Media Alert/Photo Opportunity                                  Contact:  Breen Goodwin

December 8, 2008                                                                      (503) 754-4798 (mobile)

South Street Bridge Bike Detours

WHAT             With the South Street Bridge closing this morning, the Bicycle Coalition of Greater Philadelphia is asking bicyclists to ride safely on detours.  Bicycle Ambassadors street teams will be located at key intersections during the morning and evening rush hours on the first day of the closure. Ambassadors, wearing yellow vests, will be handing out detour maps as well as rules of the road for bicyclists.

WHERE          Bicycle Ambassadors will be stationed at 33^rd and Spruce Street during the morning rush hour and at 33^rd and Walnut Streets during the evening rush hour.

WHEN             Monday, December 8, 2008 

8:45 - 9:30 a.m. at 33^rd and Spruce Streets

4:30 - 5:30 p.m. at 33^rd and Walnut Streets

WHY                The anticipated increase in motor vehicle, pedestrian and bicycle traffic on all detour roads makes it critical that rules of the road be followed and enforced for all users.  A recent count of all of the five Schuylkill Bridges found that the South Street Bridge is the most heavily used by bicyclists with about 160 bikes per hour crossing the bridge during peak times.  The Bicycle Coalition of Greater Philadelphia is concerned that bicyclists who want to go to Center City may try to use Walnut Street Bridge, either by riding on sidewalks or in the bike lane going in the wrong direction.

WHO               The Bicycle Ambassadors program is a community adult education program sponsored by the Bicycle Coalition of Greater Philadelphia, the city of Philadelphia, University City District and Fairmount Park. 

The Bicycle Coalition of Greater Philadelphia is a non-profit 501(c)(3) organization making bicycling better through advocacy and education by promoting biking as a healthy, low-cost, and environmentally-friendly form of transportation and recreation.  For more information visit www.bicyclecoalition.org.

CONTACT      Breen Goodwin, Bicycle Ambassador Coordinator

                        Phone:  (215) 242-9253, ext. 5#

                        Mobile:  (503) 754-4798 (mobile)

                        Email:  breen@bicyclecoalition.org

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