Delaware County Committee Meeting 1-12-2010

When? January 12, 2010 at 7:00 PM

Who can attend? Anyone who has an interest in improving bicycling in Delaware County. That includes if you are a commuter, a recreational biker or a transportation groupie. Chime in with your recommendations & walk or ride away feeling good about contributing in helping to reduce the carbon footprint in your communities.

Where?21 Pennock Terrace, Lansdowne, PA, 19050

Please RSVP to Delaware County Committee Chairperson David Bennett - (610) 626-1344, dster21@comcast.net

Agenda

• Latest Plan for US 202 improvements from Westchester to the Delaware State line (good news here)
• Exciting plans for developing the Cynwyd Trail in Lower Merion Twp. This will complete one of the 9 gaps in the Schuylkill River Trail.
• Plans for the evolving routes of the East Coast Greenway and plans for events in 2010
• Progress of the implementation of the Delaware County Bike Plan including Bicyclists Baltimore Pike and master bike plans for Swarthmore, Lansdowne, and Millbourne.
• Review of other ongoing projects in DELCO and the larger region, other old business, new business

Will Philly Live Be Accessible to Pedestrians and Bicyclists?

As an island in a sea of asphalt, it's pretty hard to imagine that the designers of Philly Live are thinking very hard about how bicyclists and pedestrians will access the place- even pedestrians going to or from the adjacent subway station could be dodging cars across the parking lot.

Philly Live Rendering looking east towards 11th St - About.com

But if we as citizens want the greatest return of investment on this public/private partnership then we should really be demanding that the developers put on their thinking caps. The renderings show a dizzying number of pedestrians walking along a faux Main Street even if about 90% of them will be driving to get there. But designing this right could be the first piece of a puzzle that connects the sprawling sports complex to the dense, walkable and bikeable South Philadelphia neighborhood.

One thing that Comcast/Spectacor and The Cordish Company will definitely have to deal with is the new bicycle parking requirement. According to Philadelphia Code bicycle parking space is required for every 10,000 Sq Ft. At 350,000 square feet of space Philly Live will be required to put in at least 35 bicycle spaces. That's a small number especially for the number of retail, restaurant and service workers who will be using bikes to get to work. There may be many more bike parking spaces required if Philly Live's parking lots qualify as a "Public Parking Facility". One bike parking space per every 10 car spaces so a 5000 car lot would equal parking for 500 bikes.

In Copenhagen They Plow the Bike Lanes First - In Philly It's Where We Put The Snow

But neglected sidewalks are an even bigger problem. Trophy Bikes shop owner turned DIY filmaker Michael McGettigan documents the immaculately plowed Walnut St Bridge and the consequences of the unshoveled sidewalks.



Mayor Nutter has warned several times over the weekend that Philadelphians need to shovel their sidewalks or face fines, and in fact FOX 29 reported this morning that they are ticketing homeowners in South Philly in the vicinity of neighborhood schools. But orphan sidewalks on bridges, next to vacant land and even adjacent to parks will never get plowed.

There is only one way to resolve this issue. Make some noise! We strongly urge people who have to walk on the street because of this neglect to call 311 or use SeeClickFix.

Note: We have received reports that Fairmount Park has plowed the MLK and Kelly Drive Paths. SRDC usually clears the Schuylkill River Park path. We have received no reports on the Wissahickon bikeway (paved portion) or the Schuylkill River Trail's last mile (Port Royal Ave to the City Line) or the SRT in Montgomery County. We would greatly appreciate any reports and or photos.

We'll also see how the bike lanes are doing, look for photos in the Bicycles and Snow Flickr group later today. Oh yes expect the Ben Franklin Bridge walkway to be closed until the soaking rains wash it clean and the suns dries it like a raisin. Apparently the city doesn't ticket giant transportation agencies for not keeping sidewalks clear.

Cycling Legal Expert Bob Mionske Comments on the "Philadelphia Problem"

Legally Speaking With Bob Mionske

Caught on Video - Spruce Street Bike Lane Incursion

Watch how this pickup truck with Delaware tags drives for 7 blocks in the Spruce Street bike lane. Towards the end of the video the motorist actually changes lanes to pass a bicyclist and then immediately returns to the lane.



Video

Music credit: I drive like Steve McQueen - The Mag Seven

Show Us Your Bikes In The Snow Photos

Bikes in the snow-shocking!

Everytime a local news station offers minute by minute snow coverage in Center City a passing bicyclist stuns the reporter on the street.

Upload your photos on Flickr and add them to our Bikes in the Snow group [http://www.flickr.com/groups/1288115@N20/]. By the way we like absurdities of snowplowing for cars only. Think of bikes passing a plowed-in bike lane sign, bus shelter or an old lady walking in the street.

Here are some photos from the last Storm of the Century in February 2003.



Snow and bicycles

And Now Let's Hear From A Trail Steward Who Is Opposed To Trails

Looking through the Environmental Assessment I have to date found only one letter that specifically opposed the inclusion of the path on the Scudder Falls Bridge. Ironically it came from the Delaware and Raritan Canal Commission. In a letter on August 5th 2008 Executive Director Ernest P Hahn. wrote "While we support the goal of increasing pedestrian access in the vicinity of the Canal Park, because the impacts associated with the construction of the path pedestrian path we do not support its inclusion in the design of the new bridge."

Really? You are not opposed to a 9 lane highway crossing the canal's path but are opposed to the path that connects the trail to the canal towpath in Pennsylvania. Perhaps it should be rewritten to say "While we support the goal of increasing pedestrian access in the vicinity of the Canal Park we are opposed to the most effective strategy that would achieve that goal."

I would suggest that the Commission reconsider their opposition and work with the DRJTBC to come up with suggestions to minimize canal impacts, much like they did for the rest of project.

Scudder Falls Bridge I-95 Meetings - Last Chance to Push for the Bridge Path

The Delaware River Joint Toll Bridge Commission and the Federal Highway Adminiostration have released the draft form of the Environmental Assessment for public comment and has announced public meetings to review the findings with public.

The document is over 200 pages but if you have a few hours to skim through it you can download it here. Several options of the bridge were weighed and the report reveals the "preferred alternative". It's a behemoth of a project with 9 lanes of traffic and 4 shoulders (two 14' interior and two 12' exterior).










The "optional" pathway would be placed on the north (upstream or southbound) side of the bridge and the criteria for its inclusion is as follows:

The addition of a bicycle and pedestrian facility on the southbound side of bridge is being considered; a decision will be made during Final Design when costs are refined and cost reasonableness can be determined.

The two meetings are:
Tuesday January 19, 2009 Villa Victoria Academy, 376 Upper Ferry Road, Ewing NJ

Wednesday January 20, 2009 Sharaton Bucks County Hotel, 400 Oxford Valley Rd, Langhorne, PA

At both meetings the Open House begins at 5PM and the Public Presentation begins at 7PM.

The public is invited to submit written comments by February 4, 2010:

1 - At the Public Meetings

2 - Via email at scudderfallsbridgeEAcomments@hntb.com

3 - Or via Letter:

Kevin Skeels, PE
Delaware River Joint Toll Bridge Commission
110 Wood and Grove Streets
Morrisville, PA 19067

For questions or more information regarding the project, please call the project hotline at 800-879-0849

New Jersey Issues A Complete Streets Policy

Below is the New Jersey Complete Streets policy signed by Commissioner Dilts. This is a big step forward and we are pleased that NJ DOT has joined the Delaware, Oregon and other states with complete streets policy.

The policy is long and involved so it will take some for us to fully analyze its potential effectiveness. At first glance we like the inclusion of resurfacing projects and the offering of incentives for Local Aid projects (the transportation money for towns and counties) On the other hand we are concerned about Exemption 5 (highlighted below in italics) which suggest that safety or timing issues could result in the exclusion of complete streets elements. A broad statement that may offer lots of wiggle room for reluctant project managers. To take an objective eye on the policy consult the Complete Streets policy elements.


DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION
POLICY

I. PURPOSE
To create and implement a Complete Streets Policy in New Jersey through the planning, design, construction, maintenance and operation of new and retrofit transportation facilities within public rights of way that are federally or state funded, including projects processed or administered through the Department’s Capital Program.

II. DEFINITIONS
A Complete Street is defined as means to provide safe access for all users by designing and operating a comprehensive, integrated, connected multi-modal network of transportation options.

III. BACKGROUND
The benefits of Complete Streets are many and varied:
• Complete Streets improve safety for pedestrians, bicyclists, children, older citizens, non-drivers and the mobility challenged as well as those that cannot afford a car or choose to live car free.
• Provide connections to bicycling and walking trip generators such as employment, education, residential, recreation, retail centers and public facilities.
• Promote healthy lifestyles.
• Create more livable communities.
• Reduce traffic congestion and reliance on carbon fuels thereby reducing greenhouse gas emissions.
• Complete Streets make fiscal sense by incorporating sidewalks, bike lanes, safe crossings and transit amenities into the initial design of a project, thus sparing the expense of retrofits later.

IV. POLICY
The New Jersey Department of Transportation shall implement a Complete Streets policy though the planning, design, construction, maintenance and operation of new and retrofit transportation facilities, enabling safe access and mobility of pedestrians, bicyclists, transit users of all ages and abilities. This includes all projects funded through the Department’s Capital Program. The Department strongly encourages the adoption of similar policies by regional and local jurisdictions who apply for funding through Local Aid programs.

DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION
POLICY

1. Create a comprehensive, integrated, connected multi-modal network by providing connections to bicycling and walking trip generators such as employment, education, residential, recreational and public facilities, as well as retail and transit centers.

2. Provide safe and accessible accommodations for existing and future pedestrian,
bicycle and transit facilities.

3. Establish a checklist of pedestrian, bicycle and transit accommodations such as
accessible sidewalks curb ramps, crosswalks, countdown pedestrian signals, signs,
median refuges, curb extensions, pedestrian scale lighting, bike lanes, shoulders and
bus shelters with the presumption that they shall be included in each project unless supporting documentation against inclusion is provided and found to be justifiable.

4. Additionally, in rural areas, paved shoulders or a multi-use path shall be included in all new construction and reconstruction projects on roadways used by more than 1,000 vehicles per day.
Paved shoulders provide safety and operational advantages for all road users. Shoulder rumble strips are not recommended when used by bicyclists, unless there is a minimum clear path of four feet in which a bicycle may safely operate. If there is evidence of heavy pedestrian usage then sidewalks shall be considered in the project.

5. Establish a procedure to evaluate resurfacing projects for complete streets inclusion according to length of project, local support, environmental constraints, right-of-way limitations, funding resources and bicycle and/or pedestrian compatibility.

6. Transportation facilities are long-term investments that shall anticipate likely future demand for bicycling and walking facilities and not preclude the provision of future improvements.

7. Address the need for bicyclists and pedestrians to cross corridors as well as travel along them. Even where bicyclists and pedestrians may not commonly use a particular travel corridor that is being improved or constructed, they will likely need to be able to cross that corridor safely and conveniently. Therefore, the design of intersections, interchanges and bridges shall accommodate bicyclists and pedestrians in a manner that is safe, accessible and convenient.

8. Design bicycle and pedestrian facilities to the best currently available standards and practices including the New Jersey Roadway Design Manual, the AASHTO Guide for the Development of Bicycle Facilities, AASHTO’s Guide for the Planning, Design and Operation of Pedestrian Facilities, the Manual of Uniform Traffic Control Devices and others as related.

9. Research, develop and support new technologies in improving safety and mobility.

10. Make provisions for pedestrians and bicyclists when closing roads, bridges or sidewalks for
construction projects as outlined in NJDOT Policy #705 – Accommodating Pedestrian and Bicycle Traffic During Construction.

11. Improvements should also consider connections for Safe Routes to Schools, Safe Routes to Transit, Transit Villages, trail crossings and areas or population groups with limited transportation options.

12. Establish an incentive within the Local Aid Program for municipalities and counties to develop and implement a Complete Streets policy.

13. Improvements must comply with Title VI/Environmental Justice, Americans with
Disabilities Act (ADA) and should complement the context of the surrounding community.

14. Implement training for Engineers and Planners on Bicycle/Pedestrian/Transit policies and integration of non-motorized travel options into transportation systems.

15. Establish Performance Measures to gauge success.

V. EXEMPTIONS
Exemptions to the Complete Streets policy must be presented for final decision to the Capital Program Screening Committee in writing by the appropriate Assistant Commissioner and documented with supporting data that indicates the reason for the decision and are limited to the following:

1) Non-motorized users are prohibited on the roadway.
2) Scarcity of population, travel and attractors, both existing and future, indicate an absence of need for such accommodations.
3) Detrimental environmental or social impacts outweigh the need for these accommodations.
4) Cost of accommodations is excessively disproportionate to cost of project, more than twenty percent (20%) of total cost.
5) The safety or timing of a project is compromised by the inclusion of Complete Streets.

An exemption other than those listed above must be documented with supporting data and must be approved by the Capital Program Committee along with written approval by the Commissioner of Transportation.

VI. AUTHORITY
N.J.S.A. Title 27
----

CCD Unveils Cycletrack Plans for West Market and JFK

In today's winter 2009 edition of the Center City District newsletter the Center City Digest President Paul Levy unveiled a proposal to add physically separated bike lanes or cycletracks onto West Market Street and John F Kennedy Boulevard.






Image - Center City Digest Newsletter

The cross-section here is only a concept and design details are not complete, but it appears that on the existing one way portion of the streets (20th to 15th on Market and 16th to 20th on JFK) a left side bike lane would added. It would be physically separated by a six foot wide island with mountable curbs and planters or landscaping. The rest of the street layout would include a parking/left turn lane, three 10' travel lanes and a 10' parking lane on the right hand side. This design is similar to New York City's 9th Avenue bike lane.


View Larger Map

Flyers Fans Plan a Tandem Bike Ride to Fenway Park

This year's NHL Winter Classic an annual outdoor NHL game that takes place on New Year's Day pits the Flyers and the Bruins at Boston's historic Fenway Park.

Drexel University seniors Patrick Montgomery and Andrew Moriarity plan to arrive at the game via a tandem bicycle. They will begin their trip at the Spectrum on December 26 stopping in Staten Island NY, Greenwich CT, Clinton CT and Providence, RI before arriving at Fenway on New Years Eve.

The Broad Street Bikers are raising funds for the Blessed Sarnelli Community - Sarnelli is a non-profit organization dedicated to meeting the needs of people who are poor and abandoned in Philadelphia. You can donate and track their progress at http://broadstreetbikers.webs.com.

Preparing the rink at Fenway Park

Copenhagen - Bicycle Culture 2.0

While the US media continues to dig for something of substance on "Climategate", Streetfilms teamed up with Copenhagenize's Mikael Colville-Andersen to showcase the latest bicycle infrastructure innovations in Copenhagen: digital bicycle counters, in the ground LEDs, "the green wave" and cargo bike parking!



Video Link

How Does Spruce and Pine Bike Victory Compare To Previous Bike Coalition Wins

There is no doubt about it, the City's recommendation to make the buffered bike lanes on Spruce and Pine Street permanent ranks as one of the most important wins for bicycling in the history of the 37-year-old organization.

Looking back there are at least scores and perhaps hundreds of points where we can call policy changes, trail openings or other physical improvements as victories (along with many defeats), but in my mind there are only two wins that can be marked as sea changes for bicycling in the Delaware Valley.

The first was in 1991 when SEPTA allowed bicycles on Regional Rail Trains. Before, you needed a permit and conductors were not always accommodating, but it was now possible for a bicyclist to bike two miles to a train station and disembark at a flung location such as Doylestown or Delaware. It offered for the first time true regional mobility for those who could not or chose not to travel by car.

This victory opened up a deliberate campaign to make the rest of the extensive regional public transportation network bike compatible including the SEPTA bus fleet, NJ TRANSIT and PATCO. While bikes on transit is now standard practice in most of the country, the big old transit systems in the Northeast US continue to resist, and I have doubts to this day that SEPTA would have ever allowed bikes on trains or buses without the constant pressure from the Bicycle Coalition. Our credit for this victory is undisputed.

The second was in 1995 when the city applied for and was awarded 3 million dollars to develop and implement the citywide bicycle network. This resulted in a planned 300 mile network of bike lanes and trails. Of the original 300 miles of bike lanes more than 200 miles were built, along with nearly 1000 bike racks and 2000 share the road signs. Looking at the other bicycle and pedestrian plans around the region none of them have been implemented to the degree that this plan was (which by the way was never coalesced into an official planning document).

I hear from critics of the bike lane network within the bicycling community these days that it's worthless and doesn't take you anywhere. That school of thought has some some merit. Implementation and maintenance has been less than perfect and newer innovative bike facility designs are being rolled out in cities like Baltimore. But most of those critics don't recall when the Walnut Street Bridge, Columbus Blvd and Spring Garden Streets were shoulder-less, virtual expressways. In 1987 Bicycling Magazine named Philadelphia the worst city for bicycling in the country.

It's hard to say which victory has or will have the greatest impact. Geographically these transformations took place on a macro, meso and a micro level respectfully, but all have demonstrated that what was thought to be impossible can be made routine.

Bicycle Friendly Community Sign At Tacony Palmyra Bridge

Here is a blurry but official BFC sign on Levick and Keystone Streets in Tacony.


















A side note here, due to construction the walkway on the Tacony Palmyra Bridge was closed yesterday. But when that happens Burlington County Bridge Commission Police will happily take you to the other side free of charge.

Coburn/McCain Report Blast Bike Projects While LaHood Fires Back

Senators McCain and Coburn continue their anti-bike drivel in the Senate with the release of their report - Out of Gas: Congress Raids the Highway Trust Fund for Pet Projects While Bridges and Roads Crumble.

Nothing new here. The argument is that spending 2-5% of the total transportation budget on the two most basic modes of transportation is causing bridges to collapse. But in this report they specifically target PENNDOT for paving bike lanes on Route 6. My first thought on this was -"Wow PENNDOT's putting in bike lanes? How often does that happen?"

But as usual, bike lane projects always include a provision for a myopic local government official to deem them to be a waste of money. This time it's Lackawaxen Township Supervisor Rich Krochta “Some residents have pointed out that given the very deteriorated condition of Route 6 in many places where the new bike lanes will go, they may simply have to drive on the shoulders – a dangerous condition for cyclists, pedestrians and motorists alike.” As if having a smooth road with no shoulders or sidewalks is somehow safer for everyone. Route 6 by the way is designated as Bicycle PA Route Y.















Route 6 shoulder construction Photo: Pike County Press

But perhaps the biggest surprise was the swiftness with which Transportation Secretary Ray LaHood fired back on his In The Fast Lane blog. Alongside his argument to debunk the myths about "bike trails" was this statement:

We've worked hard this year to get our Recovery Act dollars out to the states quickly and effectively. Yes, some of those projects include bike paths, a key ingredient in our livability initiative to allow people to live, work, and get around without a car.

We don't call that waste; we call it progress.

It's an amazing post, and Ray LaHood is no Mary Peters. I Love this Guy!

Deputy Mayor Recommends Bike Lanes To Become Permanent

At tonight's Spruce and Pine Sts. bike lane meeting Deputy Mayor Rina Cutler announced that she will recommend to the Mayor that the bike lanes on Spruce and Pine become permanent. According to a report from KYW the lanes will be repaved next year and there is a possibility that the lanes will be colorized (probably green as recommended by the Federal Highway Administration). Navigational signage to direct people to and from the bike lanes will also be added.

The city reported that bike traffic increased between 65% and 100% while motor vehicle traffic dropped 11%. Motor vehicles speeds dropped slightly at less than 2mph.

Reminder: Spruce Pine Bike Lane Meeting Tonight!

The Planning Commission and Mayor's Office of Transportation is holding a public meeting on to deliver the results of the Spruce/Pine Bike Lane Pilot Project. We want to fill this meeting with supporters of the Spruce/Pine Bike lanes. Please come to the meeting and hear about the results of this pilot program!

When: Thursday, December 10th from 6:30-8:30pm

Where: Levitt Auditorium, University of the Arts, 401 S. Broad Street

We need you there! Thanks

Vote for the Bicycle Coalition in Philebrity Award Poll

The Bicycle Coalition of Greater Philadelphia is among several groups nominated as "non-profit" of the year by Philebrity (a media, culture, and music blog).

For those of you have already voted for the Bicycle Coalition in the, Thank You!

For those of you who haven't yet, please take a second to do so! Just click on the picture or here.

We also encourage you to vote for the Next Great City as "Collaboration of the Year" and Isaiah Thompson for "General Excellence in Writing for a City Publication."

Thanks!

The Latest Road Violence

Perhaps muffled by the "The Great Bike Debate" there has been some horrific road violence in the past couple of weeks.

NY Islanders Brendan Witt hit by SUV making an illegal turn at 16th and Arch - Newsday (Apparently unhurt Witt is playing tonight, hockey players are a different breed).

12 Year Old Girl Dies in Port Richmond the car the child was riding in was rear-ended by a box truck at Cambria Street, police said. The girl was ejected and died instantly. - Philly.Com

54 Year Old Balwant Singh killed crossing State Road near Linden Ave in Torresdale - Philadelphia Inquirer

Woman killed in Elkins Park by a hit and run driver - Daily News

Three Children Hit By Car in Upper Darby - Channel 6

Rachel Jenkins, 20 sentenced 4.5 to 10 Years for killing Nicole Gallo, 19 in Upper Darby

Parking Authority Begins Photo Red Enforcement At City Hall

The Philadelphia Parking Authority began issuing tickets today to motor vehicles caught on camera running the Broad Street red lights on the North and South Sides of City Hall. Violators must pay a $100 fine, being caught running a red light with a camera is a citation and not a moving violation, so no points are issued to the owner of the vehicle (who may or may not be driving). In the past month the City Hall cameras have been averaging 100 warnings a day.

The PPA releases annual red light camera reports. From April 2009 to March 2009 there were nearly 93,000 citations with violators paying 8.8 million dollars to the Authority.

The Red Light Camera program has been criticized by some as a revenue generator for the Parking Authority but it is achieving its goal of reducing red light running, which nationally is responsible for 900 traffic deaths and 153,000 injuries. The first installation at Roosevelt Blvd and Grant Avenue in 2005 there were 3046 citations issued during March and April of 2005. In 2009 that number for the same time period was 378 an 87% decrease.

DRPA Commits to Ben Bridge Ramp

Yesterday's the Delaware River Port Authority (DRPA) put their 2010-2014 Capital Program into the sunshine on at a public meeting and on their website. Included in the year of 2012 is 3.2 Million Dollars for an ADA accessible ramp on the Camden side of the Ben Franklin Bridge (south walkway). Previous 5 year Capital Budget programs included the ramps but placed it in "Later Years", a category which serves as a placeholder for long term (and often unfunded) projects.

We commend DRPA for prioritizing the bridge walkway. We hope that design and construction happens in a timely manner. The Bicycle Coalition is willing and able to provide technical assistance and to promote public outreach of this important bi-state connection.













Is my morning bike schlep/cardio workout at risk? DRPA plans to replace these steps with a ramp in 2012.

Spruce/Pine Bike Lane Public Meeting on Thursday, December 10th

If you are want to send a message to Mayor Nutter and City Council that improving the City's street infrastructure to make it safer for all users should be a civic priority, then please come to the Planning Commission and Mayor's Office of Transportation's public meeting on the Spruce/Pine bike lanes. You will hear about the results of the Spruce/Pine Bike Lane Pilot Project. It's important that this meeting be attended by supporters of the Spruce/Pine Bike lanes and supporters of Philadelphia being bicycle-friendly city.

When: Thursday, December 10th from 6:30-8:30pm

Where: Levitt Auditorium, University of the Arts, 401 S. Broad Street

Please make the time to come to this important public meeting!

New Jersey's First Bike Summit on February 27th

On Saturday February 27th, 2010 from 8am to 4pm the New Jersey Bicycle Coalition in co-operation with the New Jersey Department of Transportation, will host the first New Jersey Bicycle Summit in at the Denville, NJ town hall.

View Larger Map For Directions (Driving and Transit)

Denville Town Hall. The location of the First NJ Bicycle Summit.

Featured speakers, at this time include:

• Andy Clarke, Executive Director of the League of American Bicyclists
• Tim Blumenthal, Executive Director of Bikes Belong
• Jeff Miller, President/CEO of the Alliance for Biking and Walking
• Invited Speaker, Sheree Davis, Pedestrian & Bicycle Coordinator for NJDOT

Summit attendance is limited to 130 so early registration is encouraged. The registration fee is $40 for non-NJBC members and includes a one-year membership in the Coalition (NJBC members may register for $25). Lunch is included in the registration fee.

This is a PRE-REGISTRATION ONLY Event!

DEADLINE FOR REGISTRATION IS 2/14/10 THERE WILL BE NO REGISTRATION AT THE DOOR

Getting There:

It is possible to get to Denville by train (or bus via the NY Port Authority) but it involves multiple transfers.

NJBC realizes that the location may not be convenient for South Jersey residents, as of now there are no plans yet but there may be opportunities for homestays. If demand exists BCGP may be arranging car pools for our members who wish to attend but not too keen on driving alone.

More info - http://njbikesummit.org

Daily News publishes counter point op-eds on Philly's Bicycle Debate

Editor's note: The Daily News today published two opinion-editorials; one by Councilman DiCicco on why he drafted the Registration legislation that he introduced on November 19th
and the second by the Bicycle Coalition's Executive Director Alex Doty. Although Councilman DiCicco concedes that his legislation might not be doable or the right solution to the problem, he nevertheless singles out "messengers and other professional cyclists" as a concern. Alex Doty stresses that calming the streets is going requires equitably enforcing rules of the road to all road users and bicyclists should not be singled out.

Posted on Mon, Dec. 7, 2009

The Bike Debate: It's really all about safety

By FRANK DiCICCO
Philadelphia Daily News

WHEN I introduced legislation requiring every bicycle to be registered, it certainly grabbed people's attention.

Considering the city's lagging economy and job loss, continued concerns over crime and our struggling public school system, I was surprised by the passionate and emotional response I received. E-mails and phone calls have poured in that range from questioning my intelligence and work ethic to failing to comprehend why I would raise the issue at all to praising me as a hero to pedestrians and motorists.

What has become clear since the introduction of this legislation is that motorists, cyclists and pedestrians have a dysfunctional relationship, and it is time to talk through our problems. This bill and the public dialogue that it's fostered is a good first step.

Pedestrians complain about cyclists on the sidewalk. Motorists worry about bikers swerving in and out of traffic and traveling the wrong way on one-way streets. Cyclists are frightened by aggressive, insensitive and clueless drivers.

Each of these groups has a right to be angry. Most of us know a cyclist who's been injured by an automobile. Most drivers are concerned that they will be blamed for a bicycle accident that may not be wholly their fault. We have all heard of the tragic collisions involving pedestrians and bikers.

It's time to deal with these fears and to address the very real problems surrounding bicycle safety.

Bicycle registration is an attempt, admittedly an awkward one, to do just that. By requiring that every bike be registered, whether with the Police Department or the Parking Authority, it would create a point of contact to educate all bikers. And registration might help enforcement agencies deal with and identify problem cyclists.

Registration could also be used as a tool against bike theft, similar to the voluntary registration program in place today.

But I also recognize the problems associated with this bill. Enforcement would be difficult, the fee structure may be onerous and it doesn't deal with the differences between recreational and commuter biking.

THIS PROPOSAL is not the be-all and end-all in dealing with bicycle safety. Some specific safety measures may have to be added. Registration could be limited to messengers or other professional cyclists, or it may need to be abandoned altogether (emphasis added). One way or another, all these issues will be resolved during the legislative process - which will include a public dialogue between all with concerns.

Some are making this conversation a "Motorist vs. Cyclist" debate. By doing so, they are hurting our ability to accomplish anything. These issues can't be addressed by an "us vs. them" attitude. Each side has valid points, and we must respect them. But it's time that we share responsibility for these problems and work together toward a solution.

City Councilman Frank DiCicco represents the 1st District.

The Bike Debate: Don't just blame the cyclists

By ALEX DOTY

CHAOS HAS reigned on Philadelphia's streets for too long.

In the free-for-all on Philly roadways, 204 motorists, 105 pedestrians and 12 bicyclists lost their lives in the last three years.

So I wholeheartedly agree with both Councilman DiCicco and Councilman Kenney that we need to take bold steps to make our streets - and sidewalks! - safer, even as I disagree with many particulars of what they've proposed.

Bicyclists who don't follow the law are contributing to traffic chaos. But you only have to spend an hour at almost any intersection in the city to see wild flouting of traffic laws by motorists, pedestrians and bicyclists alike.

Motorists routinely speed, double park, run red lights, fail to yield to pedestrians, disregard stop and yield signs.

Pedestrians jaywalk against red lights and cross midblock.

Bicyclists ride on sidewalks, against traffic and go through red lights - sometimes after pausing for the road to clear and sometimes not.

Bicyclists should be held to a high standard when it comes to following traffic laws - but not a higher standard. As the city cracks down on scofflaw bicyclists, it should also enforce traffic laws with motorists and even pedestrians.

The proposal to register bicyclists hasn't worked in other cities: Los Angeles; Washington, D.C.; Houston; Detroit; and Albuquerque, N.M.; and Minnesota and Massachusetts, have tried mandatory registration and dropped it because it was ineffective.

Councilman Kenney proposes revising fines for bicyclists. While fines without enforcement are meaningless, updating fines set many years ago makes sense.

But what doesn't make sense is for bicyclists' fines to be out of whack with those imposed on motorists.

For example, a driver running a red light is currently fined $119. The councilman proposes raising the fine for riding a bicycle on a sidewalk from $54 to $300. Bicyclists riding on the sidewalk pose no more danger than a motorist running a red light.

The problem is not a lack of laws - the problem is one of education, enforcement and engineering. It's startling how many bicyclists our "Bicycle Ambassadors" talk to who don't even know that riding on the sidewalk is illegal in Philadelphia. Enforcement of traffic laws has not been a priority of the city for a very long time.

In the end, the best way to get bicyclists off the sidewalk is to engineer streets so they feel safer on the roads.

The bike lanes on Spruce and Pine streets are a big step in the right direction. The Bicycle Coalition's initial counts indicate that bicyclists are choosing Spruce and Pine over other streets, decreasing conflicts with motorists and pedestrians on parallel streets.

We can look to New York City for ideas on how to tackle the problems of education, enforcement and engineering. From a major public outreach campaign to an innovative police system for tracking both crashes and traffic law enforcement to a growing network of separated bike lanes and reclaimed pedestrian plazas, New York has made big changes in just a few years.

ATTITUDES CAN change.

Twenty-five years ago, motorists disregarded parking rules and routinely ignored parking tickets. Today, motorists are more concerned about getting a parking ticket in Philadelphia than being stopped for a moving violation.

I look forward to the public dialogue begun by Councilmen DiCicco and Kenney that focuses on how to make our streets safer.

What we all have in common is the belief that the 92 people who died on Philadelphia roadways last year is simply too many.

Alex Doty is executive director of the Bicycle Coalition of Greater Philadelphia (www.bicyclecoalition.org).

Bike and Fly PHL

Philadelphia International joins an enlighted class of major airports that accommodate bicycles. After a long process PHL has finally installed bike racks at locations convenient for both airport employees and air passengers.

16 hitch 2 (staple) bike racks are installed in four locations and available for use as follows:

At Terminal A West there are 5 racks. These are located on the south commercial road next to the taxi holding area. These are not covered but are in a generally secure area with lots of taxi’s and related activity in the area.

Between the Terminal B baggage claim area and the back of the Marriot Hotel there are 3 racks located under the garage entrance ramp. These are covered by the ramp overpass.

At the north end of the Terminal D Regional Rail Platform entrance along the south commercial road there are 4 racks. These are covered and are in a generally secure area with a taxi/shuttle service coordinator’s booth next to them. These are probably the best positioned racks for use and security.

In the Airport employee parking lot off of Bartram Ave and 84th Streets adjacent to the employee shuttle bus access gate there are 4 staple racks. These already have bikes using them.



View Sports Complex and PHL Bike Parking in a larger map

Come to the Spruce/Pine Bike Lane Public Meeting!

The Planning Commission and Mayor's Office of Transportation is holding a public meeting on to deliver the results of the Spruce/Pine Bike Lane Pilot Project. We want to fill this meeting with supporters of the Spruce/Pine Bike lanes. Please come to the meeting and hear about the results of this pilot program!

When: Thursday, December 10th from 6:30-8:30pm

Where: Levitt Auditorium, University of the Arts, 401 S. Broad Street

Please mark your calenders and make the time to come to this important public meeting!

Update on PPA's parking meter retro-fit program

We received an update about the Parking Authority's meter retro-fit program from PPA and sources within the Administration.

1500 meters in Center City and University City will be retrofitted with circles fabricated by Creative Metalworks.

Once all the paperwork is worked out, the program should begin very shortly thereafter, at least by early January. It will finish by Spring 2010.

Bikes Belong Awards BCGP $10K For Schuylkill River Trail Campaign

The Bicycle Coalition of Greater Philadelphia has been awarded a $10,000 grant from Bikes Belong which will help complete the popular Schuylkill River Trail network. This high-profile campaign has also received funding from the William Penn Foundation, and will leverage more than $22 million in trail construction costs when the network is complete.

Bikes Belong is a national bicycle advocacy group sponsored by the Bicycle Industry whose mission is to put more people on bicycles more often.

Bicycle Coalition up for Philebrity Award

The Bicycle Coalition of Greater Philadelphia is among several nominated as "non-profit" of the year by the blog Philebrity. Philebrity is asking for people to vote, so Vote for the Bicycle Coalition! We also encourage you to vote for the Next Great City as "Collaboration of the Year" and Isaiah Thompson for "General Excellence in Writing for a City Publication." Thank you Philebrity!

Bicycle Coalition Staff on Philly.com chat

Starting at 1pm, Bicycle Coalition staff Sarah Clark Stuart, Breen Goodwin and John Boyle will be answering questions on philly.com chat.

Messenger Rally at Love Park, Inky Editorial and good news from Amanda Gillern

Messengers congregated at Love Park yesterday evening to call attention to the recently inflamed road rage against bicyclists that resulted in a hit and run against messenger Rachel Fletcher on Thanksgiving morning, and to declare their opposition to City Council's bills. Jorge Brito, the Philadelphia Bicycle Messenger Association spokesperson, spoke to over 100 messengers. A number of press outlets covered the event, including the Inquirer, NBC, Philadelphia Weekly, KWY, and Fox29

The messengers made their own video of the rally. Worth watching to hear their message.

The Inquirer also published a great editorial by cyclist Matthew Rascone about why registering bikes won't prevent "accidents" (crashes).

Great News! Amanda Gillern, who was hit by a cab this summer that fled the scene, just posted a message on the Bicycle Coalition's Facebook page that the cabbie was finally arrested.

Beauty and the Bike - Why British Girls Don't Cycle

Not all of Northern Europe is bicycle friendly. While cycling in the UK is 3 to 4 times higher than the United States (2-3% of trips) it is still well below the comfort threshold for young women. As one girl state's in Beauty and the Bike "It's not cool having a bike".



The film follows two groups of young women from Darlington UK and Bremen, Germany. Between them, they discover what makes - and stops - teenage girls from cycling. The full 55 minute DVD is available from www.bikebeauty.org