Greetings!
Our sweat has paid dividends. The Montgomery County Commissioners have indicated they will not eliminate the Parks and Planning Departments, and the PA Auditor Jack Wagner called on DRPA to build the ramp with remaining capital funds.
These efforts cap an extremely productive and exciting 2011. This Cyclegram presents a highlight reel of all we've accomplished together in the past year. As I said last month, in many ways it has never been a better time to be a cyclist in our region.
Your support, by becoming a member, signing petitions, and most of all by bicycling, makes this work possible. We have an ambitious 2012 ahead of us. We hope you will join the Bicycle Coalition for 2012 and share our vision of making the Greater Philadelphia Region an even better place to ride a bicycle.
Alex Doty
Executive Director
|
 2011 In Our Rear View Bike Helmet Mirror It's been a very busy year for us, filled with the expected and unexpected that comes with making our region a better place to ride a bike. Thanks to your participation, membership, and support, the Bicycle Coalition's work contributed to many regional accomplishments over the past 12 months. Here are ways in which the Greater Philadelphia Region is a better place to ride a bike today than it was a year ago:
Improving Bicycling in the Suburbs and New Jersey:
- The Cynwyd Trail opened.
- The Camden Greenway in Farnham Park was built.
- Phase 1 of the Schuylkill River Trail in Chester County was completed.
- Funding was secured to design and build the trail over the Manayunk Bridge.
- We led the fight against Montgomery County closing its Parks and Planning Departments.
- A new regional trail grant program awarded $5.2 million to 18 trail projects.
Improving Bicycling in Philadelphia: - Buffered bike lanes painted on 10th and 13th Streets.
- South Philadelphia gained its first sharrows.
- Green bike lanes arrived on the South Street Bridge and Ben Franklin Parkway.
- We brought Philadelphia its first in-street bike corral.
- Locust and Race Street crossings were gated and the Connector Bridge construction got underway.
- Kelly Drive path between East Falls Bridge and Ridge Avenue was repaired and opened.
- Hoagie turn at intersection of Kelly Drive and Ridge Avenue was widened.
- We won $1,000 for the bike corral in the Philly OpenDataRace.
- Over 800 participated in our first Commuter Challenge.
Wins in the Legislative Trenches: - We beat back the Philadelphia City Council's attempt to mire bike lanes in red tape.
- More than 1,100 of you defended Transportation Enhancements against Congressional attacks.
- We organized at the House Transportation Committee listening session in King of Prussia and held District Office meetings with Congressmen Meehan and Gerlach.
- To date, more than 975 of you signed the petition requesting that DRPA fund the Ben Franklin Bridge ramp.
Moving Bicycling Forward with Research: - We published Mode Shift, a significant new look at the city and region's bicycle commuting trends.
- We partnered with the Tri State Transportation Campaign on a road safety audit in South Jersey.
- We partnered with the Community Design Collaborative to propose innovative street designs to a corridor of South Philly.
Increasing Safety and Activity in Philly Public Schools: - Safe Routes Philly brought pedestrian and bicycling safety instruction to more than 20,000 Philadelphia public school students.
- We helped the School District of Philadelphia site 147 new bike racks at 22 public schools.
This work is made possible by you! You bike the Greater Philadelphia Region and create the demand for the improved infrastructure and better legislation that we strive to achieve through advocacy, education and encouragement. |
 | | Not an acceptable entrance to a critical Delaware crossing |
Take Action: Tell the Delaware River Port Authority To Build The Bike/Ped Ramp
We've been extensively covering DRPA's reneging on their pledge to build a bicycle and disabled-pedestrian-accessible ramp on the Camden side of the bridge. You can see our coverage of the issue on our blog.
We are circulating a petition asking DRPA to build the ramp. We've gained almost 1,000 signatures - add your signature today! We are taxpayers, drivers, pedestrians and cyclists, and DRPA should serve all bridge users by building the ramp.
|
 Join the Bicycle Coalition in 2012!
We recently moved our membership program to a rolling basis, but the majority of our members renew in the fall or winter. Now is the time to renew your membership!
Your membership fuels our efforts to improve bicycling in the Greater Philadelphia Region. From new bike lanes to a completed Schuylkill River Trail, we speak loudly for your interests as a bicyclist. Benefits of your membership include: - Attendance at our yearly Annual Meeting
- Discounts at over 30 bike-related retailers
- Discounted registration at Bike Philly
- A tax deduction
Have you changed your mailing address or e-mail address? Let us know by sending an e-mail to: donations@bicyclecoalition.org.
|
Bike Links
|
 | | Happy holidays from the staff of the Bicycle Coalition of Greater Philadelphia |
|
