ofofhy

OK, so I know the intent of Critical Mass is to promote bicycles as a viable transportation method and to raise awareness to the fact that bicycles have as much right to the roads as do automobiles. So why during Critical Mass this past Friday did I see people riding on the sidewalk???

I was in bar on the second floor overlooking Chestnut St here in Philly when they went by. I was watching out the window, especially since it was the Halloween version with people in costumes. Then I start to see people coming up riding on the sidewalk. What is the point of participating in CM if you are not going to ride on the road, especially since it is illegal to ride a bike on the sidewalks of Center City Philly. I just think that it shows that there are a lot of people who participate in CM that just haven't a clue about the real message that CM originally set out to promote.

So, while I support the message of CM and their right to ride, stay off of the damn sidewalks. They are called sidewalks, not siderides! Give pedestrians their lawful space, too.

Roody

Personally, I don't like riding on the sidewalk either, especially in business districts. But it is the individual riders, not Critical Mass, who bear the responsibility. I know that sounds simple, but it seems to be real hard for most people to understand.

CM has no rules and almost no organization, certainly no marshalls with police power to bust individual riders. This anarchic looseness actually seems to be what bothers many CM critics the most. We live in a very control-oriented society, obviously.

Brian

How hard would it be for someone to point out to the offending sideriders that they're not helping the cause?

Brian Ratliff

Why? And for what cause? As far as CM is concerned, there seems to be no real cause to fight for other than to see more bikes on the street. This is not a politically oriented group. They seem to leave political advocacy to groups like the LAB etc.

slagjumper

Too bad that the legal riders can't get it together to do a mass ride. Why not do a mass ride where all rules are followed? And do it at 7:40 AM monday mornings. You know we could ride one or two abreast (if permitted by law). We could take up a whole lane, but not 2, 3 or 4. We could stop at all the lights, signs, etc. I'd think that such an organized, legal ride would cause far more headaches for the oil users.

Brian

Silly me. I forgot that CM is just a bunch of people on bikes, all with varying agendas.

Dchiefransom

If they had no legal violations to complain about, those headaches would turn into migraines. Might be a few myocardial infarctions.

Roody

A "legal" ride as big as a CM ride sure would tie up traffic for hours! Great idea.

Roody

I'm not sure of your point, but you have been nominated for the Golden Asterisk Award (the A**ies). Congratulations.

Brian

I've taken to just throwing out 4 or 5 at a time. Here, have a handful, you ******.

slagjumper

I am not sure how good of a job CM does at promoting cycling or a particular political point of view, but I specifically detest the idea that these folks (link below) are raping the world, "being political" and taken folks hard earned cash and health.

Hey it's our money give it back!

slvoid

That's called commuting.

cc_rider

Is riding a bicycle on a sidewalk illegal in Philadelphia?

In DC it is legal, except in the Central Business District.


edit - Looked it up in the Philadelphia city code

373.10 RIDING ON SIDEWALKS.
(a) No person shall operate a bicycle upon the sidewalks of the Public Square, or
upon the sidewalks of High Avenue and Broadway Street within one block of the Public Square.
(Ord. 2035. Passed 12-5-38.)

Unless there is a more recent ammendment that the city doesn't have on it's website, looks like bicycles are allowed on most sidewalks. Wouldn't Chestnut street be outside the restricted zone?

I'm not a big fan of Critical Mass or their tactic, and they are often accused of illegal behavior. But if the people riding on the sidewalks were doing it legally, I can't condem them too much for it. (I'm not a big fan of riding on sidewalks either, but if it is legal I'll respect their right to do it.)

slagjumper

In Pittsburgh there are so few commuters, that I only see one or two other cyclists, (going my way), on my entire 12 mile morning commute! I might see 5 people on bikes on different routes/directions. On the way home I might see 15 bikes moving.

The Pittsburgh CMs have a turn out of about 100 - 250 on average. A legal morning mass commute would be a challange to organize, since people commute from all over and would therefor have to go a good bit out of thier way to "start" at some outlying point and end a point that is not necessarily their end point.

With so many people in NYC commuting, you'd think that someone would have tried to do a mass, legal morning commute type thing. I guess it be a challenge to all slow down and buch up a bit. Seems like a few weeks of that would have motorists clamering for the cyclists to just start running the red lights again.

Funny thing happened at the burgh's last cm. Cars started running the red lights too.

slvoid

Since so many people commute by bike in NYC, I always thought it'd be a cool idea to find a few wider avenues and organize mass commutes. There's always safety in numbers. If a lot of cyclists start taking one or two central avenues then branching off to side streets, then for the majority of our commute, we'll have a much bigger presence, almost like a bike highway. We don't even have to start at the same time, as long as people stick to a few key routes, we'll have a lot more presence.

But then it won't be so fun to be law abiding...

I-Like-To-Bike

Where is Broadway Street or the "Public Square" in Philadelphia? Lived there for close to 30 years and never heard of 'em; High Street is a small street in West Oak lane and I doubt that any code was written just for that one street which is located in a residential area.

ofofhy

Actually there is a more recent one. The code you are quoting is from 1938 and is antiquated.

And, if I remember correctly, all of Center City is considered a business district. "The Vehicle Code" refers to the vehicle code of the state of PA. I know I saw where the business district is clearly spelled out, but I am having trouble finding the actual definition.

webist

Interesting point, however flawed. I used to believe that I was virtually alone on the road when cycling around my town. Like you, I saw very few cyclists. One morning though, I had a flat (blowout) and had to wait at an intersection for about 20 minutes for a ride. During that time 13 cyclists pedaled through the intersection. I learned that one only sees the cyclists in one's field of vision; not all of them.

ofofhy

https://www.vpul.upenn.edu/osl/bikepol.html

Even UPenn's campus is considered a business district under PA law... So it is pretty obvious that Center City (including Chestnut) is a business district as well.

"B. Synopsis of Pennsylvania and Philadelphia law

1. Human powered, pedal cycles are vehicles according to the Pennsylvania Vehicle Code.
2. Vehicles, as indicated in #1 above are subject to the provisions of the vehicle code when operated on the highways and may not stop, stand or park where prohibited or where controlled by official traffic control devices to include firelanes, handicapped zones, etc.
3. The Philadelphia Code prohibits any person above the age of 12 from riding a cycle on any sidewalk or pedestrian pathway in a business district. The Penn Campus area meets the definition of a business district.
4. A person walking a bicycle is considered a pedestrian.
5. The Philadelphia Fire Code requires clear passage from all exits and stairways at all times. No obstruction shall be permitted.
6. University Police are authorized to enforce both the Pennsylvania Vehicle Code and City of Philadelphia Ordinances. "

noisebeam

Same here. Over a 5 weekday commute I may see 2-3 road commuters (but dozens of sidewalk ones, mostly waiting at bus stops) But I know there are quite a few more road commuters that I see on my commute.

Al

cc_rider

Thanks for the clarification. I suspected that there was a more recent one, but the google searches kept taking me to the old one.
Since they (CM) appear to have been riding on the sidewalk illegally, HANG 'EM ALL.

Savas

Are Critical Mass riders mostly unemployed?

ofofhy

The two I know have regular, salaried jobs.