Wednesday, September 30, 2009

Video - Passing In Bike Lanes

This video focuses on passing fellow cyclists (all too common now in some parts of town) and shows some good technique not just for passing but for any reason that you have to leave the bike lane.



The video was produced by former Philadelphia resident Steve Bozzone for the Intersection 911 project. Steve moved his Bozz Media company to Portland OR (where the video was filmed), perhaps another tiny example of the brain drain that we are still struggling here with in Philadelphia.

2 comments:

Dr. Phila said...

Re:Fascination with Portland.

I moved to Philly from Portland, OR about 4 years ago after growing up there. For all intense and purposes it is a beautiful town w/ some great cycling. But ever since I moved, I can't stand how everyone sits around and gawks about what portland is doing in terms of progressive planning policy and it's build out of bike infrastructure.

Take this Del River Trail. The thing is atrocious. But, I'm reasonable and I get it. We didn't have a lot of money and we just watned to get something on the ground to preserve the right-of-way, etc. But the thing is, I would never ride the thing b/c it looks like some cobbled together POS. And the scenery is dominated more by big box stores and minivans than the river IMO.

My point is that you can't just go halfway and try to create a bike culture like exists in Portland. You've got to go all in and that's what Portland has done.

Brains (as in your brain drain ex.) go to places where interesting and exciting things are happening that they feel personally connected to. Because Portland and Austin have become these symbols of progressive cities that's where they go. Simple as that.

Why would I move to a city that is known more for it's murder rate than its rate of cycle commuting? Philly's public image is warranted but not unsolvable. A little positive media as a result of a project really well done can go a long way.

Rant Over.

Andrew J. Besold said...

Ummm. Sorry but there is a BIG mistake in this video.

He didn't signal before leaving the bicycle lane.