Sharing the road - and responsibility
The relationship between motorists and bicyclists in the city is rocky, to say the least: Cyclists complain that drivers are aggressive and hostile; motorists cry foul over the unpredictable patterns of cyclists who flout traffic laws and who make driving in the city, never pleasant, a dangerous obstacle course.
Bicycles and bicycling are the near the epicenter of debates on building a more sustainable society. But all is not smooth riding, as a new report out of France shows. And you don't need to go that far; here's how we put it in yesterday's editorial...
The relationship between motorists and bicyclists in the city is rocky, to say the least: Cyclists complain that drivers are aggressive and hostile; motorists cry foul over the unpredictable patterns of cyclists who flout traffic laws and who make driving in the city, never pleasant, a dangerous obstacle course.
And today Catherine Lucey reported on get-tough legislation for Philly cyclists:
Councilmen Jim Kenney and Frank DiCicco plan to introduce several pieces of legislation tomorrow that would set tougher standards for Philadelphia cyclists. "It's a good thing people are using more and more bicycles for transportation," Kenney said. "But there are rules they have to follow."
Kenney's legislation would increase the fine for riding on the sidewalk from $10 to $300, increase the fine for riding with headphones from $3 to $300 and require that people on bicycles without brakes face a $1,000 fine or confiscation.