The O'Forester Factor:

Like many cycling websites we like to quote John Forester:

"Even ridicule the bikeway promoters. Sure, some will criticize that as ad hominem argument, but in this case such argument is entirely correct. The reason that Professor Pucher provides the arguments that he does in the urban planning literature is simply that he is prejudiced despite being so ignorant that he has no conception of his prejudices, of his own emotional state. That is the only satisfactory argument that explains how it is that one in his position, professor of urban planning with cycling interests, can be so utterly ignorant of actual bicycle transportation and its scientific literature. These people are writing as if they were geographers promoting the Flat Earth Society; all that they deserve are horse laughs. "

Transportation Secretary Biehler, announces approved transportation enhancement projects.


Transportation Secretary Allen D. Biehler, P.E., today announced the state Transportation Commission's approval of $35.9 million in federal funds for 127 transportation enhancement projects.


Approved Projects:

Philadelphia
Bicycle Education and Enhancement Program (BEEP): BEEP is an integrated in-school bicycle education & safety program that teaches 5th-8th graders how to bike safely & legally, as well as basic cycling & repair skills. It complements learning in 6 academic areas, promotes physical fitness & environmental awareness and enhances personal safety. The School District of Philadelphia $397,894

East Falls Reconnects to the River, Phase 1: "East Falls Reconnects, Phase I" will make pedestrian and bicycle access to and from the Schuylkill River Heritage Trail safer and easier. In addition, it will add parking and pedestrian scale lighting to the Riverfront District to enhance access and safety and attract residents and visitors. East Falls Development Corporation $677,760

Philadelphia Zoo / West Bank Greenway: The Philadelphia Zoo proposes to develop the missing link of the West Bank Greenway between Fairmount Park and West Philadelphia along the perimeter of the Zoo. This landscaped section of pedestrian/bicycle improvements will be a key link in the Schuylkill River Trail and Heritage Corridor. The Philadelphia Zoo $904,625

Logan Square Landscaping Improvement Project: The landscaping and pedestrian improvements will include new benches and pedestrian amenities, new lighting, and safe pedestrian crossings and pathways between Center City, Logan Square and the Parkway, establishing better linkages between both ends of the Parkway and the surrounding neighborhoods. Central Philadelphia Development Corporation $948,750

Fox Chase - Rockledge Transportation Enhancement Project: This project seeks to create a unified streetscape and gateway for the Fox Chase-Rockledge business district. It is a collaborative effort that spans two municipalities - the City of Philadelphia (Fox Chase neighborhood) and the Borough of Rockledge. Philadelphia Dept. of Streets $994,750


Bucks
Wycombe Train Station Restoration:Buckingham is restoring the Wycombe Train Station built in 1891 serves as a cornerstone of Wycombe,a village listed on the National Register of Historic Places. Buckingham Township $258,750

Rt.13 Pedestrian Bridge, Tulleytown: Pedestrian Bridges are proposed to cross Rt. 13 in the Tulleytown area to provide safe passage for the Delaware Canal Towpath trail.D&L NHC $500,000

Washington Crossing Gateway Park: This linear pedestrian/bike system is designed within the rights-of-way of (3) state highways as a municipal "park" in the village of Washington Crossing. It will link several detached state-owned recreation and historic sites with ADA ramps, sidewalks, crosswalks and streetscape improvements.Upper Makefield Twp. $550,000

Chester
State Route 340 Connector Sidewalk Project: This application is seeking funding to install sidewalk along State Route 340, connecting GO Carlson Boulevard's sidewalk with the sidewalk on Lincoln Highway (Business 30). Caln Township $97,750

Bicycle PA Route L Realignment & Safety Improvements: This project will realign 2.3 mi of Bicycle PA Route L between West Chester and Downingtown. The realignment will construct a paved, multi-use trail parallel to the existing route. West Bradford Township $230,000

Phase 1- Coatesville Train Station Rehabilitation: Phase I of the Coatesville Train Station Rehabilitation includes the renovation of the existing elevated passenger platforms, the replacement of the passenger pavilion on the west-bound platform, and the incorporation of features to improve pedestrian safety. City of Coatesville $300,323

Park Road Trail: Upper Uwchlan Township proposes construction of an approximately one and one-half mile pedestrian/bicycle trail segment reaching from Marsh Creek State Park to the Village of Eagle. The project will link neighborhoods to the state park, a local park and to residential and commercial/shopping areas. Upper Uwchlan Township $400,000


Sadsburyville Village Enhancement Plan: The goal of the Sadsburyville Village Enhancement Plan is to improve pedestrian safety and to beautify Lincoln Highway (Bus. Rt 30) in Sadsburyville (Sadsbury Township, Chester County) through the introduction of sidewalks, crosswalks, street trees and traffic calming elements. Sadsbury Township $436,250

Delaware
Supplemental Funding for Intermodal Transportation Improvements: This proposal is a request for supplemental funding to complete the Borough of Swarthmore's Intermodal Transportation Improvements Plan. Borough of Swarthmore $354,200

Phase II - East Coast Greenway/Riverfront Improvements: Connect portion of East Coast Greenway/Riverwalk with Rt. 291 along Flower Street and Highland Avenue. City of Chester $517,500
.
Industrial Heritage Highway/East Coast Greenway Trail: The Project includes the construction of multiuse trail, "Share The Road" signage and lane designation where appropriate along the Industrial Highway. Also included is the construction of multiuse trail in the Tinicum-Fort Mifflin Spur of the East Coast Greenway Syst Tinicum Township $700,000

Montgomery
New Hanover Bike and Pedestrian Network - Phase One: Multi-purpose trail linking residential developments with retail uses, community services, recreation and park facilities. This is the first phase of a network of such trails intended to be a viable alternative to automobile use for access to local activities New Hanover Township $160,425

Flourtown-Erdenheim Community Gateways: Establish gateway medians and install street trees to delineate entranceways to the Flourtown and Erdenheim Village Shopping Districts and the Valley Green Road Commercial Center. Springfield Township $190,900

Pottstown Pedestrian Underpass: The project will use an existing "culvert" under the active Norfolk Southern RR ROW to create an ADA-accessible crossing at the Borough center. The underpass will serve transportation, recreation, and civic needs by linking the CBD to Montgomery Co.Community College, river/park, SEPTA, and SR Trail. Borough of Pottstown $260,000

Tookany Creek Pedestrian Walking Trail Improvement Project (Phase II): To continue the enhancements of a pedestrian walking trail system within the Tookany Creek Park. The trail facility will be used by pedestrians, walkers and joggers to travel safely within a heavily trafficked parkway system that traverses along a scenic linear greenway and the Tookany Creek Parkway Township of Cheltenham $315,347

Collegeville / Trappe Main Street Revitalization and Beautification: This Multi-Municipal effort between Collegeville and Trappe Boroughs to revitalize and beautify Main St. has been developed to encourage walking and to ensure pedestrian safety and driver awareness using pedestrian crossings, lane narrowings, landscaping, street furnishings and lighting. Borough of Collegeville $679,526

Ben Franklin Bridge Hours Extended

Due to seasonally longer days, effective, Monday, May 3, 2004 the BFB
public footwalk hours will be extended from the current 6:00 pm closure
to a 7:00 pm closure until further notice.

Meanwhile RiverLink Ferry Service opens on May 1. While the ferry does not run often and is a bit pricier than other options ($6 round trip) the $1.10 fare on the River Line makes it convenient connection for Old City residents who want to get to Trenton.

RENDELL ADMINISTRATION OUTLINES APPLICATION PROCESS FOR HOMETOWN STREETS, SAFE ROUTES TO SCHOOLS PROGRAMS
4/26/04-HARRISBURG

On behalf of Gov. Edward G. Rendell, Transportation Secretary Allen D.
Biehler, P.E., announced today that PennDOT has prepared an application form and process for communities to apply for the Home Town Streets and Safe Routes to Schools programs.

During his budget address in February, Governor Rendell directed PennDOT to
establish a Home Town Streets program to prioritize the repair, redesign
and reconstruction of main streets, commercial corridors and major boulevards
in older communities to support local revitalization plans.

"Governor Rendell created these programs as part of his Growing Greener
initiative, and he looks forward to them serving as catalysts for
revitalized communities across the Commonwealth," Secretary Biehler said. "We are excited about PennDOT playing a key role in making this program work well and spur reinvestment and redevelopment of our downtowns. The program also will help communities establish safe walking routes for our children."

Applications will be submitted to PennDOT in Harrisburg for an initial
review. They will then be forwarded to the Metropolitan Planning Organizations and Rural Planning Organizations for evaluation, and for those ultimately selected, inclusion in the program. The departments of Community and Economic Development and Conservation and Natural Resources also may recommend projects. The program uses federal funds and requires a minimum 20 percent local match.

Governor Rendell has called for a $200 million investment over four years
in Home Town Streets and Safe Routes to Schools. Awards will range up to $1
million per project. Project sponsors will be reimbursed for eligible activities after submittal of invoices to PennDOT.

Eligible projects for Home Town Streets include sidewalk improvements,
planters, benches, street lighting, pedestrian crossings, traffic calming,
bicycle amenities, transit bus shelters, kiosks, signage and other visual
elements. The program is not intended to cover the costs of street paving,
storm water management and traffic signals.

Eligible projects for Safe Routes to Schools include sidewalks, crosswalks,
bike lanes or trails, traffic diversion improvements, curb extensions,
traffic circles, raised median islands and walking paths.

Any government agency, school district or non-profit organization is
eligible to apply as a project sponsor.

"We look forward to hearing from applicants across the Commonwealth,"
Secretary Biehler said. "These investments will help us improve the quality of life for the people of Pennsylvania."

Bikes on Amtrak - Reply Letter from Amtrak President David Gunn

Below is a reply to a letter the BCGP sent to Amtrak asking that former smoking cars on long distance Superliner Coaches allow some space for bikes.

NATIONAL RAILROAD PASSENGER CORPORATION
60 Massachusetts Avenue, NE, Washington, DC 20002
tel 202 906.3960 fax 202 906.2850
AMTRAK
David L. Gunn
President and Chief Executive Officer

March 12, 2004
Mr. Alex Doty
Acting Executive Director
Bicycle Coalition of Greater Philadelphia
100 South Broad Street, Suite 1355
Philadelphia, PA 19110-6735

Dear Mr. Doty:

Thank you for your letter of March 15, 2004, concerning bicycle carriage on Amtrak trains.

As you may be aware, Amtrak carries only boxed bicycles in checked baggage cars, with some exceptions. These include state-supported trains in California, Chicago Midwest, Pacific Northwest, and Maine service. The states in each of these cases have requested and provided funding for a variety of options ranging from overhead racks and designated bicycle spaces in coaches to roll-on space in converted cab cars and locomotives. On the rest of our national
system, only folding bicycles may be brought onto coaches, provided that they meet certain specifications.

Given the shortage of baggage cars in our fleet, we made the decision to redeploy them from the Vermonter and the former Twilight Shoreliner to routes with greater demand. Unfortunately, demand for the bicycle racks on the Vermonter never materialized. The baggage car was returned to service on the Federal, which replaced the Twilight Shoreliner, on January 19 of this year.

In the exceptions noted above, our internal studies show that no injuries have ever occurred as a result of onboard bicycle stowage in coaches equipped with racks bolted against the walls, as on our Surfliner route in California, or in the overhead racks provided on our Downeaster service in Maine. Unfortunately, unless we have this type of arrangement, bicycles can block access and egress within cars and may strike passengers and employees when not adequately secured.

While Amtrak will discontinue smoking on long-distance trains (again, with a few exceptions) effective April 26, no decision has been made regarding further use of these smoking lounge spaces in the lower level of our Superliner equipment. Because of our severe equipment shortage, they may eventually be redirected in a way that that will help increase revenue by
adding lower-level seating or to help reduce costs by adding a mixed-use for baggage. Any other use, including allowing bicycles to be added to that mix, would depend on funding and equipment
availability.

While I regret not being able to offer you a more positive outlook in the near term from your perspective, I trust that you will understand the constraints under which we operate.

Sincerely,

David L. Gunn
President and Chief Executive Officer

Bike-to-Work/Bike-to-Class Day: April 22

Volunteers are needed to help make University City bicycle commuter day a success, if you can donate time anytime tomorrow contact John Madera jmadera@dvrpc.org or give him a call at (215) 238-2854.

There will be free, daylong guarded bike parking at four University City locations with refreshments and goodie bags for the first 300 participants. The four bike parking areas, staffed with UCD ambassadors as well as volunteers from the Bicycle Coalition of Greater Philadelphia and Neighborhood Bike Works, will be open from 7 a.m. until 6 p.m. Around 50 spaces apiece will be available at University Square, 36th and Samson Sts.; International House, 37th and Chestnut Sts.; and the Fresh Grocer parking deck, 4100 Walnut St. More than 100 bicycles can be accommodated at Jon M. Huntsman Hall, on Walnut Street between 37th and 38th Sts.

Note: Bring Locks, unless you plan on parking at University Square where we will have valet bike parking.

Folks can view demonstrations at University Square on bike safety and the correct usage of a SEPTA bus bike rack between 11:30 and 1:30 as well as sign up for drawings for one of three free used bikes. (You can sign up at any bike parking location).

Google

I know its tough linking to this site.

PPAC Meeting Notice

Pa Pedalcycle and Pedestrian Advisory Committee

DRAFT AGENDA

April 22, 2004



1:00 PM CALL TO ORDER – 1:00 PM – Chairman Byron E. DeShong

Conference Room 8N1

Commonwealth Keystone Building

400 North Street, 8th Floor

Harrisburg, Pennsylvania



1:05 PM MINUTES

1. Minutes of January 21, 2004



1:10 PM LEGISLATIVE UPDATE – Legislative Members of PPAC



1:20 PM PENNDOT UPDATE – Gary Hoffman, PENNDOT



1:30 PM DCNR UPDATE – Richard Sprenkle, DCNR



1:40 PM PEDESTRIAN ADVOCACY REPORT – Peter Hecht, PPAC



1:50 PM BicyclePA TASK FORCE REPORT – John Schubert, PPAC



2:00 PM CYCLING EDUCATION IN PENNSYLVANIA – Bill Hoffman, PPAC



2:10PM NEW BUSINESS



2:20 PM OLD BUSINESS



2:30 PM PUBLIC DISCUSSION



2:40 PM NEXT MEETING

Thursday, July 15, 2004 – Lewisburg, PA


FUTURE MEETING DATES

Thursday, October 14, 2004



2:50 PM ADJOURNMENT


A security registration procedure is in effect in the PENNDOT Area of the Commonwealth Keystone Building. Please register with the receptionist located on the fifth floor of the Keystone Building. Once registered you will receive a "Visitors Pass", access to the 8th Floor Conference Room will be provided only after a visitor's pass has been issued. Visitor Passes must be worn and visible during your visit in the Commonwealth Keystone Building. All visitors to PENNDOT offices and conference rooms must register and receive a visitor's pass.

Photo of the Market and Chestnut Street Entrances

Now that the ramps are finally open and the Race and Locusts St fence holes are not blocked by trains, there seems to a lot of activity in Schuylkill River Park.

Free the Schuylkill River Park Update

CSX & City Finally Talking About Safe Crossings - Write a letter today!

Promising talks are now underway between the City and CSX Transportation about how to resolve the grade crossing issue! The City is taking a strong position in favor of constructing safe pedestrian grade crossings at Race & Locust Streets (Thank You Mayor Street!) and while CSX has not agreed to a specific plan, they are now discussing issues pertaining to cost, design and timing.

Please send a letter today to CSX President Michael Ward thanking him for engaging in these talks and telling him to instruct his team to support safe grade crossings at Race and Locust Streets. The next meeting is April 20th, so please click here to write today.

Uh maybe not

I was informed that the two projects listed below were designed before the checklist was implemented. What we need to do is find out if the checklist is being used on projects currently in design.

That sounds easy. Right?

First find the list of projects in design. You might try the DVRPC TIP or the PennDOT 12 year project list.


Pages 14 thru 36 of the 179 page project list documents 800+ projects that cover the region.

Then find out who the project manager: you take the MPMS number (which is the unique identifier) from one of the above documents and contact PennDOT 6-0 offices to find this information out.

Hopefully the district office will connect you or give the name of the manager. Now you have to know which questions to ask. I would try these:
1 - What is the phase of this project?
Note: Construction is too late, if its in final design ask if you can get copies of the plans. (This is public information)
2 - Has Appendix J of Design Manual 1A been applied through each phase of this project? (Appendix J is the Bicycle and Pedestrian Checklist)
If they answer yes thank them and encourage them to continue to use the checklist. If no ask why not.

In an ideal world one would be able to access an searchable online database of every project in the 12 year program. All contact information, published documents including maps, design plans and Environmental Impact Statements would be available online.

PennDOT has of course already done this with informational websites of major projects such as:
US 30, PA 41, Route 309, US 202 and Woodhaven Road.

However for bicyclists and pedestrians every project has an impact. Furthermore some of PennDOT project websites lack crucial background information such as environmental impact statements and other details of the process.

This would be a great service for PennDOT. If the public is truly engaged and informed throughout the process then their concerns can be addressed many public meeting shouting matches can be avoided..

Watching PennDOT and the Checklist

I doubt that any road in our region has suffered a greater deterioration of bicycle service quality than Germantown Pike in the 476/Plymouth Meeting Mall Area. All that expansion and no consideration for bicycles and pedestrians. PennDOT plans to further widen this segment of road.

Oxford Valley Road is another place that gives cyclists fits, there is no alternate to this 4 lane highway and although the road has shoulders it also has high speed right turn lanes and no sidewalks.

These project are two of several this year that we will be looking at to monitor implementation of the PennDOT bicycle and pedestrian checklist.

The neat thing about the checklist is that takes the project manager through the entire process, planning, right of way acquisition (very important!) and final design.

You can see how the road looks today on PennDOT's videolog website, the broadband version is much more detailed.

Select the connection speed then select
Municipality,
Montgomery County,
Plymouth1TWP,

You will see a map of Plymouth TWP the red roads are state roads with video logs. Click anywhere on route 3053 (The state owned portion of Germantown Pike) which will take you to a video of the road. Sections 140 and 141 are undergoing the "improvements".

For Oxford Valley Road select Bucks, Falls Township, Route 2029, sections 140 and 141 again.

Both roads have no sidewalks, right turn lanes and are not bicycle or pedestrian friendly. Both segments are critical links for regional bicycle travel. We will check back in the fall to see the final product.

John

Route 1 Pedestrian Bridge Opening Day Ceremony Postponed

The event has been cancelled due to the harsh weather that is expected
to come in tomorrow (April 13). It appears that the event may take place on Earth
Day. I will be in touch as it gets closer. Thanks for all your
help!!!

Please pass on to all those that you notified about the event. THANKS

Sheree J. Davis
NJDOT
Bicycle and Pedestrian Coordinator
Office of Bicycle & Pedestrian Programs

Airport Runway Expansion Meetings

Philadelphia International Airport is proposing new runways that could impact plans for the Tinicum Fort-Mifflin Trail: part of the East Coast Greenway.

>From Today's Inquirer

"...Airport officials are looking at two alternatives, dubbed the parallel
and diagonal plans. They are both aimed at expanding the airport's ability
to let more planes take off and land at the same time.

The parallel proposal calls for extending the length of the two existing
runways and building a new runway parallel to them on the airport's
southern edge that would require part of the Delaware River to be filled
in. The diagonal proposal calls for building two new runways, on the
northern and southern edges of the airport, and later on two more runways
adjacent to those two."


Informational meetings about the environmental effect of runway proposals
are scheduled for:

Tomorrow - Paulsboro High School Auditorium, 670 N. Delaware St.

Wednesday- Claymont (Del.) Community Center, 3301 Green St.

Thursday - Ridley Community Center Auditorium, 801 Morton Ave., Folsom.

Each meeting is to start with an open house from 5 to 7 p.m., when
questions will be answered. A formal presentation of the plans will be from
7 to 9. Questions also will be answered after the presentations.

The Airport Authority is a part of the Tinicum-Fort Mifflin Trail steering committee and they have expressed support for the trail project. However we need to exercise due diligence to make sure that the trail is fully integrated into any Airport expansion plans.

The Second Annual Bicycle Coalition Bike on Bus Blitz
will take place on Tuesday May 18 between 8:30am and 10am. Volunteers will take their bikes on designated bus routes scheduled to arrive at the 69th St Terminal in Upper Darby between 8:45 and 9:30 or buses that leave 69th St between 9:00 and 9:30.

The Bicycle Coalition will provide vounteers a SEPTA token and arrange
an itinerary. Instructions for using the bus bike rack are online at the
Bicycle Coalition Web site

For more information send an email to
john@bicyclecoalition.org , or call the BCGP office at 215-242-9253

Police on Motorcycles on the Pennypack Bikeway

Plea to the Philadelphia Police Department. Thanks for patrolling the path but please use bicycles. Using motorcycles on this peaceful path is disruptive, dangerous to small children and pets and sets a precedent that motorized vehicles are ok on this non-motorized trail, which is becoming a serious problem with the gas scooter craze.

PHILLY'S KLEIN GALLERY HOSTS BIKE PART ART SHOW

FROM CENTERLINES THE OFFICIAL NEWSLETTER FOR THE NATIONAL CENTER FOR BICYCLING AND WALKING

-> According to their website, "The Esther M. Klein Art Gallery is pleased to announce the fifth exhibition in its Art & Community
Exhibition Series. This exhibition series features grass roots
organizations that use art and the creative process as a vehicle to
enhance the lives of individuals in the spirit of sustained community
interaction. Since 1996 Neighborhood Bike Works has used bikes as a
positive influence in the lives of Philadelphia youth by offering
earn-a-bike classes that teach bike maintenance, repair and safety...

"The Esther M. Klein Art Gallery will sponsor Neighborhood Bike Works'
second annual fund-raising event through a juried exhibition of Bike
Part Art. An open call to artists and individuals will include access
to bike parts donated by Neighborhood Bike Works. Participants of this
initiative will be challenged to create found object art pieces using
bike parts..."

Source: http://www.kleinartgallery.org/upcoming_1/nbw.htm

Schuylkill River Park Ramps Open

The fences have been taken down and now Chestnut and Market St are accessible to the Schuylkill River Trail.

US 1 Bridge Opening Ceremony

The opening ceremony for the Route 1 Pedestrian Bridge is scheduled for Tuesday, April 13th at 12:30 (the time may change). It will be held at the bridge. The Commissioner of NJDOT and Congressman Rush Holt will be in attendance.

The Bridge is located at US 1 1/2 mile north of Baker's Basin Road in Lawrencville, NJ just south of the I-295 interchange. By bicycle and train It is about 2 miles from the Hamilton Train Station via Carnegie Road and the Towpath.

High End Bicycle Training Center Cadence Cycling Opens

Located in Manayunk, Cadence Cycling will for the first time in the Philadelphia area provide avid cyclists with exclusive brands of many of the world's finest cycles and cycle components.

Prices for these world-class bicycles range from $1,400 to $2,000 for
pre-built bikes; and $1,800 to $15,000 for custom-built bicycles.

Founded by Lance Armstrong's personal coach, Chris Carmichael, Cadence's CTS Performance Center will utilize all of Carmichael's training methods and techniques to offer coaching, training, nutrition and testing programs to cyclists of all ages and abilities, ranging from competitive cyclists to recreational riders.

Tacony-Palmyra Bridge Closure

4/8/04 6:00 PM to 4/12/04 6:00 AM

Please be advised that a 3 1/2 day closure of the Tacony-Palmyra Bridge to vehicular traffic is scheduled to occur.
The actual closure period is from Thursday April 8, 2004 at 6 PM to Monday April 12, 2004 at 6 AM regardless of the weather conditions. It should be noted that this closure is necessary in order for the drawspan steel track plates that are nearly 75 years old to be replaced. There is a possibility that the closure may take less time than scheduled.

Updates of this closure can be obtained on the Commission's website, by calling the Commission at 856-829-1900 or by listening to the traffic reports on the local radio stations.

Novak Blasts Safe-Routes-to-Schools

Columnist Bob Novak framed the popular safe routes to schools as Pork in his weekly syndicated column. Calling the program a "pet project" of Rep. James Oberstar.

Bicycle and Pedestrian projects are often lumped in with "Pork" projects. Its easy for the fogged up windshield culture to not see the importance of walking or bicycling, even as they sit in the cue to pick up the kids on a warm sunny day.

Car Crashes Gate on West River Drive - Injures 3 Cyclists

The first day of the weekend closure of the West River was marred by a car that crashed a gate on West River Drive. NBC 10 reports that the gate then swung and hit 6 cyclists, injuring 3.

Was the driver distracted? Angry? Impaired? Any Charges? We don't know at this point.

Delaware Canal News

From the Friends of the Delaware Canal Spring Newsletter

Here are things to look for:
* The gravel towpath trail surface will finally extend from Bristol to Easton this spring. The project was delayed because the river wall south of Easton was so unstable that it had to be rebuilt before the construction equipment could access the towpath.

* Hazzard's Bridge, south of Upper Black Eddy, is being repaired. The slight earthquake that hit last year dislodged the stone abutments of the bridge so they are being rebuilt. The Friends of the Delaware Canal are contributing $4000 to the project so that repairs can be made to the wooden camelback trusses at the same time. Hazzard's Bridge is one of the six remaining camelback bridges on the Delaware Canal that retains its authentic structure.

* The PA-NJ Canal Loop Trail signs are now installed in both the Delaware Canal State Park and the Delaware and Raritan Canal State Park. The directional signs are a fruit of a partnership project among the Delaware and Lehigh National Heritage Corridor, the Friends of the Delaware Canal, and the two State Parks. They map how the PA and NJ canals are connected by six bridges over the Delaware River and describe the sights and amenities contained in the particular canal stretch north or south and across the river from where the sign is located. Park visitors can now have the information they need to make round trips rather back and forth treks.

* The seventeen benches that honor the Bucks County residents who perished in the terrorist attacks on the World Trade Center on September 11, 2001 will all be in place by spring. Enjoy, rest, and reflect.

* A wider, safer trail is the result of the repair and rebuilding of the stone retaining wall that runs in front of the Waterworks in New Hope. The Bureau of State Parks contracted to have the work done last year because the towpath had become almost impassable.

Volunteers needed to clean up canal

Bucks County Courier Times

Beginning at 9 a.m. Saturday and continuing throughout the day, volunteers will clean up the entire 60-mile length of the Delaware Canal State Park. Gloves, long-handled nets, boots and branch snippers are useful. Trash bags will be provided. Call the area coordinator for the section you would like to clean for details. If you would like to be a coordinator where one is needed, call 215-862-2021.

Bowman's Hill, Cindy Friel, 215-489-8783
Washington Crossing, north and south from Route 532, Marc Zaharchuk, 215-493-8602
Lower Makefield-North, north from I-95/Scudder Falls, Bob Ketler, 215-321-2399
Yardley, I-95 to Black Rock Road, Janice McVan, 215-493-7452
Lower Makefield-South, Black Rock Road to Ferry Road, Rob Sims, 215-369-0315
Morrisville-North, Ferry Road to Bridge Street, Ron Scheese, 215-295-2364
Morrisville-South, Bridge Street to railroad obstruction, Vince Paulauskas, 215-736-2125
Falls-North, railroad obstruction to Tyburn Road, coordinator needed
Falls-South, Tyburn Road to Mill Creek Road, Steve Zukosky, 215-932-2731
Levittown-North, Mill Creek Road to Route 13, Margaret Secoda, 215-757-5287
Levittown-South, Route 13 to Haines Road, coordinator needed
Bristol Township, Haines Road to Green Lane, FDR Middle School Canal Kids
Bristol Borough, Green Lane to canal basin parking lot, Mary Kehoe, 215-788-5918

Walnut St. Speedway to get a Facelift

Walnut St. between 34th and 38th is a tribute to the old PennDOT, a bleak streetscape and a design to encourage speeding. Now the powers that be at Penn want to change that, Today's Daily Pennsylvanian (known on the Penn Campus as the DP) reports that plans are underway to tame one of West Philadelphia's most hostile streets.

Recent development there includes the Left Bank (housing Trophy Bikes) and the new WXPN World Cafe studios. The idea is to create a seamless connection between University City and Center City.

New features will include adding a bike lane, new trees, pedestrian lighting and a wider sidewalk on both sides.

Rumble Strips in a Bike Lane

The new Germantown Ave bridge in Philadelphia is beautiful, you could put a photo of it next to the definition of a Complete Street and shows that DOT's can do excellent work when they include strong public involvement. For those of you familiar with Philly, its in a location with heavy bike traffic next to Chestnut Hill College and near the north end of the 8 mile Forbidden Drive in Fairmount Park. There are bike lanes, and wide protected sidewalks and a crosswalk that leads to the bus stop.

However a close up view of the bike lane showed a very serious design flaw, there are rumble strips inside the bike lanes as they approach the bridge.

While the bicycling community may debate on the benefits and flaws on bike lanes there is a strong consensus that rumble strips are hazardous to bicyclists health

Lights going on in Schuylkill River Park?

The long awaited lighting of Schuylkill River Park is now scheduled to occur sometime in April. It is also likely that ramps may be under construction until May. Apparently some required work on the ramps involves drilling through the concrete and is very time consuming.

Meanwhile CSX is adamently digging in on its position to close off the fences at Locust St and Race St. The city of Phladelphia and the Free Schuylkill River Park Coalition continue to press CSX to keep the crossings open. http://freetheriverpark.typepad.com/