Nightmare Construction At Delaware and Frankford

Construction crews on Delaware Ave in front of the SugarHouse Casino in Fishtown have given bikes and pedestrians the boot onto Delaware Avenue. A "bike detour" that squeezes cyclists with vehicles traveling above 50 mph is hardly a "detour".



Intrepid cyclists pedal swiftly to merge with fast traffic on Delaware Avenue.




View Delaware and Frankford Detour in a larger map

A possible way to avoid the mess is to use 3rd to Girard and Columbia St.

PA Walk and Bike Summit in Harrisburg on May 4th

Join us in Harrisburg next Tuesday May 4th for the Second Pennsylvania Walk and Bike Summit.

That is also the day of Governor Rendell’s special session to address Transportation funding. Our presence helps remind them that walking and bicycling is part of the solution to our Transportation dilemma.

We will promote State Legislation that supports safe pedestrian and bicycle use throughout the state, promote starting the next round of Safe Routes to School funding, promote Complete Streets and more livable communities.

Last year 100 people attended the rally, this year we would like to see more participants at the steps of the capitol building.

Next week’s activities. More detail here PA Walks and Bikes:
 Monday 5:30PM night reception and briefing at the Harrisburg Comfort Inn Riverside. For those in the Safe Routes to School network, a chance to meet and share ideas.
 Tuesday
o 9AM Walk from Harrisburg’s City Island end of the bridge to the capital steps.
o 9AM Bike ride from the State Farm Center.
o 10AM the rally starts. State legislators, Executive Officers and walking and bicycling partners will share a few words in support of our efforts
o 11:30AM A catered lunch and opportunity to meet each other; briefing for the afternoon legislative meetings and activities
o 4-ish An on-your-own get together at a local spot (place tbd) to ‘unwind’

Please visit the PA Walks and Bikes website and register to participate in the 2nd Annual PA Walk and Bike Summit.

PA Walks and Bikes is a new advocacy organization working to make walking and bicycling safer and better across PA and major sponsors of the Walk and Bike Summit.

Newark, DE Receives a Bicycle Friendly Community Award

Congratulations to Newark Delaware for becoming the first community in the First State to receive a Bicycle Friendly Community Award-Bronze Level. You can read the details on the Bike Delaware Blog.

Pennsylvania did well this round with our peers in Pittsburgh and rural Franklin, PA added to the list of Bronze Level recipients. New Jersey entrants are still not making the grade with one community Montclair earning Honorable Mention status. I am still waiting for Ocean City to throw its hat into the ring.

Bicyclists (and other Off-Peak riders) Will See A Steep Price Increase on NJ TRANSIT

Planning on going on the Five Borough Bike Tour on Sunday? Are you taking NJ TRANSIT? Remember when taking SEPTA and NJ TRANSIT to New York City was a bargain?

Buy your ticket Today April 30 and the off-peak round trip from Trenton to New York City will cost you $21.50. Buy your ticket tomorrow and the cost escalates to $31, a 44% increase. When you add in the $15 - $18 SEPTA round trip fares the price closes in on $50.

There are other options-The RiverLINE with on board bike racks, 30 minute service intervals and the $1.50 fare from Camden to Trenton offers more flexibility for cyclists, but the PATCO connection or a bridge bike ride adds 30-40 minutes to the trip from Center City. Chinatown buses accept bicycles but it might not be the most comfortable ride. My pick would be the Bolt Bus which offers Wi-Fi and $13 one way fares.

New Jersey Transit has hiked up fares 68% since 2000. Yet the state gas tax, 3rd lowest in the nation has not changed since 1988. New Jersey is the Nations most congested state where NONE of the Counties meets federal clean air standards, but the current administration has sent a clear signal that it has no intention to resolve pollution and congestion problems by reducing Vehicle Miles Traveled (VMT).

Suburban Bicycle Routes Update

I went out today to look at the progress is being made on the three suburban bike routes.



















In Delaware County the signage on Bicyclists Baltimore west of South Avenue appears to be in place. There are no indications of on-road markings. Regardless, navigational signs for this complex route are a welcome sight.

















Meanwhile on Susquehanna Road in Abington and Lower Dublin Townships in Montgomery County chalkmarks for bike stencils have appeared on wider sections of the road. This indicates to me that bike lane markings will be placed there.

I wasn't able get out to Old Baltimore Pike in Chester County, but I would appreciate any photos or updates if you have them. All three suburban bike route projects are scheduled to be completed by June 1.

Toll Bridge Commission OK's Scudder Falls Bridge Bike/Ped Path

The Trenton Times and PhillyBurbs.com report that the Delaware River Joint Toll Bridge Commission announced on Monday that a bicycle and pedestrian path will be included on the nine lane Scudder Falls Bridge.

Using our original blog post as the start point, the public campaign to add a pathway lasted 2329 Days or 6 Years 4 Months and 16 Days. The Commission received at least 170 action letters sent through the Bicycle Coalition's Scudder Falls webpage .  1505 people signed the petition online and nearly 200 signed in person.

"The bicycle-pedestrian facility was easily the topic that received the most comments during the public hearing process we conducted late last year and early this year," said Frank G. McCartney, executive director of the commission as quoted in the Times of Trenton.

Many thanks to the Delaware River Joint Toll Bridge Commission and those who supported our campaign including Congressman Patrick Murphy, Congressman Rush Holt, PA State Rep. Santasiero, Ewing Township Council and the Lower Makefield Township Board of Supervisors.

This is not just a victory for bridge, its another example of retooling the Interstate Highway to function as complete streets. There are many bridges built to Interstate Standards such as the Betsy Ross and Commodore Barry Bridges that one day will have to be rebuilt. I-95 is a local demonstration that this can and should be done with every urban/suburban bridge project.

Of course nothing is set in stone until it is set in stone, and environmental impacts, tolling and two years of final design are still issues that the commission has to deal with. We will continue to work with the Toll Bridge Commission to ensure that the new Scudder Falls Bridge has a bicycle and pedestrian pathway across its span when opens later in the decade.

Bikes Not Welcome At the West Oak Lane Jazz Festival

One of Northwest Philadelpia's largest events-the West Oak Lane Jazz and Arts Festival strongly urges people not to drive to the Festival on Ogontz Avenue. In fact organizers are setting up several shuttles to the event as there is no on site parking permitted. It also strongly recommends that festival participants use public transportation.

One mode of travel that is not welcomed onsite is bicycles. Indeed it's included in the list of what not to bring right under firearms. I suppose you could find a signpost a block away (bike racks are very scarce). But the festival planners should have maximized their travel options to the event by setting up a bike parking station with Neighborhood Bike Works, given the enormous expense of running shuttles on at least three different routes for three days, setting up a bike parking station would have been a bargain.

Interestingly enough is that less than ten years ago the Streets Department took on fierce local opposition and performed a road diet on Ogontz Avenue, reducing the number of lanes from 4 to 3 and included bike lanes. Other great streets for bicycling lead into the area including Mansfield Ave from East Mount Airy, 66th Avenue from East Oak Lane and finally Upsal St from West Mount Airy, Roxborough and the Wissahickon bikeway.

Please RSVP for the 2010 BCGP Annual Membership Meeting

First 100 people who RSVP receive dinner! Please RSVP here.

Join fellow Bicycle Coalition members at our 2010 Annual Membership Meeting next weekend to celebrate a great year for bicycling!

Jeff Miller, Executive Director of the Alliance for Biking and Walking, will be on hand to present us with the Advocacy Organization of the Year Award, the proposed bike plan will be on display, and you can meet -- and vote for -- new board members.

The Annual Meeting will be held on Sunday May 2, 2010, 5-8pm at the 1st Unitarian Church, 2125 Chestnut Street, Philadelphia, PA 19103.


5pm Food (Provided to the first 100 people who RSVP)

• Soup and Garden Salad provided by Almo Zuppe: Soup, Better.
• Beer provided by Philadelphia Brewing Company

6pm Program

• Presentation by Alex Doty on how far bicycling has come in the Delaware Valley and future directions
• Featured Speaker, Jeff Miller, Executive Director of the Alliance for Bicycling and Walking
• Screening of Philadelphia Velib Film
• Board of Directors Elections

Free Valet Bicycle Parking by Neighborhood Bike Works

Music provided by Jubel Jenkins, a West Philly country swing band

If you are not yet a member of the Bicycle Coalition, you can join at the Annual Meeting or sign up online here.

PA Walks And Bikes is Hiring an Executive Director

JOB TITLE: Executive Director

START DATE:
As soon as possible

PURPOSE AND GENERAL DESCRIPTION
PA Walks & Bikes was formed in March of 2008 to create healthy, sustainable communities
across Pennsylvania by making bicycling and walking safer, more convenient and more
enjoyable. In our first year, we organized Pennsylvania’s first Biking and Walking Summit,
worked with national, state, regional and local organizations to promote pro bicyclist and
pedestrian legislation and policies, received a grant to establish and lead a statewide network of
Safe Routes to School programs, recruited 200 dues-paying members and were awarded a
$30,000 Alliance for Biking and Walking start up grant.

REPORTING RELATIONSHIPS AND WORK ENVIRONMENT

• The Executive Director, reporting to the Board of Directors, will lead that growth and organizational building, adding staff and programs as funding allows.
• The Executive Director will be expected to spend several days a month working in Harrisburg.
• There will be travel across Pennsylvania as well as to national conferences and meetings. The job can be based at the offices of the Bicycle Coalition of Greater Philadelphia, in Harrisburg or elsewhere in Pennsylvania.

DUTIES AND RESPONSIBILITIES

• Fundraising and development via membership programs, and by harvesting major donors, sponsors, and grants - as well as exploring new funding venues
• Leading the PA Safe Routes to School network to bring together advocacy groups, government agencies, and other leaders to improve policies and promote local programs
• Establishing and harvesting relationships with local, regional, state, and national legislative and government executives and with complementary organizations
• Representing and promoting the interests of Pennsylvania walkers and bicyclists on state and national legislative issues
• Developing statewide awareness and communications via the website, social media and press relationships
• Meeting the goals as jointly agreed to by the Executive Director and the Board

ESSENTIAL QUALIFICATIONS

• Self-starter and interested in leading and growing this nonprofit organization
• Ability to communicate effectively with people of all ages, abilities, cultural groups, economic status or sexual orientation
• Passion for active modes of transportation and motivation to share that passion with others

APPLICATIONS
Candidates should write a cover letter explaining why they consider themselves suited for the
job, a resume of qualifications and relevant experience.

Please email applications to:
pawalkbike@gmail.com

Applications will be considered until the position is filled, with priority given to applications
received by May 5

I Have a Dream of Taking Back MLK Drive

Martin Luther King Drive, a park road running through the gem of Philadelphia's park system that has become a throughway. MLK Drive's car-oriented design has lead to:

• Excessive speeding by motorists through an active recreation area
• Difficult-to-cross intersections with roads leading up to West Fairmount Park
• Narrowing of the "trail" to less than five feet crossing the MLK Bridge

Speeding on MLK Drive has taken it's toll on our youngest bicyclists. On May 13th, 2006, six-year Old Riley Boyle was killed by an elderly women who slammed into the "closed road" swing gates at 50 miles per hour. Three years later on May 21, 2009, a father and his 4-year-old son on a bicycle and "tag-along" were severely injured when crossing MLK Drive at the mid-block crosswalk below the Art Museum. They were struck by a fast moving SUV driver who veered left into the center "pedestrian refuge" island to avoid the car that had stopped at the crosswalk to let the bicyclists cross.  Following that crash, the Streets Department take measures to make the crosswalk safer, culminating with signal lights in November 2009.  

I have a dream that one day MLK Drive will be taken back for the people. Where one can bicycle safely on the road 24 hours a day 7 days a week. It's slower moving, with bike lanes, two lanes of traffic, a center strip of greenery and a sidepath that is free of tree roots and debris for those choose to ride or stroll the riverside path.



















I have a dream that I can take my children to the Please Touch Museum, the Philadelphia Zoo, the Japanese House and all the other great attractions of West Fairmount Park without playing chicken with the free flowing traffic turning right off the Sweet Briar Cut Off.

It's just a dream, but if we all work together we can take it back. Visit our I Have a Dream of Taking Back MLK Drive Facebook Page and share your vision and ideas for taking back Philly's MLK Drive so that it can become a safe  park road.

Does the Inquirer News Page Strike Of Irony? Or Just a Windshield View of Life?

Some Bicycle Coalition members spotted these adjacent articles on Page B3 of Today's Philadelphia Inquirer.
























A Philadelphia Police Officer was repeatedly reprimanded for dyeing her hair the wrong color while a Lower Merion Police was not pulled off patrol duty for running over a bicyclist. The victims injuries were severe enough to require a helicopter evacuation to Hospital of the University of Pennsylvania.

The article reports that the Police Officer was pulling out of a parking space in front of the Toyota Dealership and hit a westbound cyclist. However another article in the Main Line Times explains that the bicyclist was crossing the street. Photos show the bike under the front bumper.

A notable quote in the Inquirer story from Sgt. Gene Pasternak of the Lower Merion Police Traffic Safety Unit. "We wouldn't take an officer off the street unless it was something really serious,"

While I wait and hope for Sgt. Pasternak to retract his gaffe, it's unlikely that any resolution will come out of the investigation. If this incident happened in Amsterdam or Stockholm or maybe even Portland law enforcement would be obligated take a hard look at exactly what happened and look at ways to fix the causes. Pennsylvania traffic law lacks protections specifically geared toward vulnerable road users, this results in most car-bicycle crashes being treated as"accidents". Not very serious at all.


View Larger Map

Lancaster Ave in front of the Toyota Dealership is far from bike friendly. The travel lanes are so far to the right that it tempts nervous westbound cyclists to bike the wrong way while the angle parking makes bicycling dangerous for the eastbound riders as well.

Complete the Schuylkill River Trail Presentation Tonight in Jenkintown

BCGP Campaign Director Sarah Clark Stuart will be presenting the campaign to Complete the Schuylkill River Trail, with an update on the recent TIGER grant. This is a great opportunity to view the presentation and talk about bicycle advocacy with Sarah if you live in Eastern Montgomery County or in the upper reaches of the city.

Thursday, April 22, 2010, 7 PM
Jenkintown Library
460 Old York Road, Jenkintown, PA


View Larger Map

Making Bikes Count Part 2 - A History Of Bicycle Counts

If You Don't Count Bikes Then Bikes Don't Count. But who will do the counting?

The Bicycle Coalition began to fill the bike count void in 1990 prior to opening of the Walnut St Bridge. Volunteers took counts on the bridges that cross the Schuylkill River - South, Market, JFK, Chestnut and Walnut. The counts were simple Bicycle and Pedestrian user counts that could be accomplished with a hand held counter. No reports were ever generated from the data but they do serve as a baseline for our modern counts.

In 1999 for the Bicycle Network project the RBA Group produced a report that conducted 3 hour counts at 6 locations throughout the city that took place in April 1998. The purpose was to get a before bike lanes count with the hopes that the city would conduct after counts. The 1990 and 1998 counts provided a reference for our later counts and enable us to observe the trend in bicycling since then.

In early September 2001 Cartographer Steve Spindler pulled out his new digital camera and took date-time stamped photos of cyclists at 18th and JFK for 90 minutes. Not only was he able to count bikes but also he counted gender and how many cyclists were wearing helmets. It provided a start point for our bike count methodology as shown in the form below.

Counts are done over 90 minute periods and broken down into 15 minute intervals. At each intersection we do two AM counts (7:30 - 9:00) and two PM counts (4:30 - 6:00). Usually in dry weather for control purposes. We only count people riding bikes and they are counted as they approach the intersection. So a bicyclist riding on Broad St and then turning onto Chestnut is counted as a bicyclist on Broad St.




















Between 2001 and 2004 we conducted counts at random intersections throughout Center City. Finally in 2005 Central Philadelphia TMA contracted with the BCGP to count bicycles at 18 locations for their annual report, a task that we repeated in 2006. The summaries from those reports suggested that since 1990 bicycling was increasing at a rate of about 6% a year. By 2008 we collected enough data to release our first comprehensive bike count analysis - "Double Dutch - Bicycling Jumps in Philadelphia" which concluded that bicycling increased 104% from 2005 to 2008.

From April 26th to April 30th we will be taking our first 2010 bicycle counts for the Spring if you are interested in helping us making bike counts send an email to bikecounts@bicyclecoalition.org

Remember your Trail Etiquette!

Over on the BikePHL Blog, the Bicycle Ambassadors are reminding us all to remember our Trail Etiquette. We all need to make sure everyone is able to have an enjoyable -and safe!- trail experience by following these tips for Trail Etiquette:

Etiquette for Cyclists

• Be courteous- trails are for all users!
• Keep right (except to pass)
• Ring a bell or politely call out "on your left" when passing
• Give ample room when passing, even if that involves slowing down until that is possible
• Keep your speed down, enjoy the view, and keep an eye out for posted speed limits
  
• Stay single file during busy times
• Yield right-of-way to other trail users- remember that runners and pedestrians are more vulnerable trail users
  

Etiquette for All Users

• Keep right, walk no more than two abreast
• Stay alert, faster trail users need to pass
• When stopped, step off the trail
• Keep dogs on a leash and clean up after your dog
• Share the trail; be considerate of all users

Read more about trail etiquette at the BikePHL blog, and offer your suggestions for other aspects of trail etiquette!

You can pick up a copy of the Bicycle Coalition's Trail Etiquette handout, or download it from our website. And don't forget to Invite the Bicycle Ambassadors to an event or to teach a class!

Public Meetings on Draft Bike/Ped Plan for Philadelphia

Today and tomorrow, the Philadelphia City Planning Commission will unveil its draft Pedestrian/Bicycle Plan at two Open Houses.  The full plan with recommended new policies and maps of proposed bike lanes is not yet online, but a two pager of "Vision, Goals, and Measures" is available to review.

Please come to one of the two Open Houses to learn more about what is envisioned for how Philadelphia will improve bicycle and pedestrian "facilities" throughout South Philadelphia, Center City, Lower and Upper North Philadelphia, and Northwest (see map of the study area for this phase of the plan; other parts of Philadelphia will be evaluated in a second and third phase during 2010.)

The plan will be open for public comment until May 11th.  You can email comments on the proposed plan.

April 19th, 6:30 PM - William Penn Charter School - 3000 West School House Lane, East Falls

April 20th, 6:30 PM - One Parkway, 1515 Arch Street, Room 18022, Center City

Dedication to Safety

The dedication ceremony for new bike racks at the airport tomorrow got me thinking about the contrasting attitudes of regulators for airplanes as opposed to motor vehicles.

European regulators have no qualms about shutting down air travel – at a cost of well over $200 million a day – for a volcanic ash threat that they readily admit has not been adequately studied and has never caused a fatality.

Compare those actions to the inadequate response to other threats to travelers’ lives:

• Texting while driving increases crash risk by up to 22 times
• Talking on the phone (even hands-free) increases crash risk by 8 times
• (In contrast, driving at the legal blood alcohol limit increases crash risk by 11 times)

Can you imagine regulators shutting down all cell phone towers near highways until we figure out how to control these well-studied risks?

Join The Friends of the Chester Valley Trail

The Friends of the Chester Valley Trail is an advocacy group that supports the development and use of the Chester Valley Trail. Meetings are held monthly with the next one scheduled for Tuesday:

April 20, 2010
7:00pm - 8:30pm
West Whiteland Township Building, Public Conference Room, #106
101 Commerce Dr., Exton, PA

You can follow The Friends of the Chester Valley Trail on Facebook which is offering up to date photos on the progress of construction as well as reports from those already using the unfinished trail.

Making Bikes Count Part 1 – A Dearth of Data

“If you don't count bikes then bikes don't count” - BCGP Secretary Dennis Winters.




















Traffic data - Our major transportation agencies PENNDOT, NJ DOT, Streets Department, DRPA all know how many motor vehicles use their roads. They can measure traffic trends, and determine how many vehicles are turning when and where. Transit agencies like SEPTA track ridership data for every bus and train trip. This data is required so the resources to manage and maintain our transportation system are allocated in the fairest and most efficient manner.

But where is the data for bicycle traffic? Transportation planners and engineers make decisions every that effect the ease and safety of bicycle and pedestrian travel, but amazingly the comprehensive transportation databases maintained by the regional transportation providers contains almost no bicycle and pedestrian travel data. I learned early on as a bicycle advocacy volunteer that the lack of data often yielded the assumption that no one bicycles.

With the lack of cooperation from Transportation Departments bicycle and pedestrian advocates have been left on their own to look for ways to collect and analyze data. Over the past several years and with very limited funding the Bicycle Coalition has monitored bicycle trips with counts as far north as Spring Garden St, as far south as Christian as far west as 38th and as far east as the Ben Franklin Bridge. On the pedestrian side the Center City District counts pedestrians annually between the hours of 11 and 2.

We are not alone in our efforts. The National Bicycle and Pedestrian documentation Project a joint effort of Alta Planning & Design and the Institute of Transportation Engineers (ITE) Pedestrian and Bicycle Council. The project is unfunded relying on volunteers to collect data but it has developed a simple methodology to standardize counts.

Meanwhile computer traffic models are finally being improved to estimate traffic volumes and demand. DVRPC recently announced that future Center City cordon line counts will include bicycle and pedestrian traffic. That means that every block that bicyclists entering Center City will be counted during the rush hours. We hope that the next federal transportation authorization bill will require Departments of Transportation to count bicyclists and pedestrians.

In the meantime the Bicycle Coalition will do its best to count bicycles, making sure that bicycles and bicyclists count.

Coming Up in Making Bikes Count Part 2 - The Bicycle Coalition Get’s Busy. A history of BCGP Bicycle Counts.

SEPTA Silverliner V Cars On Display

SEPTA Silverliner V
Originally uploaded by Philly Bike Coalition

SEPTA has put the new Silverliner V cars on display on Track 0 at Suburban Station.

The cars are scheduled to go in service this fall with better bike access. No rolling down the aisles with these cars. Bikes will be stored in the accessible area both of them directly across from one another.

There is one glitch that we will be asking SEPTA to fix - no tie downs to hold the bike in place and no "bikes go here" signage.

The cars will be on display until tomorrow from 11am - 6pm.

Pier 53 Park Public Meeting on April 26

PIER 53 PARK: A Sustainable Ecological Approach to Park Design The Delaware River Waterfront Corporation (DRWC) plans to develop a unique and attractive green public space that will invite people to the riverfront at Pier 53. Pier 53 is located at the foot of Washington Street and is adjacent to the new temporary riverfront path near the Philadelphia Fire Department's Marine Unit.

A public meeting will be held so that will allow interested parties to interact with the design team

Monday April 26th

6:30 - 8:30PM

Sheetmetal Workers Union Hall

1301 South Columbus Blvd.

RSVP to Alice Edgerton 215-988-8790 or aedgerton@pennhort.org

PMBA "Rally in the Valley" Festival and Fundrasier this Saturday!

The Philadelphia Mountain Biking Association (PMBA) will hold its fourth annual "Rally in the Valley" on Saturday, April, the 17th in the Wissahickon Valley Park. As always, this year's event will be a day of fun and excitement for all levels of riders. The Bicycle Coalition will be out there too, so stop by our table and say hello!

The "Rally in the Valley" is an event that brings together mountain bikers, families, local bike shops, and PMBA's supporters. This year's event will have a festival-like atmosphere with food, fun rides, time-trial challenges, friendly competitions, bike handling clinics, music, and door prizes. Funds raised from this event support trail maintenance days in the Wissahickon Valley park, in addition to mountain bike clinics held throughout the spring, summer and fall.

As in the first 3 annual events, REI is contributing in a huge way, with complimentary on-site technical assistance for all participants and lots of goodies for our "give-a-way" door prize event. TEMPLE UNIVERSITY has stepped up BIG TIME with support to PMBA for the Rally! Also, Cannondale is donating a mountain bike through their dealer Keswick Cycle, and Fuji is donating a 29er bike through Bucks County Bicycle. Princeton Tec has donated lights and many other sponsors are pitching in to make it a great day! You can win passes to Blue Mountain Vertical Earth gravity park too!

Get ready for the new event: "The Monster Climb" - who's going to take the trophy for the fastest climb up this huge hill!?!?

For the past 3 years the "Rally in the Valley" has drawn over 250 riders with over 60 volunteers providing support. Rain or Shine, PMBA welcomes you to be part of this incredible day.

Event hours: 8:00am - 2:00pm (This is a rain or shine event.)
Registration hours: 7:30am - 10:00am.
Registration and parking at Northwestern Ave near Chestnut Hill College (W Northwestern Ave, 19118). You can register online, too!

Click Here for MORE info & pics from 2009

Download the PDF Flyer

Philadelphia's Bike/Ped Plan To Be Unveiled

Interested in knowing which Philadelphia streets may get new bike lanes?  Or what new policies the City is considering to improve biking and walking?  Learn about and provide your comments on the new draft Pedestrian/Bicycle Plan drafted by the Philadelphia City Planning Commission at two "Open Houses" on April 19th and 20th.  This is a golden opportunity to weigh in on the blueprint that will guide how Philadelphia improves bicycling and walking over the next ten years.

The draft Ped/Bike Plan has two components:


1) Maps of proposed bike lanes and other facilities to improve and better connect the City's bike lane network and of proposed areas that need improved sidewalks in South Philadelphia, Center City and, North and Northwest Philadelphia.

2) Sixteen recommendations for new city-wide policies, including:

• Bike parking 
• Bikeway Network Design
• Bicycle Treatment at Intersections
• Bicycle Access on Transit
• Construction Disruption
• Management of Sidewalk Obstructions
• Bikeway Network Maintenance
• Bicycle Detours
• Crash Reporting
• Pedestrian and Bicycle Counts
• Bikes in Buildigns
• Education
• Encouragement 
• Enforcement 

April 19th, 6:30 PM - William Penn Charter School - 3000 West School House Lane, East Falls

April 20th, 6:30 PM - One Parkway, 1515 Arch Street, 18th Floor, Center City

PHL International Airport Bike Racks Dedication and Ride 4/19

Now you can wear your I Bike PHL shirt and really mean it!

A series of 16 new bicycle racks have been installed at five locations at the Philadelphia International Airport (PHL). The locations of these bike racks are: the Employee Parking Lot bus entrance area on Bartram Ave, Terminal A West adjacent to the Taxi Holding Lot, behind the Marriot Hotel under the B-C Garage entrance ramp, at the Terminal D entrance to the Multipurpose Lot, and adjacent to the Philadelphia Parking Authority administration building.

All of these bike racks are for use by Airport Employees and the public has access to the Terminal A West, Marriot Hotel and Terminal D bicycle racks during their visits to the airport.

There will be a Bike Rack Dedication Ceremony at the Terminal D bike rack location at 1:00 PM on 19 April 2010 during the Airport's Earth Week Celebration. This location is adjacent to SEPTA’s R1 Regional Rail Airport Terminal D platform.

For anyone interested in riding to this event, a group of cyclists will be leaving from the SEPTA R1 Eastwick Train Station at 12:30 PM, stopping at the front door of International Plaza Building 2 at 12:40 PM, and ending at the Airport Terminal D platform bike rack location just prior to the Dedication Ceremony.

Explore the Schuylkill River Trail and find what lies just beyond.

Your ride starts on Philadelphia’s historic Boathouse Row and continues for a day of biking on the family-friendly Schuylkill River Trail. Ride as far as Valley Forge or turn around any place you choose.

Looking for a ride that’s more challenging? Choose the 35-mile, hilly route on shared roads that returns on the trail.

Your registration includes:

• a keepsake trail map for a summer of exploring what lies just beyond
• snacks at four rest stops along the way
• mechanics to help with bike problems (should the arise)
• volunteers to cheer you on your way (or even give you a ride back!)

Your registration supports the Bicycle Coalition work on the Complete the Schuylkill River Trail Campaign – a campaign to complete nine missing segments of the trail project in the Delaware Valley.

Sign up in advance and save!
http://www.bicyclecoalition.org/

Courteous Mass is Tomorrow!

This is just a reminder that Philadelphia's first-ever (as far as we know) Courteous Mass will be help tomorrow, Saturday April 10th, starting at 10am. Meet at the entrance to the Schuylkill Trail and Locust (about 25th and Locust), where the route will be given out. The ride will be about an hour.

RSVP on Facebook. Don't forget to let your friends know, too!

Remember that Courteous Mass is an effort to change the tone of recent debates about bicycling and bicyclists in Philadelphia, and Bicyclists who join this ride are asked obey the rules of the road.

We know there are many conflicts for tomorrow morning. If the ride is a success tomorrow, we will be planning others in different neighborhoods in the future.

Solving Transportation Funding By Eliminating "Bike Trails"

Here we go again. Another leaky think tank has offered the sacrificial lamb that will solve our transportation woes. We've heard it before from the Former Transportation Secretary Mary Peters, The Heritage Foundation and even AAA MidAtlantic. This time it is the Commonwealth Foundation spewing the anti-bike rhetoric.

"Funding for our transportation needs will be found in redirecting spending on bike trails, beautification efforts, corporate welfare, hockey arenas, convention centers, film producers, lobbyists, and the like, and putting that money toward filling potholes, building roads and retrofitting bridges."

Now wait a minute - bike trails are up there with Corporate Welfare? Can't argue with that.

Let's start with a lesson on bicycle facilities, there is no such thing as a "bike trail". It is a layman's term that is used generally for any type of facility that accommodates bicycle traffic. A signed bike route= bike trail, bike lane= bike trail, multi-use path= bike trail.

But let's look at the real impact of bicycle facilities on the transportation budget, our region is finally spending some real money here and almost all of it federal funding. Such as the the $17 million TIGER Grant in PA and $5 million for the Chester Valley Trail.

Compare that to:

• I-95 rebuild from Cottman to Girard $2 Billion
• US 202 rebuild from Doylestown to the Delaware State Line $1-2 Billion
• I-95 Scudder Falls Bridge $300 Million
• I-95 PA Turnpike Interchange - $600 Million

I could go on an on, in fact according to DVRPC the funding gap between regional transportation needs and available sources is $45 Billion. Without action this gap will widen simply because gas tax revenue will continue to decline with fuel efficient vehicles and flat traffic growth.

You know maybe spending nothing on transportation could be an option, I'll miss the smooth roads and the Chilean fruit that can't be delivered to my local Wal-Mart but nothing reduces traffic on a road like a closed bridge that bikes can cross. Eventually every road would become a "bike path".

April Volunteer Night is Tomorrow (4/7): Outreach Volunteer Training and Letter Stuffing

Have you ever dreamed of becoming a Bicycle Ambassador, without the full-time commitment? Well now you can, by becoming one of the Bike Coalition's dedicated "Outreach Volunteers".

If you are interested in helping to educate and encourage Philadelphians about our mission to promote bicycling in the region, while also honing your own outreach skills, please join us for volunteer night on April 7th at 6:30pm (6:15 for refreshments)!

Education Director Breen Goodwin, along with former Bicycle Ambassadors, will train you the basics of being an Outreach Volunteer. We will teach you how to engage people in conversation, talk about the Bicycle Coalition's mission and work, and encourage people to become members.

We ask that our Outreach Volunteers sign up to assist with at least 3 events over the course of the year.

Volunteers will also be needed for stuffing envelopes for an upcoming membership appeal, so even if you're not an aspiring Bicycle Ambassador, please join us on April 7th!

Schedule:
6:15pm- Arrive for food and drink
6:30pm- Introductions
6:45pm- Outreach training and envelope stuffing
8:15pm- Wrap-up
644:15
Pizza and drinks provided. Please RSVP by emailing events@bicyclecoalition.org.

This could be you!!!

Why are you a member of the Bike Coalition?

The Bicycle Coalition of Greater Philadelphia wants to hear your feedback:

Why do you support the Bicycle Coalition? What made you decide
to become a member?

Post below, on our facebook page, or email maria@bicyclecoalition.org. We appreciate your feedback!

Enjoy a Mini Vacation on the Schuylkill River/Perkiomen Trail network

On Monday April 5th the Bicycle Coalition will be opening registration for Bike Freedom Valley.

This year each rider will receive a commemorative map that highlights appealing historic sites, popular shops and eateries, and other places of interest along the trail. On your next ride, take the map and go exploring!

And there is a lot of trail to explore. According to Google's Biking Directions the trip from 25th and Locust in Center City and the Green Lane Reservoir is 45.3 miles, with an estimated travel time of 4 hours and 11 minutes . But is it all about riding out and back? What if you wanted to bike the sites at Valley Forge, browse the boutique shops in Skippack Village or fly though the trees on a zip line canopy tour at Spring Mountain.

Fortunately there are several places to stay for every budget, here are some suggestions for places to stay during your extended visit. This list is not exhaustive and we don't endorse any of these lodgings except that they are either adjacent to the trail or there is a reasonably comfortable road connection to the location. Please add your suggestion for other places to stay in the comments section.

Camping in Green Lane County Park

You can camp at the north end of the Perkiomen Trail. The campground has 39 sites and is managed by Montgomery County Parks. A best bet if you plan on making the 90 mile round trip.

Hotels - If your carrying plastic instead of a tent:

• Hampton Inn - Oaks - About a mile off the trail, roads have variable traffic conditions depending on the time of day but it's OK most of the time and it is very quiet on weekend mornings. (Directions)
• Residence Inn - Conshohocken just a short jog over the RR tracks from the trail on the river. Convenient to the SEPTA R6 Conshohocken Station.
• Courtyard By Marriott Collegeville - One mile from the Perkiomen Trail via Arcola Rd and College Drive. Arcola Rd has bike lanes and College Drive has light non rush hour traffic. (Directions)

Staying in Phoenixville

Phoenixville is enjoying a downtown renaissance. Located 2 miles from the Schuylkill River Trailhead on Port Providence Rd and served by SEPTA buses, Phoenixville will likely become popular with cyclists once the Trail is finished in Chester County.

• Morning Star Bed and Breakfast - Located in a residential area of Phoenixville (Directions)
• Mainstay Inn - In the the heart of downtown. (Directions)

Spring Mountain Zip Line Canopy Tours @ Yahoo! Video

Spring Is In The Air- Can You Help New Bicyclists Ride Safely?

As you've probably noticed (especially if you're near a window to stare out of) the weather is gorgeous, and along spring has brought out a huge number of bicyclists -many of them new riders- trying to take in the sun during their commute or for recreation.

Over on the BikePHL blog, the Bicycle Ambassadors are encouraging everyone to spread the message of bicycle safety and encouragement to your friends and acquaintances! Remind them to follow the rules of the road and ride with traffic, or pick up a few copies of our "Guide To Biking in Philly" and hand them out!

Read more at BikePHL.org! And don't forget to RSVP for Philadelphia's 1st-ever Courteous Mass on Saturday, April 10th.

Free Bike Parking At The Cherry Blossom Festival

April 11th is great reason to take advantage of a car-free MLK drive as it is Sakura Sunday, a celebration of traditional Japanese Culture at the Subaru Cherry Blossom Festival in Fairmount Park.














While drivers will be paying $10 to park and bus riders will be paying$3 bicyclists can park on the Horticultural Center grounds for free. Google Maps Bicycling Directions estimates that the trip by bicycle from Center City is 30 minutes or less. Probably competitive with the bus ride from Broad and Sansom if you add in the wait.

Best of all is that you will get to see hundreds of Cherry Trees in bloom en route to the festival.

Admission to Sakura Sunday is a $5 minimum donation.