Bike on Bus Service to Cheyney University

Beginning Monday August 30 SEPTA bus 120 to Cheyney will be bike accessible. For all current bike on bus SEPTA service go to http://www.septa.org/service/bike_ride.html.

One caveat some off-peak runs involve a transfer to the 104 bus in Newtown Square which is not bike accessible and as such may or may not have a bike rack. Best bet is to take your bike on runs that run through to 69th Street.

Man Bites Dog, Bicyclists Endanger Motorists:

Police arrest 250 in NY Critical Mass ride on Friday, "Police Deputy Commissioner Paul Browne said the cyclists had caused 'massive disruptions' and endangered motorists trying to drive through the city."

Ben Franklin Bridge Walkway Update

The Ben Franklin Bridge north walkway is open, and the south walkway is closed due to construction activity. This pattern will remain in place until further notice.
Walkway hours are 6:00 a.m. - 7:00 p.m.

Students Pay $1/day to Park, Miss College Human Rights Violated

The West Chester Daily Local reports that high school kids and parents are hoppin' mad about the price of school parking.

Coatesville Area Senior High students claim that the rising cost of parking on campus ($180 year) will prevent many of them from participating in after-school activities and sports.

"If I don’t have a car at school, I can’t participate in those activities, Then when colleges get my transcript, they’ll see that I was involved only up until senior year."

Hey, did I tell the school district to build a centralized monolith on 110 acres in the middle of nowhere, NOOOO! If you want Waldo to be on the chess team then you better get a car.

Regionalization of schools may save small municipalities money on some levels by sharing infrastructure costs, but when it comes to open space and transportation it has the opposite effect. The design and location of these schools virtually wipe out the small percentage of students who walk and bike to school when they are located in the neighborhoods where they live. Super-sized schools do not equate to a better education.

Build schools in walkable neighborhoods
Use and Re-Use existing facilities
No parking for students
Provide secure bike parking
Provides incentives for faculty to use alternative modes
Complete the Streets

For more read Reducing School Sprawl

Bicycle Coalition's Pothole Patrol

Forget NBC-10 or any other media outlet's Pothole Patrol, they like to put stories on the air about giant road canyons that form in the spring, they are less interested in paying attention to the everyday pothole. While a pothole might make a motorist feel uncomfortable a 2 inch hole can break a bicyclist's collarbone. The BCGP's guide will provide contact info for all the responsible state and county DOT departments.

Although these hotline's are often listed as pothole's any dangerous road surface condition should be reported, drainage grates, longitudal cracks, debris etc.

DVRPC polls cyclists on Amenities

From John Madera DVRPC Transportation Planner

Greetings:

Each month DVRPC conducts an on-line poll regarding issues affecting the region. The question this month is "What amenity would have the most impact on your decision to commute by bike?" You may choose from Availability of dedicated bike lanes or bike trails, Shower and/or changing facilities at place of work, Bike racks or bike lockers at place of work, or Allowing bikes on transit at all times of the day.

Go to http://www.dvrpc.org and cast your vote at the "Polling the Region" bar at the bottom of the page. Running results can be viewed. Polling on this question will end August 31st.
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Riverline Carries 100+ bikes a day

Today I conducted an informal bike count by boarding as RiverLINE many trains as possible between 8:30am and 1:20pm. I was able observe 20 bikes on 14 trains (1.4 bikes per train) at various points between 36th Street Camden and Trenton.

88 daily trips X 1.4 bikes = 123 bikes per day

Other Highlights:

• Only 3 trains were not carrying bikes, on these trains I rode the train for 5 stops or less.
• Bike ridership seemed to be higher in the mid-day with the maximum on one train being 4
• 11 bikes were parked at 7 stations along the line.
• 2 stations, Palmyra and Burlington Town Center did not have racks for the bikes.
• 123 bikes equals 2.4% of the total ridership
• If SEPTA had the same ratio of bikes to passengers, the Regional Rails would carry 2400 bikes a day
• Fare inspectors asked for my ticket only once all day
• Passenger sometimes blocked the bike racks, one person used a folded seat for her luggage
  
  

Wharton Bike Parking Station

MBNA has stepped to the plate and is sponsoring the 2nd annual bike parking station at Wharton School. Neighborhood Bike Works will be running the bike parking station from August 9 to September 10. The bike parking station is located behind Huntsman Hall at 37th St and Locust Walk, no locks and no worries.

Virtual Trail Slideshows

I have posted several trail slide shows, including photos taken along the entire length of the Schuylkill River and Perkiomen Trails. I think these photologs have value for people who are interested in visiting the trail or trail users who want to remember their trail experience but don’t want to take photos every half mile.

Schuylkill River and Perkiomen Trails (71 photos)

Train and Bus trip to the Delaware Canal – New Hope to Yardley

Chester Valley Trail - 3 open segments