The Bicycle Coalition of Greater Philadelphia has been counting cyclists recently, and it’s encouraged by the results.
According to its report, in the three years between 2005 and 2008, bicycling increased 104 percent, or roughly 35 percent per year.
And this, notes Alex Doty, executive director of the coalition, without any encouragement in the form of better bicycling facilities, such as bike lanes and parking. "Imagine the number of people who will bike, and the resulting benefits of reduced greenhouse gasses and improved public health, if the city follows through on its promises to create more bicycle-friendly streets," Doty said.
The coalition wants to see an east-west bicycle boulevard from 25th Street to Front Street and a north-south boulevard from Girard to Washington Avenue. For one thing, it would enhance safety in Philadelphia's busiest bicycling corridors.
Here, here. I love the way some cities have created pedestrian-only streets. Why not a few bikes-only streets as well?
Another tidbit from the report: Counting all five Schuylkill River Bridges together, on average 600 bikes per hour (BPH) crossed the Schuylkill River between West Philadelphia and Center City during peak travel times in 2008, which has an average of 120 BPH per bridge. Overall, the average for all bridges and intersections in 2008 was 131 BPH.
You can check out the entire 2008 Bike Count Report is available on the Coalition's website at www.bicyclecoalition.org.
Philadelphia needs to create a safe bike network. Closing certain streets to bicylcles is a necessity if this city wants to bring its transportation system into the 21st Century.— lickspitle- oops I mean closing certain streets to cars, not bikes!— lickspitle
- Regarding the City taking positive steps to promote bicycle use, can anybody explain the detail of the program that has recently brought dozens of black tubular bike racks/lock-up posts to the sidewalks of Old City?— Joe Schiavo
Comment removed.- This is great news! Even more important, I think, than bicycle friendly streets is EDUCTATING motorist and cyclist on how to behave when on the streets. I'm an avid fan of cycling as much as possible. Right now I have my Trek hybrid on a OneUp. I've been riding through this city for at least 15 years and have seen it all. It's just as important that cyclist make a committment to safety as the motorists. I'm just sayin'...— PotteryPete
- YES! bicyclists AND pedestrians need to know the rules of the road. Rule number one? Cars and trucks are BIGGER than you, so ride and walk defensively. You are tiny compared to the rest of the traffic. Ride and walk as if the driver does NOT see you. And stay in your lane and on the correct side of the road. Right for bikes..and left for pedestrians in the street. Your safety is up to YOU.— cinbabes
- Comment removed.
- I agree with ugly nurse. No one will replace thier cars with bikes until the city is safer.— BillfromNJ44
- Comment removed.
- @ Joe Schiavo: The city has been installing a large number of new bike racks throughout center city. @ Ugly Nurse, et al. The catch-22 of biking in the city is that it becomes safer the more people do it. Many novices will not bike unless it's safe, but people don't recognize our safety in numbers. And though bike theft is a serious problem in Philly, it's easily preventable. Buy a U-lock and lock both wheel and frame to the rack. Better yet, do away with all quick-release attachments if you are afraid of theft. Easy enough. I've had one wheel stolen in 6 years of riding and locking up outside. You could also move away if the city disgusts you so much.— Schmoe
- I have been riding everyday in the city for about ten years now and I concur that there are many more bikers than in the past . Get yourself a nice kryptonite lock and be sure to lock the frame and the front wheel and you should be fine.— darth nihilius
- Not enough credit is being given to the high gas prices this past year and it's serious damage it did to our economy and society. A record number of homes and jobs have been lost as a direct result.Most families broke the budget at the pump alone. The high cost of fuel affected production and shipping of every consumer product & was passed on to us at the checkout. Electric companies have huge rate hikes. And, while we are doing the happy dance around the lower prices at the pumps OPEC is announcing cuts to manipulate the prices upward again.We can't take another year like this past. There is a wonderful new book out about the energy crisis and what it would take for America to become energy independent.This book is profoundly informative and our country needs to become more informed and move forward with becoming energy independent. Green technology would not only provide clean cheap energy it would create millions of badly needed new jobs. The Book is called The Manhattan Project of 2009 Energy Independence NOW by Jeff Wilson. I highly recommend this book if you are distressed about our economy, would like to see new jobs created and see our country become energy independent. www.themanhattanprojectof2009.com— BeyondGreen
12 comments
About Sandy Bauers
Sandy Bauers is the environment reporter for the Philadelphia Inquirer, where she has worked for more than 20 years as a reporter and editor. She lives in northern Chester County with her husband, two cats, a large vegetable garden and a flock of pet chickens.
GreenSpace - her column about how to reduce your carbon footprint in everyday life - appears every other Monday in Health & Science.
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