Last Car-Free Day on MLK Drive

The seasonal weekend closure of MLK Drive to cars and trucks ends today, motor vehicle closures car-free days will begin again on Saturday April 2nd 2011. On those days MLK is car -free for it's entire length from 7AM to 12PM. From 12PM to 5 the road is open to cars and trucks from the Art Museum to Sweetbriar. Also after 12PM the Montgomery Drive gates open to allow visitors (and lost drivers) to access the picnic areas, which sometimes surprises people bicycling, skating and walking on the drive.

Thursday's Cities For Cycling Forum offered many recommendations. One repeating theme was the Ciclovia which often refers to closing an arterial street (i.e. Broad and the Ben Franklin Parkway). While MLK would certainly not qualify under that definition, it does offer great opportunities. For example the bike paths on SweetBriar and Lansdowne connects the MLK Drive to the Please Touch Museum. Access to the Zoo via Sweetbriar is only hindered by the chaotic Girard/Lansdowne intersection. Adding some food vendors, kayak lessons, dumpster pools etc. on MLK could draw more people to the drive on weekends. Opposition remains to the car restrictions and applying what we are trying to accomplish on the Delaware River and Schuylkill Banks - giving residents access to the waterfront should apply as well to the west bank of the Schuylkill.











Looking at a longer view the City and the Delaware Valley Regional Planning Commission are exploring the feasibility of reducing travel lanes on MLK. For more information on the Bicycle Coalition's future vision for MLK Drive go to the Take Back the Drive Campaign page.

You can also express your view on the future of MLK Drive

1. Like and post to the I Have a Dream for MLK Drive page on Facebook.
2. Comment on MLK Drive in the Pedestrian and Bicycle Plan

Bike Lanes Being Painted on Lombard and South

They're real and they're spectacular. Now how will the public react to another set of "Bike Only Lanes" in Center City?



Lombard Street



South Street

Start Your Bike Expo Weekend by Attending Forum on Innovative Cycling

Philadelphia's Office of Transportation is hosting several bicycle transportation officials from other cities on October 28th-29th to get their insights on how to make Philadelphia more bike-friendly. These officials are from cities that belong to Cities for Cycling , a project of the National Association of City Transportation Officials to catalog, promote and implement the world’s best bicycle transportation practices in American municipalities.

As part of their visit, the Cities for Cycling visitors will be at the Academy of Natural Sciences on a panel to share their knowledge about some of the best innovations from across the country and examine ways to bring these cycling innovations to Philadelphia.

When: Thursday, October 28, 2010, 6:30 pm to 8:30 pm
6:30–7 pm; Reception
7–8:30 pm; Program
 
Featuring:
Rina Cutler: Deputy Mayor, Transportation and Utilities, City of Philadelphia;
Eric Gilliland: Executive Director, National Association of City Transportation Officials;
Jon Orcutt: Director of Policy, New York City Department of Transportation;
Robert Burchfield: City Traffic Engineer, City of Portland Department of Transportation;
Timothy N. Papandreou: Deputy Director, Transportation, Planning & Development, San Francisco Metropolitan Planning Agency.

Where: Academy of Natural Sciences (19th and Ben Franklin Parkway)

This program is free and open to the public. Register at cyclinginnovation.eventbrite.com/

This program is cosponsored by the City of Philadelphia, the National Association of City Transportation Officials, and the Academy of Natural Sciences.

Prior to the program, check out a bike sharing system demonstration being put on by Bike Share Philadelphia in front of the Academy of Natural Sciences between 4 PM and 8:30 PM. Bike-share bikes from programs in London, Washington, Minneapolis and Montréal will be available to try out. This station demonstration is co-sponsored by Alta Bicycle Share Company.
 

Road Safety Audit of 130/206 - A Prescription for Fixing a Dysfunctional Road

Once again the Delaware Valley Regional Planning Commission (DVRPC) has facilitated an effective Road Safety Audit (RSA). This time it was a stretch of US 130 and 206 in Bordentown, NJ, a hazardous stretch of road for motorists and people on foot and bike. The RSA is complimentary to a bicycle and pedestrian corridor study that is happening at the same time. Transportation professionals, advocates and local elected officials participated in the exercise and numerous recommendations to improve the safety of and access to the corridor were made. DVRPC staff will digest the recommendations and release a report within the next few months.

While Road Safety Audits emphasize short term easy fix improvements, they are also the right place to include major long term fixes for future consideration. For more information of DVRPC Road Safety Audits go to DVRPC's Traffic Safety page.

Route 130 in particular has been a sore spot for pedestrian safety in New Jersey, in 2009 the Tri State Transportation Campaign named the highway as the most dangerous for pedestrians including two in the past month. RSA participants noted more than a dozen pedestrians and several bicyclists traveling along and across the highway during the site visits which only lasted a few minutes in each location.




View Larger Map

A shoulderless stretch of US 130 in Bordentown, RSA suggestions include reducing travel lane widths to carve out a shoulder and bike friendly rumble strips along edge lines to improve comfort for bicyclists.

Photo of a bike lane adjacent to a rumble strip:
Windsor Rd, Urbana Illinois.
Photo Jennifer J. Selby, P.E.

Update on Spruce, Lombard, South and the South St Bridge

November 6th will be very important day for Philadelphia bicyclists, perhaps even more important than the ribbon cutting of the Spruce and Pine bike lanes last October. The South Street Bridge opening combined with new bike lanes on Lombard and South plus fresh pavement on the east of Broad sections of Spruce and Pine will create a nearly contiguous string of bike lanes from Front Street to the Cobbs Creek Parkway.

So here is the current status if the three projects:

South St Bridge - Sidewalks complete, street surfacing taking place.










Lombard and South Bike Lanes - Streets Department has traced the bike lane lines with spray paint on Lombard and South from 21st to 27th St.










Spruce and Pine Street resurfacing - As of 10 AM the paving crew was located on Spruce St at the 7th St intersection and moving west. On Friday Spruce from Dock St to 7th St was paved.

Comment on the Bike Plan with Community Walk

If you couldn't attend the public meetings, but you have a lot to say about improving bicycling in Philadelphia then consider using Community Walk. Community Walk is a mapping tool set up to help the planners receive public input on phase 2 of the Philadelphia Pedestrian and Bicycle plan.

Open up the map - http://www.communitywalk.com/WalkBikePhilly
Username - WalkBikePhilly
Password - WalkBikePhilly
(Username and Password are case sensitive)
or login with your own account

Once logged in you can then start adding markers, if you know a little html you can then insert photos or Google Street View into your marker's information box.












Click on image to enlarge

Will One Franklin Square Alter The Ben Franklin Bridge Walkway Experience?

In August PlanPhilly wrote a story covering the development plans for One Franklin Square (401 Race St) which is currently a mostly vacant building at the foot of the south walkway of the Ben Franklin Bridge

















The site will become a hotel/restaurant facility and may feature a giant LED screen similar to the Crown Fountain in Chicago. Unlike the Crown, 401 Race will include commercial ads. The screen will be directed towards westbound traffic and the walkway of the Bridge.

















Photos Zack Klein on Flickr

The project has been subject to neighborhood debate, the Old City Civic Association voted against the Ordinance approving the project. Meanwhile the Philadelphia Planning Commission has made recommendations for the development process to continue. You can read more about 401 Race Street in Brownstoner.

So besides the potential glare (or entertainment) of the jumbo screen there has been no discussion on how this development will affect access to and from the bridge walkway. The drawings show no change other than some tree plantings for the stony sidewalk on 5th Street. Of more concern to bicyclists is the fate of Florist Street, that Belgian block downhill to Fourth Street is the only quasi-legal bike route off the bridge. Florist may become a busy entrance to the 2nd floor parking garage, and any space that could be set aside for people on foot or bike access may be allocated for additional parking spaces.

One thing is certain, the new building will be subject to the bike parking ordinance.




View Larger Map

Volunteer for the Bike Expo

Want this coolest ever t-shirt for free? Volunteer your time at the upcoming Philadelphia Bike Expo and you'll get to wear this awesome tshirt and have loads of fun at this premier bicycling event!

Email caroline@bicyclecoalition.org for more information about volunteer opportunities.

Bike Drive in Devon, PA

Do you have an old bike in need of a new loving owner? Donate it this Saturday, 10/23 from 10am -1pm during the Devereux Bike Shop's 3rd Annual Bike Drive at 119 Old Lancaster Avenue in Devon, PA. Adults with intellectual disabilities are employed by the bike shop and trained to repair bikes as they learn skills that will bring them closer to community employment. Used and repaired bikes will also be for sale.

Click here to learn more about Devereux Whitlock Employment.

Bike Plan Meeting Tonight At Kingsessing Library 5PM

West Philly cyclists, here is your best chance to suggest improvements in your neighborhood.

Philadelphia Pedestrian and Bicycle Plan Meeting (Phase 2)
Thursday, Oct. 21, 5PM to 7 PM,
Kingsessing Branch Library,
51st Street between Chester and Kingsessing Avenues


View Larger Map



http://tooledesign.com/philadelphia

Calling Bike Rental Operators: Fairmount Park Seeks You!

Philadelphia's Park and Recreation Department has issued a bid package for a bicycle rental program in the Park.  They are seeking letters of interest from experienced bicycle operators by November 1st.  The package includes a letter from Fairmount Park System Executive Director Mark Focht describing what the Department is looking for, a map of possible bike rental locations and bicycle/pedestrian traffic data at three Park locations.

TIGER II Awards Announced

Out of 1000 applications received, the U.S. Dept. of Transportation awarded $600 million of federal transportation dollars from the TIGER II program to 70 projects around the country.  Roughly 29 percent of TIGER II money went toward road projects, 26 percent for transit, 20 percent for rail projects, 16 percent for ports, four percent for bicycle and pedestrian projects and five percent for planning projects.

Unfortunately, the GREAT-MidAtlantic project, submitted by PA's Department of Conservation and Natural Resources to plan and construct 30 trail segments in PA, NJ and DE was not among those that got awarded.  Neither did SEPTA's smart card project (which didn't get a TIGER I grant), or Norfolk Southern's Crescent Corridor project (which did get TIGER I for $105M).  Center City District's proposal to do-over Dilworth Plaza as part of the City Hall transit stop renovation project did get an award of $15M toward the $55M full cost of the project.   As described in the DOT document released today:,

"The project will improve the connections between Southeastern Pennsylvania Transportation Authority (SEPTA) regional rail, New Jersey’s Port Authority Transit Corporation (PATCO) high speed rail, Amtrak and the SEPTA subway system, in addition to trolley services and dozens of bus routes. Construction will incorporate better access to the transit hub located beneath City Hall."

Penn Square (also known as Center Square), the name of the concrete island that houses Dilworth Plaza and City Hall, is one of the most difficult to navigate intersections in Center City for bicyclists and pedestrians.  We hope this attention on Dilworth Plaza can be leveraged by the City to make improvements that will calm traffic and make it safer to bike around the square, and build physically separated bike lanes on Market and JFK Boulevard.  

What to do at the South Street Bridge Opening

Mayor Nutter will open the South Street Bridge on November 6th to bicyclists and pedestrians at 3pm. But, bicyclists and pedestrians are welcome to bike and walk across the Bridge at 2pm for an hour before the ceremony and before motor vehicles are allowed on.

The Coalition will lead an ad-hoc bike parade. Come with your bike dressed up and bring the kids!



















2010 July 4th Bike Parade in North Wildwood, NJ


UPenn's Museum of Archeology and Anthropology is offering bicyclists, walkers and transit riders half off their admission price on November 6th as part of their "Green and Sustainable Day" and free cab rides across the Bridge from Velopark bike cabs to celebrate the Bridge's re-opening. The Museum also placed new ganged inverted U racks on Spruce (South) Street.

Bike/Ped Plan Comes to West and Southwest Philly

Do you have ideas for how to improve bicycling in Southwest, West, North or Northeast Philly?  Take the survey or fill out the community walk interactive map or come to one of two public meetings in West Philly tonight or tomorrow.

PENNDOT Lays Out Solutions For Tar and Chip Woes

At a meeting with PENNDOT District 6 Officials, BCGP's Chester County Cycling Coalition (CCCC) and Chester County's Transportation Services Director Natasha Manbeck discussed solutions to the problem of excess gravel being left in the Tar and Chip also called Chip Seal which has created safety issues with cyclists in Chester County (and rural portions of upper Bucks and Montgomery Counties).

















Pittsburgh Post-Gazette

CCCC Chair Ellen Zadoff noted a location where a road defect was patched with tar and chip and the end result was an excess of stones which may have caused a cyclist to fall off his bike. Zadoff also mentioned a case where the process was well done on Pughtown Road. PENNDOT District Chief Engineer Lou Belmonte and Maintenance Director Nick Martino explained that on Pughtown (PA Bike Route S) they used a rental sweeper that collected excess stones instead of sweeping them off. They also used smaller stones on the edges of the roadway. PENNDOT verbally agreed to apply this process more often.

PENNDOT also agreed with CCCC's suggestion that better sign placement to warn bicyclists ahead of the freshly paved area will be used in the future. Although signs have been used in the past they were often placed at the edge of the treatment, a sign further up the road offers an opportunity to take a detour.

PENNDOT District 6 Executive Lester Toaso also agreed on a follow up meeting on bicycle issues in the district with Bicycle Coalition and County Planners in April.

Bonus phrase of the day - Bituminous Surface Treatment

Details on South Street Bridge Reopening Ceremony

SOUTH STREET BRIDGE REOPENING CEREMONY SCHEDULED FOR
SATURDAY, NOVEMBER 6, 2010

Philadelphia, PA – Streets Department Commissioner Clarena I.W. Tolson announced today that a reopening ceremony for the South Street Bridge will be held on Saturday, November 6 at 3 PM. The new 1,800-ft. long bridge and viaduct is scheduled to reopen to traffic during the evening of November 6th. The bridge was closed to all motor vehicle, pedestrian and bicycle traffic on December 8, 2008.

Commissioner Tolson notes that this major construction project is being delivered to travelers and tax payers ahead of schedule and on budget. “The earlier than scheduled reopening of the South Street Bridge is a cause for celebration, particularly for the local community and all those who rely on the bridge to cross the Schuylkill River. All Philadelphians are invited to join the reopening ceremony and be among the first pedestrians and bicyclists to cross the bridge. It will be a unique opportunity to walk and bike in the travel lanes of the bridge and enjoy fabulous views of Philadelphia’s skyline.” Access to the bridge for pedestrians and bicyclists will be made available beginning at 2 PM on November 6th.

In early 2006, local elected officials, community leaders, business owners and civic groups joined together to form the South Street Bridge Coalition. The Coalition pushed for improvements to the design of the bridge. The collaboration between the Coalition and Streets Department resulted in a more balanced pedestrian-, bicycle- and vehicle-friendly design that serves the needs of all bridge users. New features include wider sidewalks, a mid-block signalized pedestrian/bicycle crossing at the Schuylkill River trail, wider green colored bicycle lanes, a reduction in vehicle lanes, relocation of street lights, and traffic signal adjustments optimized for pedestrian movements and safety.

Phase 1 of Phila's Ped/Bike Plan Rolls Out to Planning Commission Tomorrow

On Tuesday, October 19th at 1pm, the Philadelphia City Planning Commission will receive the final draft of the Philadelphia Pedestrian and Bicycle Plan - Phase 1.  City Planning staff will present the document to the Commissioners, go over the highlights and ask them to adopt the plan at their November 2010 meeting.  Phase 1 includes the Plan's vision and goals, new pedestrian and bicycle policies, and recommendations for improving and connecting the bicycle and pedestrian network half of the City (South Philly, Center City, Lower North Philly and Northwest Philadelphia).

Meanwhile, two public meetings are scheduled this week in West Philadelphia as part of Phase 2 of the plan, which will develop pedestrian and bicycle network recommendations for Southwest and West Philadelphia and North Philly and the far Northeast. Even if you can't make it to the meetings, you can take the questionnaire or try out the Community Walk, an interactive map that allows you to put in your favorite routes and sites that need to be improved.

• Wednesday, Oct. 20, 6:00 PM, Wynnefield Branch Library, 5325 Overbrook Avenue
• Thursday, Oct. 21, 5:00 PM, Kingsessing Branch Library, 51st Street between Chester and Kingsessing Avenues

Cities for Cycling: Riding the Innovation Lane

The Mayor's Office of Transportation is hosting several bicycle transportation officials from other cities on October 28th-29th to get their insight on how to make Philadelphia more bike-friendly.  These officials are from cities that belong to Cities for Cycling, a project of the National Association of City Transportation Officials to catalog, promote and implement the world’s best bicycle transportation practices in American municipalities.  As part of their visit, the visitors will be at the Academy of Natural Sciences on a panel to share their knowledge about some of the best innovations from across the country and examine ways to bring these cycling innovations to Philadelphia.
 
When: October 28, 2010, 6:30 pm to 8:30 pm
 
Featuring:
Rina Cutler: Deputy Mayor, Transportation and Utilities, City of Philadelphia;
Eric Gilliland: Executive Director, National Association of City Transportation Officials;
Jon Orcutt: Director of Policy, New York City Department of Transportation;
Robert Burchfield: City Traffic Engineer, City of Portland Department of Transportation;
Timothy N. Papandreou: Deputy Director, Transportation, Planning & Development, San Francisco Metropolitan Planning Agency.

6:30–7 pm; Reception
7–8:30 pm; Program

This program is free and open to the public.
Register at cyclinginnovation.eventbrite.com/  

This program is cosponsored by the City of Philadelphia, the National Association of City Transportation Officials, and the Academy of Natural Sciences.

Common Space Allows You To Find Bikeable Destinations

Commonspace.us helps you discover places you can reach quickly by walking, biking or public transit, add destinations to an interactive map, and share your plan with others.

You can type in an address and then select your mode of transportation (Transit, Bicycling or Walking) a series of online to-do resources such as the Philly Fun Guide and Uwishunu are located on the right where you can select what type of activity you are looking for, for example finding a museum within a 15 walk or a nature trail within a 40 minute bus ride. You can also share this info with your friends and create itineraries.



I did some test searches and found it to be very useful especially in Center City, when I tried to find destinations in the Far Northeast I came up empty. Fortunately you can suggest improvements to the product by providing feedback. I also suggested adding Google's bike layer and bike directions as well as combining walking and biking with transit as options.

Milling Begins on Spruce

Construction crews milling the pavement at 2nd and Spruce. Parking restriction signs on Spruce indicate that the project could wrap up by the 29th of the month.

Buffered Bike Lanes For Lombard and South!

13 months after the rollout of the buffered bike lanes on Spruce and Pine comes the new bike lanes on Lombard and South from 21st to the South Street Bridge. I envision legions of cyclists crossing back and forth over the South Street Bridge. I also envision Stu Bykofsky in a dark corner of his basement typing furiously.















A quick and dirty rendering of the buffered bike lane at Lombard and 27th (via Google Street View).

The Bike Lanes are likely to be striped by the first week of November. Next Spring plans are to add Sharrows on 24th and 25th Streets as well as on Locust from 25th to 22nd. Navigational signs will also installed, guiding bicyclists from Front Street/Penns Landing to the South Street Bridge and the University of Pennsylvania.

Of course as we have seen before, life in the bike lane won't be a panacea. For example the Philadelphia School at 25th and Lombard will have school buses and vehicles unload and load students twice a day. The 40 bus which runs on a moderately frequent 15 minute schedule (30 minutes on weekends) will also provide some conflict. But with no major churches west of 22nd there shouldn't be too many parking issues on weekends. On the plus side you should be able pass by all the suburban and Delaware teens stuck in Saturday night South Street traffic.



Click on the map to enlarge.

State Awards Planning Funds For Manayunk Bridge and West Bank SRT

Pennsylvania's Department of Conservation and Natural Resources (DCNR) just announced its awards for their 2010 Community Conservation Partnerships Program Grant Program.  Two grants will fund planning and feasibility studies for several particular gaps identified by the Complete the Schuylkill River Trail campaign: the Manayunk Bridge & Ivy Ridge Trail (combined) and the West Bank Connector (between the West Bank Greenway, South Street Bridge and 34th Street Bridge).

The Manayunk Bridge/Ivy Ridge Trail study will be conducted by the Schuylkill Project.  The West Bank Connector study will be done by Schuylkill River Development Corporation.

These particular DCNR grants are matched with funding from the William Penn Foundation.  The studies are important milestones because they will qualify these SRT trail segments for construction.

Other grant awards of interests to bicyclists and trail users:

• Pennsylvania Environmental Council will prepare a master site development plan and conceptual design for the development of approximately 2.2 miles of trail on Spring Garden Street connecting the East Coast Greenway through downtown Philadelphia to the Schuylkill River Trail and Delaware River Trail.
• Clean Air Council will prepare a feasibility study for the development of the Cobbs Creek Connector Trail on the East Coast Greenway between 75th and 84th Streets, connecting the John Heinz National Wildlife Refuge, Fairmount Park, Philadelphia and the communities of Colwyn, Yeadon, and Darby, Delaware County.
• Delaware County will prepare a comprehensive recreation, open space and greenway plan.

Lombard and South Bike Lane Meeting Tonight

OK, put away the party hats from the Spruce and Pine repaving celebration, there is another project on the agenda that would make a true crosstown bike route a reality.

The City proposes to fill in the gap between the South Street Bridge and Spruce/Pine/22nd by striping bike lanes on Lombard and South Streets. Tonight's meeting will offer a presentation of the proposal as well as provide time for community input.

If approved the bike lanes on Lombard and South could be installed by the time the South Street Bridge opens in November. That is why it is so important for cyclists to show their support for the project.


View Philadelphia Bike Lanes in a larger map

The green shows the proposed bike lanes. The aquamarine lines show connecting streets that may be candidates for sharrows and/or navigational signage.

6:30 - 8:00 PM
The Philadelphia School
2501 Lombard St.
Enter via the Lombard St entrance

FINALLY! Spruce and Pine Repaving Begins Tomorrow

Press Release from the City of Philadelphia

STREETS DEPARTMENT SCHEDULES STREET IMPROVEMENT
WORK FOR SPRUCE AND PINE STREETS, EAST OF BROAD STREET

Work Begins Friday, October 15

PHILADELPHIA – The Philadelphia Streets Department will begin a resurfacing project on
Spruce Street and Pine Street, east of Broad Street, beginning on Friday, October 15th. The
project will include pavement milling, resetting of utility covers, repaving and restriping of the
parking, vehicle travel and bike lanes. The work should last no longer than two weeks,
depending on the weather.

Residents and visitors should actively monitor Spruce Street and Pine Street for parking
restrictions. Vehicles parked in restricted areas will be relocated, typically to another parking
spot within the neighborhood. In the event your vehicle is towed, please contact the 6th Police
District at (215) 686-3060 to learn the location of your vehicle.

Drivers and bicyclists are encouraged to use alternate routes when traveling in the area. The
City’s contractor will make every effort to minimize traffic disruption, but intermittent closures
of Spruce Street, Pine Street and cross streets are expected. To minimize the duration of
disruption, the contractor is permitted to work into the evening hours. No work is scheduled
between 11 PM and 7 AM.

This $7.5M improvement project is being partially funded by the American Recovery and
Reinvestment Act (ARRA). The improvement of curb ramps and the resurfacing of additional
streets will continue into spring of 2011.

Rack Attack

You may have been seeing or reading about the converted parking meter bike racks lately. They have been taking a hard hit in the blogosphere thanks to this viral video taken on the 100 block of Chestnut Street, which implies that the circle bike racks being installed by the Parking Authority are poorly designed and vulnerable to easy thievery.



Philly Bike Racks - A disaster waiting to happen - YouTube
Philly's Bike Racks Suck - BikeBlogNYC
Sudden Abundance of Free Bicycles In Philadelphia - Phillyist

But are these racks really so flimsy?

Past and present performance says no. The racks have been used successfully since 2005 in Seattle, a city that experiences a lot bike theft (Seattle was rated by Kryptonite in 2007 as the 8th worst city for bike theft.) Seattle helped develop the standards with Creative Metalworks, the same manufacturer supplying the bike circle conversion"kits" to Philadelphia Parking Authority. And while the video is provocative, there is no evidence of widespread tampering of the racks and we have not heard of any theft that involved the destruction of a parking meter bike rack. The circle racks on the street are full of locked bikes. It's important to remember that any bike rack can be vandalized; in fact, the inverted U-racks are only secured with threaded bolts, which can be unscrewed by someone determined enough with the right equipment. The circle racks are definitely safer than locking your bike on a street sign, as this video attests.

So what happened on October 6th?

Well perhaps only the video's author knows the whole story. We went to try and replicate the video and sure enough the bike rack in front of Cebu (123 Chestnut) swivels and the cap is loose but we were unable to lift it off the pole with bare hands. The second rack in the video at the corner of Letitia St. is placed on a meter pole that is loose in the ground caused by crumbling concrete. A third rack did swivel, but it had a secure cap. Was it vandalism that preceded the video or was it poor installation?. Only the hipster videographer knows.

We were unable to try the same thing at a dozen other racks on adjacent blocks.

One possibility is that the installation of the racks on that block was not done properly. Creative Metalworks President Merrill Denney informed us that the brackets can be torqued to a point that makes it very difficult to swivel and perhaps the installers did not perform that step properly. He plans on coming to Philadelphia in the near future to inspect the racks and perform a workshop on proper installation.

Finally, one other change would add more protection, the insertion of set screws coated with liquid metal to further stabilize the rack element.

Let's not forget the big picture here. Philadelphia has a bike parking shortage in many parts of the City. When the Parking Authority went about converting meters to kiosks, they worked with the Mayor's Office of Transportation and the Bicycle Coalition to convert 1600 poles into bike racks using the conversion kits. It would cost the City (and you the taxpayer) twice as much to remove all of the meter poles and replace them with U-racks. A small installation problem shouldn't take away from the main point, which is Philadelphia is doing the right thing to supply more bike parking.

If you see a rack that is defective call 311 or use our SeeClickFix widget

Don't Forget: 10/14 Meeting on Proposed Lombard & South St. Bike Lanes

In order to connect the forthcoming opening of the new and improved South Street Bridge to the Schuylkill River Trail and the 22nd Street Bike Lane, the Streets Department and Office of Transportation is considering installing new bike lanes and sharrows on Lombard, South and Taney Streets between 22nd/21st and the South St. Bridge.

To learn more about the proposed lanes and weigh in on this new bike "facility", please attend tomorrow night's meeting at The Philadelphia School at 25th and Lombard.  City officials will make the presentation and answer questions.  They especially want to hear from neighborhood residents and folks who regularly use those streets.  Bike lane supporters, especially those who live in the Fitler Square/South of South neighborhoods, get there and be heard!

 October 14th, 2010
6:30 p.m. - 8:00 p.m.
The Philadelphia School
2501 Lombard Street

The Philly Bike Expo is coming October 30th and 31st

Bilenky Cycle Works in partnership with The Bicycle Coalition of Greater Philadelphia, present he Philadelphia Bike Expo October 30th and 31st. at the 23rd St. Armory between Chestnut and Market Street in Center City.


View Larger Map

For nearly 30 years, Bilenky Cycle Works has been a renowned fixture 0n the Philadelphia (and the world) cycling scene, creating custom-built frames that are regarded as functional works of art. Owner and multi-award winner Stephen Bilenky had a vision of bringing an event to Philadelphia in which all segments of the cycling community could come together The Philadelphia Bike Expo is his vision in action.

The Expo will host a wide range of activities: exhibits by artisans, manufacturers and distributors, informative panels, seminars, and demos, a swap meet, fashion show and much more. The Philadelphia Bike Expo is an all-inclusive celebration of everything bicycle.

Register

Bike The Pike - PENNDOT Commits to PA3 @ I-476 Bike Improvements

In a letter sent to the Delaware County Cycling Committee, PENNDOT District 6 Executive Lester Toaso stated that - Penndot has agreed to develop a concept plan intended to define a most appropriate bicycle path along PA 3 through the I-476 Interchange - with the potential to be implemented in relatively short time frame.

This is great news as I-476 is the greatest barrier to bicycling and walking in Delaware County. We will be following up with PENNDOT as the process moves along. It is hoped that proposed changes to the road can be done sometime in 2011.

Bike PA's East Coast Greenway!

PA East Coast Greenway Alliance Fundraising Bike Tour
Saturday, October 16th
8:15am - 4pm

This guided group tour will leave with bikes from Philadelphia 30th Street Stati on at 8:30am on the train to Trenton (SEPTA is putting on an extra car for this ride to accommodate bicyclists) and proceed southward by bicycle. Sites will include:
 

Delaware Canal State Park Bristol Waterfront
Neshaminy State Park
Glen Foerd Estate
Pennypack on the Delaware (North Delaware Greenway) & Penn Treaty Park

The price of the tour ($50) includes:

SEPTA ticket
Boxed lunch
Guided Tour
Bike Support
Updates from local officials

Sign up here!

Presented by the PA East Coast Greenway Alliance Board.

For more information, please see www.greenway.org

For questions, please email Bob Thomas rthomas@campbellthomas.com or call 215-985-4354

A Bike Ride to the Sugarhouse

Casino gambling has arrived in Philadelphia, and the Sugarhouse is now one of 5 casinos on an 80 mile corridor along I-95 between Bensalem and Perryville, MD (where a slots parlor opened last week). But Sugarhouse is an urban casino that will draw many of its patrons from a city where 1/3 of the households do not have access to a car.

So it may have been a surprise to the Casino (along with some near-sighted transportation planners) that some employees and gamblers would arrive by bike. Well maybe not totally - a schoolyard bike rack is located on the north side entrance to the Casino, next to a "don't leave a child in your car" sign.

On the river side of the Casino is a gem of a demonstration riverfront walk, which may serve as a model for the rest of the Central Delaware Riverfront. The promenade consists of a paved path segregated by landscaping from a gravel walking trail and will eventually be part of the Delaware River Waterfront Greenway.

Teenage Bicyclist Killed in Southwest Philadelphia

According to 6ABC a "16 or 17 year old" bicyclist was killed today in a crash with a trash truck. The crash occurred at 3:40 p.m. at the intersection of 58th and Elmwood streets.


View Bicyclists Crashes 2008-2010 NJ and SE PA in a larger map

For urban bicyclists heavy trucks represent the greatest fatal threat. Even in Copenhagen 4 of the 5 bicyclist deaths in 2008 were the result of "right turning lorries". Reducing the number of urban truck and bicycle crashes is a priority for European traffic safety officials.

The 58th Street connector path is currently under design with construction likely in either 2011 or 2012. This route has many challenges for engineers to tackle but the goal is to create an off-road multi-use path adjacent to 58th Street from Bartram's Garden to the Cobbs Creek Bikeway.

The Bicycle Coalition aspires to achieve zero bicycle deaths in the Greater Philadelphia region. As a father I cannot think of a more devastating loss than a death of a child, we offer our deepest sympathies to the victim's family and friends.

Calling all Cobbs Creek teens!!!

This fall, Philadelphia Parks & Recreation is hosting a bike club in the Cobbs Creek neighborhood. Parks and recreation has partnered with many local organizations including Neighborhood Bike Works and the Bicycle Coalition to get this project up and off the ground. Space is limited so sign up quickly!

For more information or to register:

Laura Sims Skatehouse @ Cobbs Creek Park
63rd & Spruce Streets

or sign up online.

Lombard and South Bike Lanes Meeting at the Philadelphia School - 10/14 @ 6:30PM

In anticipation of the reopening of the South Street Bridge the City is proposing bike lanes on Lombard Street and South Street from 21st St to the South Street Bridge to improve connections with the Spruce and Pine Bike Lanes.

October 14th, 2010
6:30 p.m. - 8:00 p.m.
The Philadelphia School
2501 Lombard Street

I know that we have been bombarding you with meetings to attend this month, it's an indication that things are getting busy around here. However if you can only get to one then pick this meeting. You're support for these proposed bike lanes is critical and we need a great outcome to make this happen.


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Speaking of Spruce and Pine it was recently announced on the Brownstoner Philadelphia blog (which is quickly becoming one of my favorites) that those bone rattling streets will be repaved as early as this month and that the South Street Bridge may open in November.

|And now for the Bad News...|

Volunteer Night This Wednesday 10/6 at 6:30pm

Yes, the Phillies are in their first play-off game, but we hope you're still come and volunteer your time at the Bicycle Coalition this Wednesday.

We'll have the radio broadcasting the Phillies!

Volunteer Night on Wednesday 10/6 at 6:30pm
BCGP Conference Room
1500 Walnut Street
Suite 305
Philadelphia, PA

Come at 6pm for Pizza.

Hope to see you there!

Bike/Ped Plan Meeting at Coral Street Arts House 10/4 @ 6:30

We're waiting for the 2010 Census Tract data to confirm what we already know - Kensington, Fishtown and Port Richmond neighborhoods have seen a significant increase in bicycle users and we are counting on a good turnout at tomorrow's public meting that kicks off Phase 2 of the Philadelphia Pedestrian and Bicycle Plan at the Coral Street Arts House.

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This is perhaps your best opportunity to suggest improvements where you ride - Do you want a better route than the bike lanes on Aramingo Avenue? How about a safer lane configuration on Girard? Where do we need corralled bike parking?

Philadelphia Pedestrian and Bicycle Plan Meeting
6:30 PM
Coral Street Arts House
Coral and Hagert St
Kensington

Volunteers Help Kick Off "Bike the Pike"

Bike the Pike is a campaign to make West Chester Pike safer for bicyclists at the I-476 ramps. On Wednesday the BCGP's Delaware County Cycling Committee (DCCC) conducted morning and evening demonstrations with the help of volunteers and Bicycle Coalition staff to remind drivers to hang up and share the road with cyclists.



I got a good idea of the difficulty negotiating this stretch when Anne Spiegelman took me across from Lawrence Road to the northbound I-476 ramp.

I asked her about the lane splitting at 1:05, she told me that it was the best way of getting peoples attention and ultimately drivers let her in. Noting that she has had "about 50 close calls" at the ramp. This is not a ride that you'll be taking your 3 year old on a trail-a-bike.

We then rode the rest of the interchange uphill past Russell Garrett's roadside memorial across the southbound on and off ramps, the hill posed a speed challenge while mixing with traffic. Link

The volunteers broke up into several groups. I stayed with Anne and DCCC Chair David Bennett at the northbound interchange facing westbound traffic while the other groups were positioned on the eastbound side. Video

Volunteer Phil Galluccio describes the reaction from motorists to the Bike the Pike demonstration at I-476 and Route 3 (West Chester Pike) in Marple.

(Warning - includes a graphic description of the crash)

A delegation from the Bicycle Coalition will discuss this issue with PENNDOT officials on Monday. We will be seeking a commitment from PENNDOT to work with the BCGP and Marple Township to seek countermeasures to the problem which may include education, engineering and enforcement.

Thanks to all the volunteers that came out to help.

NJ and PA Give $14 Million for Trails and Sidewalks Back to the Feds

Next time you hear from a government official stating that "there is no money" think of the millions of dollars in Transportation Enhancements (TE) funds that NJ and Pennsylvania gave back last month.

Rescission's are givebacks of federal funds that states did not obligate or commit to a project. At times the Federal Highway Administration will ask for states to rescind some of their allocated funds, often for budgetary reasons. TE is often seen by state DOT's as insignificant and an easy target for givebacks. Although TE receives 1 to 2 percent of all transportation funds annually, it bore the brunt of more than 25 percent of rescissions.

New Jersey and Pennsylvania dutifully gave back nearly $7 million each, think of the inequity here. $7 million dollars is just 0.35% of the estimated cost for the 7 mile I-95 Revive Project but is enough money to pave 7 miles of trails or sidewalks. For Transportation Enhancements 7 is an unlucky number.

If you feel that Transportation Enhancements got a raw deal send an email to the Governor here.

Not every state was so unforgiving, Delaware deserves credit for giving back only $38,000 only 0.4% of their allocation. More kudos to a state which recently added a vulnerable road user law and bike lanes on the St. Georges Bridge over the C&D Canal.