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Right...all the bikes will be destroyed in about 2 days.
There's really no reliable evidence to show that bicycle helmets are effective at preventing injury. If you get hit by a bus chances are a piece of styrofoam isn't going to do much. Also, contrary to the unsupportable statement in the article, helmets make drivers more careless around cyclists because drivers view the cyclist as having a lower risk of injury.
Although this article pays lip service to bikes being required to abide by the same rules as cars, in reality, traffic rules are never enforced against bikes. Further, bicyclists are not required to be licensed, nor are they required to carry insurance. If they insist on the privilege of using roads, they should be held to the same standard as the operator of any other vehicle.
The thing that bugs me most, as a driver, is cyclists who just assume I'm going to stop for them, they won't make any effort to slow down for a stop sign. I understand you can't stop and start a bike as easily as a car, but at least slow down. When I'm walking, I get fed up with cyclists on the sidewalk. When I'm cycling my biggest pet peeve is idiots who can't judge the size of the car, and trail 6 inches behind me, sometimes honking or revving to intimidate me, as I do my best to stay right. When I look back they almost always have 3 feet to their left, and could easily go around me.
"On roads that don't have bike lanes, cyclists are supposed to keep to the right, if it's safe and practical, under state law, he said."
One correction: on one-way streets, which matters greatly in this city, bicycles can ride (in the direction of traffic, of course) as far to either side as safe and practicable. "(d) One-way roadways. -- Any person operating a pedalcycle upon a roadway, which carries traffic in one direction only and has two or more marked traffic lanes, may ride as near the left-hand curb or edge of the roadway as practicable, exercising due care when passing a standing vehicle or one proceeding in the same direction.
" from http://www.dot.state.pa.us/BIKE/WEB/bikelaws.htm
whether you're a driver, or a pedestrian, cyclists are always in the way. I live in the suburbs with huge sidewalks, and the bikers insist on riding in the road with the cars, annoying!
Bicycles are a nuisance in this city. For some stupid reason we keep spending money on bike lanes and this stupid bike share. Does anyboy know that a bicyclist hit and killed a pedestrian at 16th and Locust? Then he left the scene, didn't even call the cops. Bicycles need to be illiegal. These people dont have responsibility, they need to be eradicated so nobody else gets hurt or killed.
This is a well, recycled debate that seems to never be resolved except in court. This week in LA a doctor was convicted on 4 felony counts for deliberately racing ahead of 2 cyclists going 30 mph down a hill and slamming on his brakes following a heated exchanged. The cyclists crashed into the back of his car and one was badly injured.
Kenzo - fall off your bike without a helmet, then fall off your bike with a helmet. Is that the evidence you need? Getting hit by a bus is not the only kind of accident to worry about. And a smart person driving a car will recognize your very point, that a helmet does not lower risk of injury versus a car, and would still exercise the usual amount of caution, contrary to your point.
CARS should be illegal in this city. Period. Philadelphian's can't walk, ride, or drive to save their lives. you're all the problem.
@mcguirk: Apparently you didn't read the whole article. Bicycles have the same right to the road as cars do. Not everyone wants to live like a horribly unsustainable American suburbanite you know.
I would support bikers if they obeyed the traffic rules. But most of them do to pedestrians what they complain that drivers do to them. Bikers rarely stop at lights or stop signs, and when they do, they stop in the crosswalks and block them! They pay no attention to pedestrian traffic. The city must start enforcing traffic rules against cars AND bikers, or there will be even more injuries to pedestrians.
I hope Fluffer Nutter and Veal Cutlet are real happy about the bike lanes on Spruce and Pine; with the Septa strike, cars are backed up for a whole block, creating gridlock, while one or two cyclists are using the lanes. Fluffer Nutter will be a one term mayor.
Drivers must say out of bike lanes " except for carefully drifting to set up for turn" -- sounds like some of the Japanese instructions for my old VCR player. WHAT? If you "carefully drift" on Phillt downtown streets, someone will "agressively move" and you will have to "carefully drift" for blocks!
165valley who do you think will make a better mayor? perhaps the problem doesn't completely lie at the foot of the mayor but the moribund and stale culture of mediocrity within the city departments and especially with city council? I personally think the bike lanes on spruce & pine are terrific idea but idiot drivers & (ESPECIALLY) taxi cab drivers are out there making life hard for pedestrians AND cyclists. Like someone mentioned above, Philly drivers, pedestrians, and cyclists can't drive, walk, or ride worth a damn. Selfsishness & uncivility rule the streets here.
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