Lobbying Bike Paths - Philadelphia

Philadelphia has twice as many bicycle commuters than in any other city in the United States, which ranks it among the most bicycled city in the country. According to a census report of 2,100 population, Center City and South Philadelphia rank in the top 25 of the part of the city that uses bicycles as a form of transportation the most, in the country. However, Philadelphia lacks bike paths. Bikes are considered a vehicle. Vehicles are not permitted on sidewalks. There are not enough bike paths in different parts of the city to satisfy riders. They would be less likely to ride on the side walk if there were bike paths in the street. There are bike paths in the east and west direction on Spruce and Pine streets. " The rate of sidewalk riding on Spruce and Pine is eight times lower than on streets with no bike lanes." According to Research Director John Boyle. What about North and South? Or 10th and 13th streets? Having bike lanes on busy and important streets throughout the city is the key to make Philadelphia sheets safer for drivers, bikers and pedestrians.

I am extremely for the bike lanes because I have biked in the city. Biking through traffic is intimidating and scary especially since there are drivers who do not pay attention or are texting and not focusing on the task at hand. Therefore putting their lives and mine at risk. I would rather go around the world to get to the bike paths on Pine or Spruce than bike through the city with cars. Bicycles are considered vehicles. We all know bicycles do not go nearly as fast as cars, so although drivers should share the road, it is much more convenient for bikers to have their own paths and for drivers to have their own. EVERYONE'S HAPPY! The Bike Coalition of the greater Philadelphia area are constantly on a move towards improving the safety of bikers. Recently the City is even doing trials in order to test the feasibility of riders by removing a traffic lane on JFK and market. They are testing whether or not three lanes can handle the motor vehicle traffic, who are used to having four lanes. If the test is successful than they will permanently add physically separated bike lanes, which will be the first for Philadelphia.

Bikes lanes to be added to 10th and 13th streets
http://philadelphia.cbslocal.com/2011/04/29/philadelphia-adding-bike-lanes-to-10th-and-13th-streets-in-center-city/

Pennsylvania Bike Laws

New Bills

MORE FACTS

Of the nation's 10 biggest cities, Philadelphia's bicycle mode share is twice as high as next-best Chicago.
Percent of commuters who bike to work: 2009- 2.16 %
Female cyclist % very high
Between 2000 and 2009, percent of workers who bike grew by 151 %

This rate is similar to what the Bicycle Coalition documented by counting bicyclists on the street during the morning and evening rush hours; between 2005 and 2010, the average number of bikes per hour counted grew 127 percent. Between 1990 and 2009, the number of bicyclists crossing the Schuylkill River grew by 361 percent

Bike lanes, and more bicyclists, lead to better behavior.
Sidewalk riding drops from 19.8% on streets with no bike lane to 8.6% on streets with a bike lane to 2.4% on streets with a buffered bike lane. The Bicycle Coalition's counts document that, between 2006 and 2010, while helmet use has risen, sidewalk riding and riding the wrong way have fallen at all counted locations.

Bicyclists like bike lanes, and they like buffered bike lanes even better.
The Bicycle Coalition's counts found streets with bike lanes had more cyclists than streets without them, and had more growth in bicyclists than streets without bike lanes.