south to Delaware County.  Come learn more about the progress being made by organizations such as Pennsylvania Environmental Council, Schuylkill River Development Corporation, Schuylkill River Park Alliance, Manayunk Development Corporation and others to build the trail projects that will Complete The Trail at a presentation scheduled for Monday, February 15th at Swarthmore's Borough Hall.

The Schuylkill River Trail is an extremely popular and heavily used recreational asset and commuter route. It also has the potential to be much more: a connector between a variety of Philadelphia neighborhoods and suburban neighbors, the region's first green transportation corridor for multiple communities, a strong catalyst for economic development, and a critical access point to open space and commuting paths for underserved neighborhoods.

To be complete, the trail has critical gaps that need to be filled, and it needs to be extended southward, northward and into more neighborhoods.  There are nine trail projects that, if constructed, would complete Philadelphia's Schuylkill River Trail from Delaware County to Montgomery County.

On Monday, February 15th, Sarah Clark Stuart, the Bicycle Coalition's Campaign Director will present a slide show on this campaign at Swarthmore's Borough Hall.  It is a great way for anyone to learn about how the region's premier trail is getting closer to being a seamless, connected greenway. You will also learn how you can help send the message to elected officials about the public benefits of Completing the Schuylkill River Trail.   

Presentation

Monday, February 15th
7-9pm

Borough Administration Office

Council Room, 1st Floor
121 Park Avenue.
Swarthmore, PA 19081- 1536
Map

Bike parking available at Library and SEPTA train station

Auto parking available on street and at Library

Deadline tommorrow to submit comments on Scudder Falls Bridge

Comments to the Delaware River Joint Toll Bridge Commission on this issue are due tomorrow, February 4th. Send the Commission an email letter stating your support for a bicycle/pedestrian pathway being included in the final design of the Bridge.

The Philadelphia Inquirer ran an indepth story and editorial today about the I-95 Scudder Falls Bridge and how a bicycle/pedestrian walkway that is being considered by the Bridge Commission may not get included because it is "prohibitively expensive." The Commission is rationalizing that 9 motor vehicle lanes (up from the current 4), 2 lanes for buses and 2 12-wide shoulders are necessary and a given that they will be built, but a bicycle/pedestrian path "is a cost issue" and may not be get included in the final design.

Obviously,we at the Bicycle Coalition of Greater Philadelphia don't agree and are pleased that the Inquirer Editorial Board is with us! The cost of a bicycle/pedestrian pathway is well below the threshold of what the feds consider "unreasonable", and there are other important positive benefits to having providing bicycle/pedestrian access that outweigh costs. Accommodating all users in transportation projects is federal and state policy, and one that this Commission should adhere to. The Commission should be designing a bridge with a 50-75 year life span for a future of more bicycling and walking and not pretend that it doesn't have a role to play in making the region more sustainable.  As the Inquirer said today, "it would be an absurd planning decision to build a new bridge that made no room for cyclists and hikers to cross between two historic canal trails."



BCGP Final Comments (pdf)

Toyota, The Auto Show and The Perception of Risk

The fallout from Toyota's recall for sticky gas pedals may change the landscape of the Auto industry, perhaps in the same way that Chrysler and GM fell from grace. This is not your mother's America.

The Los Angeles Times counted 19 deaths since 1999 caused by sudden acceleration.. Congress has called for hearings and Toyota sales have plunged to their lowest level in 11 years.

The rage directed at Toyota is understandable, being in a vehicle speeding out of control must indeed feel like being on a plane going down. It's that fear of no control that drives the FAA and the NTSB to set the goal of 0 commercial airline deaths and in some years that goal is achieved.

But I have to wonder. Where is the outrage for the 37,000 traffic deaths every year that plague the nation? Equivalent to a 767 going down every week. Or the 2500 deaths from distracted driving alone?

It's not at the Auto Show, where the Internet on Dashboard is being showcased on luxury cars. I would like to see the Congressional Hearings on that topic. Who would you subpoena? AT&T? Tom Tom? Google? John Q. Multitasker?

Perhaps Ralph Nader could take back his legacy by once again answering the call for automobile safety. Arguing for safer roads, deliberate enforcement, protecting vulnerable road users and keeping high tech gadgets off the dashboard.

Pennsylvania's DCNR Awards Grants for Complete the SRT segments

Last month, Pennsylvania's Department of Conservation and Natural Resources announced its 2009 recipients of Community Conservation Partnership Program (C2P2) grants .  Included among the awards was $50,000 to Fairmount Park to conduct an engineering study of the Wissahickon Gateway to determine the best way to construct a new bicycle/pedestrian bridge from Kelly Drive over the creek so to avoid Ridge Avenue (the dark green hatch line in the image to the right.)  This engineering study is the first step necessary to move forward on designing and building the most critical missing link of the Schuylkill River Trail.

A second C2P2 award that helps Complete the Trail is a $250,000 grant to Lower Merion Township to build the Cynwyd Heritage Trail.  LMT will use this grant along with funding from the Montgomery County open space bond fund to start building this trail by the end of 2010.

Lower Merion's Schuylkill River Trail Connections Move Forward

Two important steps were taken last week in Lower Merion Township that move "Completing the Trail" forward.

 

On January 26, landscape architects Bryan Hanes and Kim Douglas presented final plans for the Cynwyd Trail at a public meeting. The next step for Lower Merion Township is to refine cost estimates for approval by the town's Commissioners. LMT Assistant Director of Building and Planning Chris Leswing expects to break ground on the paved path by the end of the year.

As seen by the drawing, the plans for the Cynwyd Trail include a spur down to the riverfront, which will neatly connect to riverfront trail segment on the O'Neill property that also moved forward lat week.

A couple of days earlier, Lower Merion Township Board of Commissioners issued a final decision on O'Neill Property Group's proposed Righter's Ferry project, an 580 apartments + 780  870 parking spaces complex on the 13.8 acre former Connelly Container site on Righter's Road.  This decision requires that a riverfront trail be provided, but additionally, that the Penncoyd Bridge, which O'Neill Property Group owns, be open to public pedestrian access.  (The O'Neill Prop.  Group was granted a higher density of apartments and lower ratio of parking because of the Bridge's access to SEPTA and R-Train stops on the Philadelphia side.)  This new trail segment and bridge connection would directly connect to the Schuylkill River Trail on the Philadelphia side and up to the Cynwyd Trail in Lower Merion.

Mr. O'Neill's lawyer is appealling that part of the decision to provide public pedestrian access on the Penncoyd Bridge. As described in the Main Line Times article, "Because O’Neill is using access via the bridge to public transit within 1,500 feet to get both density and parking bonuses, the board found that the developer must provide pedestrian access for the general public, not only apartment tenants."  Michael Weilbacher of the Lower Merion Conservancy opined later last week that "This project will bring hundreds of people to the Schuylkill’s edge. Great. What the project also does right is allow the Schuylkill River Trail to ramble across its front door, people like you and me coming to hike its length, connecting from there to the Cynwyd Heritage Trail and Flat Rock Park in Gladwyne....As advocates for the evolving trail system, we urge O’Neill to accept this condition."

While far from over, the Board of Commissioners' decision to require public access over the Penncoyd Bridge is a huge victory for Completing the Trail.  The Commissioners deserve a hearty congratulations for showing fortitude and vision and we commend Chris Leswing and the Friends of Cynwyd Trail for moving this exciting set of trail projects forward.

Mercer County's Interactive Bike Map

Last week the Delaware Valley Regional Planning Commission launched the Mercer County Regional Bike Map overlayed on a Google Map. This map is intended to be a resource for Mercer County residents and bicyclists to help them plan bicycle-friendly routes to ride, and also to help planners identify priority bicycle corridors and facilities to be considered in the future.

http://www.dvrpc.org/asp/bikemercer/

For the next month or so DVRPC and Mercer County would like your input on priority bicycle routes, and your opinions on the routes submitted by others, as well as any knowledge you have about the bikeability ratings shown here: are they too high, too low, or do they not reflect a specific local issue that you know about? Comments will help improve the bikeability scores shown on the site. Proposed routes and comments will be accepted until Friday, March 12th.

Bicycle Coalition Featured on "Philadelphia Velib"

As part of its "Philadelphia Stories" series WYBE will be broadcasting Philadelphia’s Velib’ Andrew David Watson’s film on on bicycling and bike sharing in Philadelphia. The broadcast will be on Channel 35-1 at 9PM on Thursday Night (1/28)

Check out the trailer of this video on Andrew David Watson's Website.













If you miss the first broadcast there will be 4 repeats between Thursday and Sunday on Channels 35-1 and 35-2. Schedule

Morris Arboretum Offers 50% Discount For Cyclists.

Love Temple, Morris Arboretum
Originally uploaded by Tie Guy II

The Morris Arboretum of the University of Pennsylvania in Chestnut Hill offers a discount for those who arrive by bicycle. Bicyclists can visit the grounds for $7. Normal admission for non-members is $14.

Getting to the Morris Arboretum is easy. Take the Wissahickon Bikeway and Forbidden Drive to the end and turn right on Northwestern Avenue. Cross Germantown Ave and proceed on Northwestern Ave to the entrance on the left right.

For more information go to http://morrisarboretum.org.

This Week's Schuylkill River Trail Public Meetings

Tonight on January 26th, the 3rd public meeting will be held to discuss the design ideas on the Cynwyd Trail.  6:30 pm at the West Laurel Hill Cemetery.  Now is the time to weigh in on design treatments that meet the needs of bicyclists!  You can also take an online survey. 

On Thursday, January 28th, there's a double feature of SRT meetings in Southwest Philadelphia.


5:30pm  Bartram’s Garden Path Public Meeting in the Coach Barn at Bartram's Garden, 54th Street and Lindbergh Blvd. 5:30 PM More information: SRT at Bartram’s Garden

7:00pm  58th Street Connector Public Meeting New Spirit Community Presbyterian Church
5736 Chester Avenue at 58th Street  More Information: 58th St. Connector

Red Bowl 2010: A FUNdraiser for the Bicycle Coalition

Join the Bike Coalition and local Bike Shops for the 2010 Red Bowl: Enjoy free bowling, fun bike-related activities, raffle prizes, and beer specials, while helping to raise money for the Bicycle Coalition of Greater Philadelphia!

Check out new and cool bikes from Cannondale, Specialized, Fuji, MAVIC, and many more. Plus, Neighborhood Bike Works will be providing free valet bike parking. All proceeds benefit the Bicycle Coalition of Greater Philadelphia.

When: Saturday, March 6, 2010 2-6pm
Where: North Bowl Lounge, 909 N. 2nd St., Philadelphia PA 19123
Cost: $10 pre-register/ $15 day-of
Tickets include FREE bowling and raffle prizes. Cash bar & food.

Pre-register for tickets here. The first 100 people to pre-register a ticket will receive a free commemorative water bottle!


Presented by Specialized, Keswick Cycles, Bike Therapy, Bucks County Bicycle Company and the Bicycle Coalition of Greater Philadelphia.

The Philadelphia Bicycle Coalition's 1972 Commuter Race

From the BCGP History Vault: May 1st 1972 - In honor of National Bike Week, proclaimed by President Nixon, the newly formed Philadelphia Bicycle Coalition held its first bicycle commuter race. And the first known media article about the Philadelphia Bicycle Coalition, "Cycles Beat Cars in Center City Rush Hour", appeared on the front page of the May 2nd, 1972 edition of the Philadelphia Evening Bulletin.




















The commuter race was quite an event: it involved 3 private automobiles, a motorcycle, a taxi (driven by Coalition founder John Dowlin) and at least 5 bicycles. The motorcycle (driven by the reporter Douglas D. Gill) took the checkered flag, while bicyclist Ronald Howard came in 2nd (pictured) arriving 2 minutes later, and followed by shortly by 4 bikes with the cars arriving 10 minutes later. Dowlin's taxi came in dead last 17 minutes behind the leader.

The Bicycle Coalition started hosting an Commuter Race again during the 2005 Transit Strike. The Commuter Race currently occurs annually during Bike Month (May) and includes a bicyclist, a car driver, and transit rider.

And perhaps a testament as to how far we have come, the article quotes Keystone AAA Safety Director Roy D. Hanshaw as saying "If more bicyclists started using Center City streets there would be a dramatic increase in accidents".

I am glad that he was wrong.