The East Coast Greenway in Pennsylvania took three steps forward when 3 trail segments received DCNR Community Conservation Partnerships Awards; Spring Garden Connector (PEC), Neshaminy Creek Bridge (RDA of Bucks County) and Cobbs Creek Connector Trail (Clean Air Council).Delaware County also won a DCNR grant to prepare a Greenway Plan. The Chester County Cycling Coalition raised issues concerning chip and tar with PennDOT's District 6 on October 4th, winning verbal agreements to make improvements in the type of chips used in the future and better signage to warn cyclists of upcoming patches.
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Bucks County Bicycle Task Force, October 25
Smart Thinking About Smart Transportation at Brandywine River Museum October 28th
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Highlights from Greater Philadelphia Bicycle News Thank you to all those riders who came out to Bike Philly 2010! Despite the rain we had a great turn-out and lots of smiling faces.
The City Planning Commission was presented with the final draft of Phase I of Philadelphia's Ped/Bike Plan. Phase 2 is underway and the public is invited to fill out a questionnaire and Community walk.
Philadelphia is hosting bicycle officials from New York City, Portland and San Francisco, all members of Cities for Cycling, to learn more about innovative ways to make Philly more bike friendly. they'll be sharing their ideas with Deputy Mayor Rina Cutler at the Academy of Natural Sciences on Thursday, October 28. RSVP.
Philadelphia bicycle commuting grew to 2.2%, according to 2009 Census estimates.
Check out John Boyle's report from this year's Pro Walk Pro Bike conference in Chattanooga, TN. and how different that meeting was from the DVRPC's Board Retreat.
This fall, Philadelphia Parks & Recreation is hosting a bike club for teens in the Cobbs Creek neighborhood. Pennsylvania applied for a TIGER II grant to plan and build 30 trail segments in PA, DE and NJ, but unfortunately, did not get an award.
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Dear Bicyclist, Are you ready to celebrate our bicycling mojo at the Philadelphia Bike Expo? Some of this month's additions to the momentum: the Philadelphia Bike Plan (phase 1) was just released, new bike lanes will not only be on the new South Street Bridge when it reopens on November 6 but also on all streets connecting to it (that means new buffered bike lanes on South Street and Lombard near the bridge!), PennDOT has agreed to make improvements to the dreaded chip and tar paving system it uses and plans are afoot for a suburban bicycle advocacy summit this winter. And Safe Routes Philly is ready to bust out a Safe Routes to School curriculum that is so good kids won't even notice it's about safety. Don't forget to help me make it all possible by making your membership gift for 2011 right now! Thanks for your support!
Alex Doty
Executive Director
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October 30-31, 2010 Celebrate bicycling in Philadelphia at this first annual event organized by Bilenky Cycle Works and the Bicycle Coalition of Greater Philadelphia.
What: Express your two-wheeled heart with others who share your passion. Visit 70+ exhibitors and enjoy seminars, demonstrations, a swap meet, fashion show and a Halloween Party. For complete schedule visit www.phillybikeexpo.com
Where: The Armory, 23rd St between Market and Chestnut
Tickets: All Weekend Pass (Expo and Seminars included) - $20 (in advance); $25 (day of) Day Pass - $5 (in advance); $10 (day of); ($15 w/ Seminars)
If you're a bicycle club activist, be sure not to miss the Bicycle Club Officers Symposium at the Expo! For more information, or to participate in this symposium, please contact Linda McGrane
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Complete the Trail
Three gaps identified by the Complete the Trail campaign moved one step closer to completion last week when Pennsylvania's Department of Conservation and Natural Resources announced its October 2010 awards for the Conservation Community Partnership Program Award. The Manayunk Bridge, Ivy Ridge and West Bank Connector now can undergo feasibility planning to determine how to construct trails through these gaps of the Schuylkill River Trail.
Bike the Pike
Delaware County Cycling Committee organized the Bike the Pike campaign in late September to highlight the dangerous conditions of West Chester Pike (Route 3) that led to the death of Haverford Professor Rusty Garrett this past July. Campaign volunteers held up signs and urged passing motorists to put down their cell phones and allow bicyclists full use of the lanes. Afterward, BCGP staff and county volunteers met with PennDOT officials to discuss possible solutions, which they committed to working on.
South Street Bridge Connections
Just under the 24 month projected deadline, the South Street Bridge will reopen to pedestrian, bicycle and vehicular traffic on Saturday, November 6th. At 2pm, bicyclists and pedestrians get an hour to walk and bike across the bridge without motor vehicular traffic before the opening ceremony. Join us for a bike parade and other activities! Not only will the Bridge have an improved design (wider green colored bicycle lanes, a reduction in vehicle lanes, relocation of street lights, and traffic signal adjustments optimized for pedestrian movements and safety), but it will connect to buffered bike lanes on South and Lombard Streets to 21st Street, thanks to the Nutter Administration and South Street Bridge Coalition. This is all on top of repaved Spruce and Pine Streets, which should be finished by the end of October. Slowly but surely, Philly is starting to see a refashioned streetscape that begins to reflect everyone's needs.
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Coming to an Elementary School Near You: Bicycle and Pedestrian Safety Education!
The Education Department is excited to have received two grants that give us the opportunity to offer bicycle safety education to all Philadelphia Elementary Schools, under our Safe Routes Philly program.
Public School Programming - As part of the "Get Healthy Philly" Campaign, under an obesity-prevention grant from the Centers for Disease Control, Safe Routes Philly Community Representatives offer curriculum, training, and resources for public elementary school teachers. Safe Routes Philly provides support through a website and telephone-based assistance to help 2nd and 5th grade teachers in implementing pedestrian (2nd grade) and bicycle (5th grade) safety lessons. In addition to the curriculum, we look forward to helping individual schools create sustained encouragement campaigns to get their kids walking and biking safely on a regular basis.
Private, Parochial, Independent, and Charter School Programming - Through federal transportation dollars our Safe Routes Philly youth instructor teaches a 45-60 minute in-class lesson to any private, parochial, independent, or charter school in Philadelphia County. Our bicycle safety lesson targets fifth graders in order to provide the skills necessary for safe urban riding before they reach the critical age of twelve. City law requires those over the age of 12 to ride in the street (and not on the sidewalk). In addition to riding safely, students learn to view the bicycle as a good means of recreation, exercise, and transportation.
Promoting Walking and Biking in Your Child's School -We are interested in hearing about the walking and biking programs in our local schools and providing assistance to get new ones started. To find out more about our education programs, how to get them in your child's school and to tell us about the youth biking and walking initiatives in your community, email Diana Owens, Assistant Director of Education, at diana@bicyclecoalition.org.
Bicycle Ambassadors
We had a very successful 2010 season. Look out for our annual report in the new year! We are still looking for volunteers to continue our efforts during the off-season. If you would like to volunteer, contact Caroline Heffernan at caroline@bicyclecoalition.org.
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