BCGP's South Street Bridge Position Statement

Bicycle Coalition of Greater Philadelphia South Street Bridge Position Statement
The Bicycle Coalition thanks the Streets Department for considering our input in the bridge design process. The BCGP supports the on-road accommodation of bicyclists on the South Street Bridge.

To date our advocacy work has yielded changes to the original design including:

• On-street bike lanes
• The inclusion of advanced stop lines (London style bike boxes)
• Advance pedestrian lead signals (a short pedestrians only phase) and
• Pedestrian countdown timers

We continue to advocate for the following design changes:
Eliminate Overhead Highway Signage
Overhead signs tells motorists to treat the road like a high speed arterial. We advocate for smaller, lower, and more attractive signs that keeps the motorists eyes focused closer to street level.

Maintain the existing curb radii at the I-76 Interchange
“Rounding off” the curbs will encourage truck traffic and create faster turning traffic; increasing conflicts with pedestrians and bicyclists.

Design a sensible on-road connection to the Schuylkill River Trail ramp
The proposed design will place the Schuylkill River Trail entrance on the south sidewalk without a curb cut to the street. Observations at the Chestnut Street bridge show that this type of entrance encourages sidewalk bicycling, especially when the cyclist has to travel against traffic to arrive at the entrance. We believe that a curb cut near the trail ramp will eliminate some wrong way behavior.

Sign a traffic free bicycle detour behind the Palestra
A signed bike detour behind the Palestra and Franklin Field (32nd Street Alignment) to Chestnut Street will allow bicyclists to bypass the increased traffic volumes on 33rd, 34th street and Walnut Street and provide good access to the Chestnut Street Bridge, the Schuylkill River trail, Drexel University and 30th Street Station.

The Streets Department Should Consider Dedicated Right Turn Lanes
BCGP likes the concept of advanced stop lines to allow cyclists to get ahead of turning vehicles that are stopped. However given the high percentage of turning vehicles at the I-76 interchange we feel that a dedicated right turn lane and a blue crossover bike lane would be more appropriate.

The BCGP supports further public involvement with the final design process to ensure that the South Street Bridge fits within the context of its adjoining neighborhoods and serves the needs of the community

Driving while Texting Bringing our Youth Down From Cyberspace

There was a very disturbing article in the Sunday Philadelphia Inquirer that highlighted the dangers of driving while texting while not offering any solutions to the problem.

The giggly tone of the teens being interviewed was most disturbing, as if there are no consequences for their actions. One teen stated that "I text while I drive to make plans with friends, or to tell my friends about someone I met last night."

The article failed to accurately portray the horrifying results to this unchecked behavior, in fact the statistics are startling. If these deaths were at the hands of terrorists or gangs there would be a national call to action.

The Harvard University's Center for Risk Analysis estimates that cell phones are the cause of 2600 deaths, and 570,000 injuries each year. Mobile phones are also to blame for 1.5 million crashes per year resulting in property damage.

A study from the University of Utah found that motorists who talked on hands-free cell phones were 18 percent slower in braking and took 17 percent longer to regain the speed they lost when they braked. An earlier study by the same researchers found that drivers talking on hands-free cell phones were less likely to recall seeing pedestrians, billboards or other roadside features.

In Urbana IL a 19 YO woman was sentenced to 6 years in prison for killing a bicyclist while downloading ring tones. And yes the victim was wearing a helmet.

In April of 2005 22 YO Kataryzna Returuk was killed by an 18 YO allegedly talking on a cell phone on the notorius Route 1 in Sussex County Delaware between Lewes and Rehoboth Beach.

A 17 YO female driver on a cell phone killed a 33 YO cyclist in a bike lane in Chilliwack British Columbia.

A Colorado teen who was retrieving a text message on his cell phone when he struck and killed a bicyclist received 9 days in jail, 4 years probation, and 300 hours of community service, which includes talks to local bicycling groups.

I can go on and on. I hope everyone writes to the Inquirer with a reply to this story.

Bike Tunes and Podcasts

Are you tired of your 300 illegally downloaded songs on your Ipod? Then you should really look into subscribing to bicycle themed podcasts. You can search for these podcasts in ITunes

Bikescape - San Francisco Based Bicycle Advocacy News
KBOO Bike Show - Bike Issues affecting Portland OR
Velonews Audio Podcast - Racing news
Penn Future - Combating sprawl and environmental issues in Pennsylvania
NBG Mountain Mover's Podcast - National Bicycle Greenway Podcasts. Nice array of interviews

One thing that podcasts have helped done is push some bicycle themed music, like the tunes below.

Portland's Wandering Mind Society - "Pedal and Roam Theme song for KBOO Bike Show. Song has a DeadPhish feel to it.

Ryan Harvey -Riding my Bike to Work in the Rain - Nice upbeat acoustic tune

Funner than cars - Sung by Chicago Bicycle Federation Guru Randy Neufeld and Friends

Lists of other Bicycle Inspired Music
Bicycle Songs - http://bicycleuniverse.info/stuff/music.html
Note: Author trashes Neufeld's performance as unispiring

And two good songs that might fit into your soundtrack for a bicycle themed event. Each has little to do with bicycling
Saloon - Bicycle Thieves - Great title, retro-shoegaze/dreampop music
Orbit Bicycle Song - Edgy Alternative Rock worth the 99 cents for the legal download.

Pedestrian Deaths in NJ up 8%

Release from the Tri State Transportation Campaign:

New Jersey’s Streets and Sidewalks More Deadly in 2006

Traffic deaths in New Jersey rose again last year to their highest point since 2002. 770 people died in traffic crashes in New Jersey in 2006, up more than 3 percent from 2005. Pedestrian fatalities increased even more significantly, to 168 in 2006 from 156 the previous year, a jump of nearly 8 percent.

“Last year Governor Corzine committed to reducing pedestrian deaths, but so far we’re not seeing a payoff,” said Damien Newton, NJ Coordinator for the Tri-State Transportation Campaign. “Better enforcement of traffic laws and more safely designed roads, streets and sidewalks are the only solutions to this growing crisis.”

Last August, Governor Corzine announced a renewed effort to combat pedestrian injuries and fatalities in the state. He said the program would fund intersection and street reconstruction to improve pedestrian environments, and launch up-to-date state police tracking of areas where pedestrians are hit by cars, and stronger enforcement of traffic laws and public education of both drivers and pedestrians.

The governor announced the infrastructure aspect of the program would be about $15 million a year for five years. The first project was slated for the Market and Ferry Street intersections by Penn Station in Newark. Funding would also be provided for “safe routes to schools” and “safe routes to transit” efforts.

Enforcement of existing driver safety laws should also be a priority. Nearly 60% of all traffic fatalities in New Jersey are caused, at least in part, by speeding and reckless driving according to a Tri-State analysis of National Highway Traffic Safety Administration data.

New Jersey’s pedestrian fatality toll has remained consistently high since former Governor Christine Whitman promised to reduce pedestrian deaths by 50% by 2010.

Click on the county name below to download fact sheets (pdf):

Burlington County
Camden County
Cumberland County
Gloucester County
Mercer County

Full Report - http://www.tstc.org/press/2007/021507_NJfatalities.html

Bicycle Bill Put on Hold

The bill is an attempt to banish the 8 person conference bikes. or "Super Bikes". It is on hold for rewrite to make sure that pedicabs and other bicycles are not affected.

The Bicycle Coalition will be crafting a position on this issue later this week. We will be advocating for regulating, not banning commercial bicycle transportation services including the conference bikes.

Take Action - Tell City Council Not To Ban Child Bike Trailers

Take Action: send an email to City Council

Philadelphia’s City Council Committee on Streets and Services is meeting on Feb. 14th at 10 am in Room 400. The Agenda is here.

The Committee will take testimony and potentially vote on bill #060897 (to prohibit pedacycles that seat more than 2 passengers). The Bicycle Coalition will attend the hearing and provide testimony.

If you can, please attend the hearing to show support for opposing the ban on pedalcycles. A strong showing from bicyclists will be very helpful in sending a strong message to Council members to take our position seriously.

In addition the South Street Bridge will be coming up as an action item at this meeting.

City Council Proposes Banning Pedicabs!

A proposed ordinance being considered by City Council will effectively ban pedicabs in Philadelphia, as a matter of fact any bicycle that carries more than two people would be affected by this bill.

Pedicabs, if properly regulated can be a convenient pollution free service for areas with high pedestrian traffic such as the historic district or along the BF Parkway. Many cities including New York City, Charleston SC, and Phoenix have pedicabs but entrepreneurs that have tried to replicate the service in Philadelphia have encountered resistance from the city, taxi services and the police.

Philadelphia Pedicab Link

Beyond that the ordinance would essentially ban 2 child bicycle trailers. So if this bill is not only anti-pedicab it will essentially put the clamps anybody who bicycles with children or even those who use such a trailer for hauling cargo.

BAD BILL!!! Contact your council representatives through Hallwatch.org.

Note: There will a hearing at 10AM on Wednesday after which committee will vote on the action.
------------------------------------------------------------------
Bill No. 06089700
Introduced November 30, 2006

Councilmember DiCicco

Referred to the
Committee on Streets and Services

AN ORDINANCE

Amending Title 12 of The Philadelphia Code, entitled "Traffic Code," by adding certain
definitions and by amending Section 12-800, entitled "Bicycle Regulations and
Penalties," prohibiting pedalcycles that seat more than two passengers from roadways, all
under certain terms and conditions.

Traffic Justice Institute Reprint

An excerpt from BikeWalk.org newsletter (Centerlines #166):

By Bob Chauncey

We are a growing alliance of organizations and individuals seeking to end the acceptance of over 40,000 traffic deaths a year in the United States. We are outraged at the common belief that traffic crashes are unavoidable "accidents" and are combining our forces to stop these unacceptable and predictable crashes.

The Traffic Justice movement will be based on four defining principles.

1. The primary goal of our transportation system must be the prevention of traffic crashes. We believe the traditional emphasis of US transportation and safety agencies on making crashes safer through technology has failed to achieve reductions in injuries and fatalities on a par with the crash prevention efforts in other countries.

2. We offer instead the principle of Traffic Justice -- the expectation of just and accountable conduct of all participants in our transportation system. Our initiatives will require that drivers, car manufacturers, road designers, elected officials, law enforcers, community planners and others take specific actions toward preventing traffic crashes. For example, some of the traffic justice changes we are working toward would:

- require drivers to comply with all traffic laws and thereby hold drivers fully accountable for their actions;
- require the installation of event data recorders and other law enforcement technologies into cars and trucks to support the adherence of traffic laws;
- require roads to be designed and built to dramatically reduce speeding, while safely accommodating pedestrians and bicyclists;
- restrict any promotion of dangerous driving;
- assist in the passage of laws extending the privilege of driving only to those who have not abused it;
- require law enforcement agencies to assign traffic law enforcement a priority consistent with the importance of preventing traffic crashes in the communities they serve;
- encourage community leaders to support developments likely to yield shorter trips, fewer trips, and more walking, biking and public transit to complete these trips.

3. The Traffic Justice Task Force and working groups will support and deliver resources to an alliance of organizations and individuals. We will work with and through these organizations rather than create an entirely new organization.

4. We see as the outcome of a successful Traffic Justice movement a sustainable safe transportation system that reduces traffic crashes to such a low number that when a fatality or injury occurs the response is as it should be: outrage, investigation as to the cause, and reparation to the victims.

Let me know what you think of this statement. Also, contact me with ideas on potential partners, potential funders, other campaign ideas, etc. Look for a Traffic Justice workshop at the National Bike Summit in March. Traffic Justice will also be a topic at Velo-city 2007 in Munich.

Traffic Justice Information: http://www.bikewalk.org/tji.php

Carnage and Justice in the Happy Valley

Bellefonte, PA:

A legally blind driver that killed a cyclist plea bargains out of vehicular homicide charges. Although the details of the plea have not been released the victims family was quoted in the Centre Valley Times, stating that the District Attorney "will recommend 9 months of home confinement".

Acording to the article Thomas B. Fry has 3/200 vision and "by his own admission on disability claim forms, was 'legally blind' when his vehicle left the roadway and struck and killed Penn State professor Bohdan Kulakowski along Boalsburg Road on March 22, 2006."

Another example of our broken justice system.

Walkway Open

Ben Franklin Bridge walkway has been reopened. An official notice was put out by the DRPA at 4:30 today and the notice was posted on the website sometime this afternoon, however the gates have been opened since at least 4pm yesterday.

--
===============================================
Brought to you by, Cingular Wireless Messaging
http://www.CingularMe.COM/

Comment on the BCGP Mayoral Questionnaire

The BCGP is seeking comments on the questionnaire and the deadline is Friday, February 9. (Click on the comments link below). Afterwards, it will be sent to the candidates and their responses will be posted on the blog.

BICYCLE COALITION OF GREATER PHILADELPHIA

Mayoral Candidate Questionnaire

February 2, 2007

Bicycling is a barometer of Philadelphia’s health and livability. Cities ranked as the best bicycling cities in America also rank consistently as among the nation’s most desirable places to live. Bicyclists riding on City streets and trails are indicators of cleaner air and an active, healthy population. Bicycling saves residents and employers money on transportation and health care. And bicyclists mean more business for neighborhood shops.

About 400,000 Philadelphians rode a bike in the last year and 25,000 use their bike to commute to work at least once a month. Philadelphia is well positioned to become the most bicycle-friendly city on the East Coast – but only if the City plans for it. The next mayor and city council have a number of excellent opportunities to take actions that would make bicycling safer and more attractive for city residents and tourists.


Would you support the creation of a Bicycle Pedestrian Coordinator to shape transportation policy?

Philadelphia is the only major city in the United States that does not employ a full-time bicycle/pedestrian coordinator. Not only would the coordinator help identify funding for many pedestrian-bicycle transportation projects but the position itself can be nearly (80%) fully funded from federal Congestion Mitigation Air Quality (CMAQ) funds. Would you support the creation of a Department of Transportation? Philadelphia is the only major city on the East Coast that does not have a Department of Transportation. A department is needed to shape and implement transportation policy that considers all users of the transportation network.


Would you support the creation and implementation of a new citywide bicycle/pedestrian plan that positions Philadelphia as the most bicycle-friendly city on the East Coast?

Following the model of the Chicago Bike 2010 plan, a new bicycle-pedestrian plan for Philadelphia can be substantially paid for through any number of federal transportation funding programs.


Would you support free and clear bike lanes that connect the Delaware and Schuylkill Rivers and close the gaps between bike lanes in all neighborhoods?

After striping over 200 miles of bike lanes, Philadelphia has seen annual increases in bicycle traffic of 6% over the last decade and a remarkable 24% increase from 2005 to 2006. But there are still many gaps in the bike lane network which discourage the city’s 400,000 bicyclists from using their bicycles more often. An east-west bike lane through Center City is especially needed to make non-motorized travel from river to river easier, safer and more enjoyable.


Would you support increased enforcement of traffic laws through: the installation of 100 red light cameras, a bike-based parking enforcement patrol and a street-based education program to discourage bicyclists riding on sidewalks?

Endemic red light running, double parking in bike lanes and bicyclists riding on sidewalks rank high on Philadelphia bicyclists concerns about riding in the city. Action on these enforcement issues will improve quality of life for bicyclists, pedestrians and car drivers.


Would you support the installation of 1,000 bike racks in each City Council district?

Bike theft continues to be a major reason why Philadelphia’s 400,000 bicyclists don’t use their bicycles more often. Installation of bike racks at important retail sites, schools, recreation centers, houses of worship and other popular locations is a highly visible way of encouraging residents to use their bicycles instead of driving.


Would you support the completion of the Schuylkill River Trail extension to Fort Mifflin?

Plans to extend the Schuylkill River Trail from Locust Street all the way to Fort Mifflin need to be made a priority. The completed trail would create a unique experience for residents and tourists alike, connecting Southwest Philadelphia to Center City and providing access to Bartram’s Garden and Heinz Wildlife Refuge. It would also be instrumental to completing the Philadelphia segment of the East Coast Greenway, which stretches from Maine to Florida.


Would you support all-day closures of Martin Luther King Drive to through traffic, while continuing to allow auto access to the upper drive parking areas?

The opening of the Schuylkill Trail from Locust Street to Martin Luther King (formerly West River) Drive has created a new and unique opportunity to make the west bank of the Schuylkill River a six-mile recreation corridor on weekends between April and October. Tragically, the ten-year-old decision to re-open the lower half of the road to automotive traffic after Noon has resulted in a number of crashes at Sweet Briar Road. A five-year-old child was killed last year when a reckless driver sped through the gate at Sweet Briar. Closing the gate at the Art Museum from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. would ensure that at least one portion of the park’s road system is reserved for recreation on weekends.