Bon Voyage and Happy Riding to Hans, Ellen, and Shayne

Three longtime advocates for better bicycling in our region are moving to (relatively) distant lands. So we take a moment to remark upon, and thank, Hans, Ellen, and Shayne for the good work they've done on all of our behalf.

Oliver is sad to see them leave because
he fears that they, like his 3,000 children,
won't write, call, or even so much
as reblog Oliver's Tumblr.

Hans van Naerrssen
Many of you know, or know of, Hans van Naerrssen. Hans became a transportation advocate after attending a Tredyffrin Township meeting in the late 1990's at which he was told, "You'll never see sidewalks here." He joined the Treddyfrin Bike and Walk committee and from there joined our Board of Directors, where he immediately dove into the important issues of the day as chair of the Advocacy Committee. In 2007 he was elected our Board President and focused his efforts on changing the culture of Pennsylvania's transportation policies

Hans has traveled the world on his recumbent bicycle, and in 2009 he expanded the scope of his efforts to take on federal transportation policy reform and national bicycle advocacy. In that year he became the president of the League of American Bicyclists. Now in his seventies, Hans is retiring from East Coast bicycle advocacy by moving to the bicycle-friendly confines of the Pacific Northwest. We don't think they need him out there, but we are happy for Hans for his move.

Ellen Zadoff
Since the 1990's the Chester County Cycling Coalition (CCCC) has been a functioning committee of the Bicycle Coalition. The CCCC's volunteer activity has waxed and waned over the years, following the momentum and energy of those engaged in the group's work. The CCCC's work experienced a big spike in energy and activity in late 2009 when Ellen Zadoff was elected chair. She brought a new energy into the group, and her victories included helping to create a bicycle plan for West Chester and creating Chester County's own Share the Road education campaign. Earlier this year Ellen announced that she is also moving out of the area and stepped down as chair. Her energy and enthusiasm will be missed.

Shayne Trimbell
Shayne Trimbell could be described as a planning advocate. A dedicated bike commuter, he was the Manager of Projects and Development at Greater Valley Forge TMA (GVFTMA). Shayne was also an active board member for PA Walks and Bikes, and represented them at the National Bike Summit in Washington D.C.. Shayne was a member of the Chester County Cycling Coalition for two years and took over the chairmanship of the CCCC following Ellen's resignation. One of Shayne's priorities was to convince local communities to adapt their trail and bike plans into the official municipal map, which cements the facilitation of adding bike facilities as new developments arise.

But as fate would have it Shayne has just recently accepted a new job in Massachusetts. We will miss his many-sided work on bicycle and transportation efforts in our region.

It is worth noting that this sudden exodus of leadership is not leaving a total vacuum. Kyle Guie, another planner at GVFTMA, has accepted the chair position of CCCC. Kyle is a resident of Phoenixville and we look forward to working with him to ensure that the Chester County Cycling Coalition continues their important work in Chester County.

The Dream of Biking to the King of Prussia Cinnabon Just Got 6 Miles Closer to Reality

The Chester Valley Trail is a big part of the Circuit: a 37-mile backbone trail connecting many of Chester County's busiest communities. Much of it is still in the planning stage, but this week 5.8 miles of it officially opened! The dream of biking from Coatesville to the King of Prussia food court on dedicated bike trail has never been closer to reality!

To see how this trail connects to the wider Circuit, visit the trail's page on ConnecttheCircuit.org

The Chester County Commissioners have issued a press release announcing the official opening of Phase 2 of the Chester Valley Trail from the Wegman's in Malvern to Old Eagle School Road in Tredyffrin Township. This new section increases the continuous length of the trail to 11 miles.

The easternmost section of Phase 2 from Old Eagle School to Warner Road is still officially closed and is considered an active construction zone. This closure may continue until the completion of the Warner Road Trailhead, which would be the likely site for what we hope is a springtime ribbon cutting. When opened, this section will connect the just-opened trail to the existing 1-mile stretch in King of Prussia. Biking to the mall will have never been easier!

The press release also mentioned the start of construction of Phase 3 in March. This will extend the west end of the trail from Exton Park to another stub section of the Chester Valley Trail at Iron Lake Rd. If all goes as planned that section of trail will be opened by this time next year.

Note: A version of this was originally posted on the Circuit's official blog.

MontCo to Close Segment of Schuylkill River Trail in Norristown

A half mile of the Schuylkill River Trail in Norristown will be closed for two or three months beginning next week. We received a press release (see below) announcing the closure, which is due to the Lafayette Street extension construction project. The closure runs from Ford Street to Ross Street in Norristown.

The red line is the section of SRT that will be closed starting January 27th.

Montgomery County officials told us that liability concerns are preventing them from establishing a detour route. This is disappointing, and we provided them with the following recommendations:

1) Install "Bicycles May Use Full Lane" signs on Main Street, to make motorists aware of bicyclists using the road.
2) Put a map of of the closure and adjoining roads on the signs that will be posted at both ends of the closure to allow bicyclists to know where they can get back on the trail.
3) Place a phone number or email address on the sign for bicyclists and pedestrians to report incidents. 

Thus far, we have not heard yet if and how Montgomery County will agree to our recommendations. In the meantime, you can post comments on our Biking the Suburbs Facebook group page.

UPDATE: January 22, 2014

Montgomery County is considering BCGP's suggestions.  Monday's holiday and snow days have slowed down the response, but we have been assured that they will get back to us shortly. 

2013 was a Good Year for Bicycling in Our City and Region

Year-end bicycling blog posts are a strange undertaking. The best parts of a year's worth of bicycling are not easily ordered, numbered, or even classified. My personal "bicycling year in review" would include things like this:

• February: The first day in months I rode without gloves.
• June: Rode down Locust and banked perfectly into the turn such that I got nearly to the intersection at South Street without pedaling.
• December: Got caught riding back from Belmont Mansion Plateau during a snowstorm.
• Every month: All those times I wasn't stuck in a car in traffic.

But here at the Bicycle Coalition, we also trade in victories, events, new trails, new legislation, and other, more tangible aspects of bicycling. So as we look forward to another year of better bicycling in the Greater Philadelphia Region, here are some of the things that happened in 2013 which deserve partial credit for the good 2014 rides yet to come.

A By-No-Means-Comprehensive Look at Bicycling Milestones in 2013

January

• Our artist-designed bike rack project is named a Knight Arts Challenge grant finalist. Look for an announcement on the winning designs this spring!

Sign Our Petition Supporting Trail Building in 2014

Have You Signed the Circuit Petition?

When complete, 50% of our region will live within 1 mile of a Circuit trail

More than 2,000 people have affixed their name to our petition calling for funding and supporting trails in our region. Will you join them? We especially need signatures from trail supporters in New Jersey.

Connecting the Circuit is one of our most critical and ambitious campaigns. We are a leading member of the Circuit Coalition, the group working to connect the Greater Philadelphia Region with a world-class network of biking and walking trails (the Circuit).

Imagine getting on your bike and being able to ride all day, uninterrupted, on dedicated car-free bicycle and pedestrian paths. Imagine biking from Bartram's Garden to Longwood Gardens, from Collingswood to Center City Philadelphia, or from the Perkiomen Trail to Pennypack Park. That's the vision of the Circuit - a 750 mile network of trails spanning 9 counties.

You could start here and end up in Haddonfield or Newtown, all without leaving dedicated trail.
Credit: Philly Love Notes

We want to build a green highway system, connecting our neighborhoods to jobs, to shopping centers, to parks and rivers, and to each other. In 2014 we will be holding critical meetings with regional funding sources, asking them to dedicate money to build miles and miles of trail. We want to show the depth and breath of popular support for trails, from every corner of the Greater Philadelphia Region.

If you support this vision, add your name to the petition. Thank you!

PennDOT Extends Susquehanna Rd Bike Lanes in Montgomery County

In 2010 PennNDOT added bike lanes to Susquehanna Rd from Twining Rd in Upper Dublin Township to Hillside Cemetery in Abington Township. And while we noted that some elements of those bike lanes did not meet AASHTO design guidelines, it did represent one of PennDOT's first significant efforts to put bike lanes on suburban roads. (The same project also created bike lanes on Old Baltimore Pike in Chester County and the signed Bicyclists Baltimore Pike Bike Route in Delaware County.)

New bike lanes on Susquehanna Rd. (photo: Steve Spindler)

Now PennDOT has extended those bike lanes to Route 611 (Old York Rd), meaning those bike lanes really go somewhere. They now connect to Highland Ave (a bikeable street parallel to Route 611), providing access to Abington Hospital and Jenkintown.

As trails and transportation planner Mike Szilagyi stated on the Biking the Suburbs Facebook group - "Until recently, the stretch of Susquehanna Road from Easton Road to Old York Rd was "sort of" striped as a four lane road, the result being some motorists forcing the issue (speeding and passing where they shouldn't). The new striping will have ONE lane in each direction, with left turn lanes at intersections, and bike lanes. A big improvement."

The bike lanes were actually put in before Abington accepted a Bikeway Occupancy Permit (the Township has tabled a resolution to sign the permit) which is contrary to PennDOT's policy. Additionally the agreement prescribes that the Township also take the maintenance responsibility for the original section of bike lanes up to the Upper Dublin Township Line. At the time of construction PennDOT did not require Abington or Upper Dublin to sign one.

This disconnect may be due to the informal policy procedure that PennDOT has for signing of a BOP, which was first referenced in 2006. We only know of one road segment where the municipality actually signed an agreement. Last year the Borough of Trainer signed a BOP for a one mile stretch of bike lanes on US 13 as part of the East Coast Greenway.

Have Your Say on the Future of Camden County

Camden County is updating their Master Plan to guide development in the county through the year 2040. As part of the public participation process to develop the plan, the county has opened up an online survey for residents.

We  think this logo would lend itself to a nice series of wooden coasters 

The survey asks several questions that seeks opinions about bicycling, walking, placemaking and public transportation in the county. Not only will the survey help Camden County set a course for improvements in the future, but high scores supporting bicycling and walking can help steer public policy decisions today.

If you think that looking 25 years into the future is a long time, consider that current master plan dates back to 1972. Back then, the Bicycle Coalition was just a meeting in a bar at 30th Street Station. Back then, a "complete street" meant the road paving was done. Back then, climate change meant moving to Florida. Most importantly it was the year that public transportation hit its all-time low for ridership and just before the 1973 Oil Crisis.

Question 8, about "big idea" plans, intrigues us the most. If you're not familiar with previous plans and looking for a recommendation, we think that the following would be most beneficial to the county from a transportation perspective:

• Promote mixed-use development within walking distance of train stations 
• Create a County-wide bicycle & pedestrian trail system 
• Improve major County roadways (Route 70, 38, etc.) to make these roads more pedestrian/bike/or transit-friendly

So if you live in Camden County, spend a couple minutes on the survey and participate in the future development of your county!

Chester County's Grand Prix Bicycle Races Return This July

Next month marks the return of the week-long series of top-level bicycle races that attracts national and international cyclists to the downtown business districts of Chester County.

Credit: http://chescograndprix.com

The Chesco Grand Prix, run under the auspices of the non-profit Sport Cycling Foundation and organized by professional cycling event producers, is a series of downtown “Criterium” races for elite and professional cycling teams that travel the national bicycle racing circuit. Last year's inaugural nine race series drew some 1,500 cyclists, over ten thousand spectators, and featured racers from 15 states, Canada, Germany and the Netherlands.

Confirmed dates and host venues of the 2013 Chesco Grand Prix are:

• Thursday, July 4: Chesco Road Races and holiday BBQ (Unionville) 8 AM – 3 PM
• Sunday, July 7: Third annual Coatesville Classic 2-7 PM
• Monday, July 8: Malvern Criteriums 5-9 PM
• Tuesday, July 9: Parkesburg Criteriums 5-9 PM
• Wednesday, July 10: Eagle Criteriums 5-9 PM
• Thursday, July 11: Phoenixville Criteriums 5-9 PM
• Friday, July 12: Oxford Criteriums 5-9 PM
• Saturday, July 13: Kennett Square Criteriums/Series Final 3-9 PM
• Sunday, July 14: Kinetic Chesco Tour non-competitive ride throughout Chester County starting and finishing in Eagle

The races from July 4th to July 13th are sanctioned by USA Cycling and are for licensed racers in different age and ability categories. Each of the downtown events will also feature short races for local kids, music, professional announcing, expo booths and more.

For daily schedules, courses, participant information, how to become a volunteer and more are posted on the CGP website: www.chescograndprix.com

[Note: text above adapted from http://chescograndprix.com/]

Father's Day Trail Ride In Collegeville This Saturday

Father's Day is this weekend, which is a great excuse to get out on bikes with your father! Especially if you have some family destiny issues to sort out.

Original image: http://greenfleethub.com/blog/2012/7/24/father-son-bike-ride.html

This Saturday in Collegeville, we are partnering with Eastern Mountain Sports, Bicycle Club of Philadelphia, and Suburban Cyclists Unlimited for a Father's Day Circuit Ride and Information Session!

We will host an information session on The Circuit regional trail network and then Suburban Cyclists Unlimited will lead a ride. There will be two distance options: 60 minutes and 90 minutes, both along the Perkiomen Trail. The event is free but you need to register ahead of time: http://fathersdaybike.eventbrite.com/

When: June 15th from 1:30 - 4:30pm
Day-of sign ups: 1:30-2:00pm
Circuit Info: 2:00-2:30pm
Rides: 2:30-4:30pm

Where:
Eastern Mountain Sports
Providence Town Center
Rts 29 & 422, 220 Plaza Drive
Collegeville, Pennsylvania 19426
(610) 226-3995

Upper Darby Study Recommends Center Median Bikeway On West Chester Pike

Upper Darby Township held a public meeting to discuss its draft plan for the West Chester Pike Traffic, Parking and Streetscape Improvements Study. The study examines the street between Bywood Road and St. Laurence Road, a distance of just under one mile.

West Chester Pike as it appears today (photo: Google Street View)

Proposed street layout for median bikeway

A key component to the plan was a complete streets analysis (you can see that analysis at the bottom of this post) which looked at three options for the bikeway:

1. Standard bike lanes next to parking;
2. Two-way sidepath distinct from the sidewalk;
3. Center median bikeway.

The center media bikeway ended up being the preferred layout. The standard bike lane option conflicted with parked cars and bus stops. The two-way sidepath would push the vehicular travel lanes towards the center, removing most or all of the center median. That media was a characteristic of the road that residents wanted preserved.

Upper Darby Public Works is taking written comments on the projects using this form and survey. You can fax your comments to 610-734-7775 (put "RE: West Chester Pike Study" on the cover) or mail it to:

Submit Comments and the survey to:
Upper Darby Township
Department of Public Works
100 Garrett Rd, Room 301
Upper Darby, PA 19082

The next step for the plan will be to present the plan to the Township Council, who will need to adopt it. It will be up to the residents to push for its implementation.

Using the median on West Chester Pike as a transportation corridor has been kicked around for years. In 2007 DVRPC conducted a feasibility study of making the median into a dedicated busway. The study recommended against it, citing insufficient bus traffic, pinch points and problematic left turn lanes. A bikeway that extends beyond Upper Darby could have similar challenges, but the implementation of this plan could become a pilot for such a facility.

Active Transportation is Gaining Traction in Harrisburg Funding Debate

For the past several months, the Bicycle Coalition of Greater Philadelphia and PA Walks and Bikes have been participating in the Keystone Transportation Funding Coalition's effort to gain support and momentum for a new state transportation funding bill.

Our asks have been straightforward:

1. Pass a comprehensive transportation funding bill this year.
2. Create a bicycle/pedestrian program or office within PennDOT.
3. Make active transportation central to the proposed "multi-modal" fund and ensure that biking and walking projects can be funded.
4. Eliminate the #1 policy hurdle (the Bicycle Occupancy Permit) that prevents the installation of bike lanes on state roads outside of Philadelphia and Pittsburgh. 

In partnership with Mission Readiness, the American Heart Association, Urban Engineers and many others, we have been visiting state senators and representatives from Southeast PA (at least eleven), developing position papers, getting letters to the editors placed in various media outlets (Inquirer, Daily News, Pottstown Mercury News, Bucks County Courier Times, Doylestown Intelligencer, and Delco Times), and created an action alert that has generated 250 letters to 76 elected state representatives and the Governor.

In late March, a sign-on letter (see below) we helped Mission Readiness with was delivered to the Assembly urging them to make biking and walking part of the proposed multi-modal fund and to establish a PennDOT office or full-time position to address bicycle/pedestrian issues.

All of this advocacy is beginning to pay off.

Delaware County Cycling Committee Meeting February 12th

The Delaware County Cycling Committee will convene for the first time in 2013 on Tuesday, February 12th at 7PM. The main item on the agenda is the disbursement of mini grants for bike-friendly infrastructure and programs in Delaware County. Bring your ideas for worthy projects in Delaware County. You can also nominate projects via email.

In 2012 the DCCC awarded funds to the Friends of the Chester Creek Trail, the East Coast Greenway Alliance for signs in Delaware County, Friends of Haverford Trails for signage, and the borough of Millbourne for the installation of bike racks.

DCCC MEETING: Feb 12, 2013, 7:00 PM 
Home of David Bennett
21 Pennock Terrace, Lansdowne, Pa. 

For more information contact: David Bennett Chairman: Delaware County Cycling Committee of the BCGP. (610) 626-1344 dster21@comcast.net.
View Larger Map

County Commissioners to Review Bucks County Bicycle Plan

202 Parkway; credit: Montgomery County Planning Commission via Flickr

The Draft Bucks County Bicycle Plan is scheduled to be presented to the County Commissioners at their January meeting. The Bucks County Planning Commission adopted the plan on Dec. 6 and recommended that the County Commissioners adopt it.

Meeting information:
Wednesday January 9th 
10:00 AM
Bucks County Courthouse
Community Room, 1st floor
55 E. Court St, Doylestown, PA.

We urge supporters who can attend the meeting to do so. We believe that the 202 Parkway Trail is raising the visibility of bike mobility in the county. Another high visibility project set to begin construction this spring, the construction of the D&L Trail Tunnel under Route 13 in Tullytown, will be the first major East Coast Greenway project in the county. The timing for the Bucks County Bike Plan could not be better and having supporters speak positively about the improvements happening in the county would be a great way to boost support for the plan.

The Year 2012 In New Jersey and Suburban PA Bicycling

The year 2012 saw important gains for bicyclists' rights and bicycling infrastructure in the counties surrounding Philadelphia. Much of those gains we've mentioned earlier this week, such as the new developments in The Circuit and legislation like the closing of the drunk driving loophole.

The Circuit will interconnect nine counties when complete

As we conclude our year-in-review series, here are some other happenings and accomplishments we can feel good about as we unwrap the plastic from our new one-a-day calendars:

Suburban Pennsylvania

• The Bicycle Coalition held six workshops in suburban PA towns, training local residents on how to become effective advocates for bicycle and pedestrian projects in their communities.
• Bucks County, Mid-Chester County, Lower Merion, and Delaware County all publicized new bicycle or greenway plans.
• We helped SEPTA, PATCO, and NJDOT create a map asking you which transit stations need more bike parking or better bicycle routes.
• A statewide push helped Pennsylvania pass a 4-foot passing law in April. This law, while it helps all bicyclists everywhere, will be especially pertinent to two-lane, shoulder-less roads in the suburban and rural parts of the state. (This could have gone under legislative highlights, but we're assuming nobody reads just one blog post here, right?)

New Jersey

• We convinced the Delaware River Port Authority to restore funding for a ramp on the Camden side of the Ben Franklin Bridge.
• Camden County, Burlington County, and Gloucester Counties began the process of developing bike/trail plans.
• We proposed and won a complete streets policy for Mantua Township.
• We worked with Gloucester County Planning and Engineering to map out 18 miles of new bike lanes.

Thank you to all those bicyclists and friends of bicyclists who supported these accomplishments by attending meetings, writing letters, and speaking up for the importance of legislative and financial support for bicycling.

Very Important Bucks County Bicycling Public Meeting This Thursday

Do you care about bicycling in Bucks County? Then there is an important public meeting you should attend this Thursday evening.

The Bucks County Bicycle Master Plan will be presented this Thursday from 6-8pm at Bucks County Community College. The presenting group, the Bucks County Bicycle Task Force, needs to demonstrate strong public support when they present the plan to the Bucks County Planning Commission.

This public meeting is a critical time for Bucks County residents to attend and show that they want to see improvements to bicycling infrastructure, programming, and legislation in their county.

What: the Bucks County Bicycle Master Plan
When: Thursday, November 8th
Time: 6:00 - 8:00 pm
Location: Bucks County Community College, Tyler Hall, Rm 142 (Directions).
(The meeting is accessible via SEPTA Bus Route 130)

See below for the meeting agenda :

Bucks County Residents: Chime In On The County Bicycle Plan!

The Bucks County Bicycle Master Plan is just about complete and the County's Bicycle Task Force is hosting a final set of meetings for the public to review and comment on the plan. The first meeting will be at Bucks County Community College in Newtown next to Tyler State Park.

In addition to attending the meeting the Task Force suggests that you visit the website bikebuckscounty.com and communicate your support to the County Commissioners by filling out the short survey at the bottom of the page.

Bucks County Bicycle Master Plan Public Meeting
Thursday, November 8th 6-8PM
Bucks County Community College
275 Swamp Rd, Newtown, PA
Tyler Hall, Room 152

You can see the draft master plan after the jump.

Learn How To Improve Your Child's Suburban School This Thursday

It's fall, the weather is crisp and cool, and you want to walk your child to school. Unfortunately, you can only spare the time one day a week. What if your school facilitated walking groups of neighborhood children and parents? Your child could get important daily exercise to and from school, which would improve little You Jr.'s learning and health.

Our Safe Routes Philly program has helped Philadelphia schools institute Walking School Buses, improve infrastructure around school campuses, and teach children how to bike safely to school. Now we want to bring this information to suburban schools.

Join us this Thursday in Jenkintown to learn how you can help get these great programs at your local school!

What: Safe Routes to School Workshop
When: Thursday, October 11th
Where: Grace Presbyterian Church, 444 Old York Road, Jenkintown, PA, 19046
Time: 6:00 - 7:30 PM
Cost: Free! Register here

Questions? Diana@bicyclecoalition.org or 215-242-9253 x 309

Upcoming Presentation: The Central Chester County Bicycle and Pedestrian Circulation Plan

On October 25th Chester County's Planning Commission and Health Departments will be presenting a draft of the regional connections component of the Central Chester County Bicycle and Pedestrian Circulation Plan. Yes, the project title is a long one, but what else are you going to call it? (Maybe we can condense the three community names into a portmanteau - ExDownChester).

Thursday, October 25th 5-7:30 PM
Presentation 6:30 PM
West Whiteland Township Building
101 Commerce Drive
Exton, PA 19341

Previous public meetings have focused on the local recommendations for Exton, Downington and West Chester. The regional connections will focus on the links that connect the communities to the rest of the Greater Philadelphia region via the Chester Valley Trail.

The meeting will take place at the West Whiteland Township Building in Exton. The building is adjacent to the western segment of the Chester Valley Trail, less than a mile from the Exton Train Station and bike parking is available.

Join Us In Doylestown This Saturday To Train Up On Your Bicycle Advocacy

Our suburban workshop series continues this weekend at the Doylestown Library* (150 S. Pine Street, Doylestown, PA). A description below:

Date: Saturday, September 29th
Time: 2:00 - 4:30 pm
Location: Doylestown Library
To register: sign up here (it's free!)

Do you want your community to be bicycle friendly? This workshop will address understanding what to ask for, building local support, securing funds, and getting the attention of your elected officials in order to make it happen.

Learn all about The Circuit, our burgeoning regional trail network, and how you can use this powerful tool to ensure your favorite trail gets built and is well maintained.

You will leave armed with materials and information to make positive bicycle change happen in your community!

Other ways to get involved: Join our Biking the Suburbs Facebook page.

*The Bucks County Free Library does not endorse or advocate the views of any group using its meeting and conference rooms.

Making Your Community More Bike Friendly in Jenkintown This Thursday

Tired of waiting for your city or state government to repair that trail, widen that shoulder, or put up bike signage?

We are hosting a workshop in Jenkintown this Thursday, and another one in Doylestown on 9/29, aimed at empowering you to make bicycle improvements happen.

We will address understanding what to ask for, building local support, securing funds, and getting the attention of your elected officials in order to make it happen.

September 13th - Biking the Suburbs Workshop
Location: Grace Presbyterian Church / 444 Old York Road, Jenkintown PA 19046
Time: 6:00 pm - 8:00 PM
Register online

September 29th - Biking the Suburbs Workshop
Location: Doylestown Library / 150 Pine St, Doylestown PA 18901
Time: 2:00 - 4:30 PM
Register online