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I applaud the efforts of the coalition and the police to go after the scofflaws cyclists, the increase of cyclists calls for some action. But, I think there should be more action from the police to look at scofflaw motorists in cars, and every present ATV'S in the city that create more of a hazard to the public. I like to see the statistics of accidents caused by motorists, and ATV'S as opposed to bicyclists. The city and police see a easy pay day in collecting fines from cyclists as opposed to motorists, and ATV's, who they won't pursue in fear of causing accidents in their pursuit.
Augh. Goodwin of the Bicycle Coalition is right about the spirit of the law, but what she's saying completely defies common sense. A bike is a "legal motor [sic] vehicle"? Uh, no. It's a non-motorized, street-legal vehicle, period. Its use is governed by the PA Vehicle Code as well as the Philadelphia Code. Get it right, people.
>suggests the accidents are relatively common<
gee, what does 'common' mean here?
that journalism? good reporting?
don't think so.
I think cyclists have a right to the road, but by the same point they have to follow the rules that everyone else has to follow. I do agree that drivers of cars have to be more considerate, but cyclists need to follow the laws too.
these cyclist are the root of the problem to all the yupies that are moving here in the last few years this is a big city when in rome
The penalties to hitting someone and leaving the scene of an accident, should be the same if on a bike or behind the wheel of an automobile.You can usually tell a bike messengers coming by the reek of foul body odor that assaults you.
There were two accidents, that many? Look I agree that bikers have to better follow a code of riding but if you want them to follow the same as autos your are going to cause massive traffic problems. Imagine bikes driving right down the middle of every street in the city, not down the side. If they follow auto regulations they would have the same right to the middle of that street as a car. To pull out at every light would be slower and tie ups would be every where. Bikes should have their own set of rules. Pedestrians do not stand at a red light when there is no on coming traffic, they go. When traffic is standing still or creeping bikes should be able to pass safely. It does'nt make sense to point out how bad drivers and walkers follow the laws, thats a givin. East river Drive the the path signs read every 100 yards "walkers stay on right" Ha! they are right in the middle making bikes dodge them all along the route. If you hit them or get close the biker in the wrong. What the city has to do is make a safer way for the bikes to navigate the streets. Cyclist don't go out of their way to run at people, drive on the sidewalk because it is more fun, or run lights, and stops because they like playing chicken with a 4000lbs cars. Bikes are by far the safest vehicals on the road and should have a code of conduct for the saftey of the biker and the public.
I hope the City does get tough. Bad bikers have killed one person in the last few weeks and seriously injuring others. Very soon you will have a road rage incident where a biker is the victim.
Bikers COMPLETELY ignore traffic laws :D! A couple years ago, I was driving south on 16th street towards Allegheny. I had the light at Allegheny, so I'm cruising through the intersection. All of a sudden...out of NOWHERE...this guy riding a bike comes riding out in the middle of the street, completely ignoring the light!! Ignoring EVERYTHING :D! He didn't even look to check if a car was coming, his mind was somewhere else! I slammed the breaks, but I still hit him enough to knock him down! I was like, OMG, I just KILLED somebody :D! I got out out the car to help, and luckily he was okay and he dusted himself off and kept going :)! They're not only a danger to YOU, but to themselves!
The worst part about bikers in Philadelphia is the smug sense of entitlement. No surprise that they also tend to be anarchists or tree hugging liberals. The decline of basic decency in society is a sad but true occurance.
Have you ever tried to walk or bike in Fairmount Park? Bikers whiz by with the fanciest bikes and equipment and the dandiest bike attire, but can't be bothered to use a bell or horn to warn others that they're passing. I'm a cyclist (was a NYC bike messenger for a while); Philly cyclists are the worst, and the Bicycle Coalition seems more interested in encouraging bicyclists' sense of entitlement than their sense of responsibility and good citizenship.
First Cuch needs to re-read the article because they obviously didn't understand a word the first time they read it. Second, I saw a biker killed because they weren't following the rules of the road. I have also been lightly struck by bikes not following the rules. I'm currently disabled with two artificial hips, not due to bike accidents. Cyclists scare me more than cars simply because you don't know what their general "rule of thought" should be or is. They may be stopped at an intersection, you go to cross, they ignore the light and start out very fast to make it across in time and WHAM. I have watched it. There are many accidents a year involving bikes, but as noted in the article, the police don't count them. They should count them and the DA should be required to treat ALL cyclists as a vehicle, like the law says. TICKET, TICKET, TICKET!!!
Wow, TJones. Way to stereotype. You seem educated.
PaulDeon, Soon there will be a road rage biker victim? There are drivers who purposely open their car doors into traffic to hit bikers, ride right up bikers butts on the street, cut in and out of the bike lanes on Spruce and Pine Streets in front of the bikes, race to make turns in front of the bikes than stop. Unless you ride a bike in this city people have no idea what drivers do to bikers. The other day I was at 2nd & Lombard talking to a police bike patrol officer, when, right in front of us, a SUV ran a stop, almost hit a biker, then screamed at the cyclist. The patrolman said to me that most drivers have no respect for the bikers and many treat them with utter contempt. That without spending a day on a bike that the public has no idea what cyclist live with just to get accross town. It is like driving through a mine field and yet all you hear about are the rouge bikers. Most bikers are safe drivers, they have to be for their own saftey, but there are those who like drivers and pedestrians will never follow anyones rules.
""Are we as diligent about it as we should be? Probably not," Philadelphia Sgt. Ray Evers said. "But we have to prioritize. We can't even stop every car violation we see.""
This quote says it all. The Police don't think it's worth their time. I suppose when a bike messenger blows through an intersection and kills a cop they'll suddenly change their mind.
When police enforce nothing, it's anything goes and is only going to escalate.
The bike messengers are the worst menance in Center City, speeding well above the 25MPH limit for vehicles, riding the wrong way, zooming through red lights with people in the crosswalks.
How about a couple of first steps.
Prohibit use of bikes with no brakes.
Require a license for all messengers, clearly displayed on them similar to bike racers.
Immediately impound bikes used improperly and confiscate those with no brakes.
Fine the messenger companies and their clients for violations.
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