Northeast - Philadelphia - New Bike Lanes

Starting Labor Day there will be two new bike lanes on Spruce and Pine street (one way streets) to allow cyclists to travel east and west across center city. The lane size is supposed to be 7 feet wide. The online comments to the article in the Inquirer are both pro and con coming from cyclists and car drivers.

http://www.philly.com/philly/news/50825692.html

Interesting (and predictable) comments there. Personally, I think it's an OK idea, but I'm sort of lukewarm about it. Leaving aside my firm (and unfortunately impractical) belief that all cars should be "checked at the door" to CC and not allowed on *any* street north of Bainbridge, south of Spring Garden, river to river, we do indeed need better cycling infrastructure in Philly and particularly in CC. I agree with one of the comments that we need to have better protection for the lanes, such as they have in Amsterdam, where there is a raised curb that separates the bike lane from traffic, and in some cases, railings. Otherwise, we'll continue to see lots of motorists taking our lane to scoot around parked or slower cars (and, BTW, *failing to signal*!!!!), as well as idiots who seem to think that every bike lane is a personal parking spot.

Absent such protection, I don't see how this will work. Also, as to using the side streets (Delancey, Addison, etc.)- I used to commute from 9th and Clinton to Penn using these, back in the 70s when taking Lombard/SS Bridge was far, far, far worse. The side streets work, sort of, but you still get blocked by parked cars, they aren't a straight shot across CC, and you have a problem with crossing the numbered streets because of the lack of traffic lights or stop signs. I've wondered why the city just doesn't close down Sansom Street to traffic, making it a pedestrian/cycling mall- that would be a better choice, IMO, than Spruce and Pine.

Interesting (and predictable) comments there. Personally, I think it's an OK idea, but I'm sort of lukewarm about it. Leaving aside my firm (and unfortunately impractical) belief that all cars should be "checked at the door" to CC and not allowed on *any* street north of Bainbridge, south of Spring Garden, river to river, we do indeed need better cycling infrastructure in Philly and particularly in CC. I agree with one of the comments that we need to have better protection for the lanes, such as they have in Amsterdam, where there is a raised curb that separates the bike lane from traffic, and in some cases, railings. Otherwise, we'll continue to see lots of motorists taking our lane to scoot around parked or slower cars (and, BTW, *failing to signal*!!!!), as well as idiots who seem to think that every bike lane is a personal parking spot.

Absent such protection, I don't see how this will work. Also, as to using the side streets (Delancey, Addison, etc.)- I used to commute from 9th and Clinton to Penn using these, back in the 70s when taking Lombard/SS Bridge was far, far, far worse. The side streets work, sort of, but you still get blocked by parked cars, they aren't a straight shot across CC, and you have a problem with crossing the numbered streets because of the lack of traffic lights or stop signs. I've wondered why the city just doesn't close down Sansom Street to traffic, making it a pedestrian/cycling mall- that would be a better choice, IMO, than Spruce and Pine.

those lanes are a menace.

I'm skeptical as well. I predict that the bike lanes will be congested with people dropping off groceries, taxis, delivery trucks, etc. I rode (or at least attempted to ride) for several miles in the bike lane on Walnut Street yesterday, and spent most of my time merging in and out of traffic because the bike lane was blocked so often by other vehicles.

I'm also interested to see how they handle left turns from these bike lanes.

those lanes are a menace.

why so? i found them to be pretty reasonable, compared to the unprotected lanes you find elsewhere. Is it the crowding (and I do admit, the ones in Amsterdam are pretty crowded)?

why so? i found them to be pretty reasonable, compared to the unprotected lanes you find elsewhere. Is it the crowding (and I do admit, the ones in Amsterdam are pretty crowded)?

amongst other things.

Interesting (and predictable) comments there. Personally, I think it's an OK idea, but I'm sort of lukewarm about it. Leaving aside my firm (and unfortunately impractical) belief that all cars should be "checked at the door" to CC and not allowed on *any* street north of Bainbridge, south of Spring Garden, river to river, we do indeed need better cycling infrastructure in Philly and particularly in CC. I agree with one of the comments that we need to have better protection for the lanes, such as they have in Amsterdam, where there is a raised curb that separates the bike lane from traffic, and in some cases, railings. Otherwise, we'll continue to see lots of motorists taking our lane to scoot around parked or slower cars (and, BTW, *failing to signal*!!!!), as well as idiots who seem to think that every bike lane is a personal parking spot.

Absent such protection, I don't see how this will work. Also, as to using the side streets (Delancey, Addison, etc.)- I used to commute from 9th and Clinton to Penn using these, back in the 70s when taking Lombard/SS Bridge was far, far, far worse. The side streets work, sort of, but you still get blocked by parked cars, they aren't a straight shot across CC, and you have a problem with crossing the numbered streets because of the lack of traffic lights or stop signs. I've wondered why the city just doesn't close down Sansom Street to traffic, making it a pedestrian/cycling mall- that would be a better choice, IMO, than Spruce and Pine.

I have the same firm belief, but acknowledge the same unfortunate impracticality.




I'm skeptical as well. I predict that the bike lanes will be congested with people dropping off groceries, taxis, delivery trucks, etc. I rode (or at least attempted to ride) for several miles in the bike lane on Walnut Street yesterday, and spent most of my time merging in and out of traffic because the bike lane was blocked so often by other vehicles.

I'm also interested to see how they handle left turns from these bike lanes.

I'm not an ardent supporter of Forester, nor am I trying to start a VC flame war, but I'm just not convinced that bicycle lanes as I've seen them are the answer, and Febs outlines some of the reasons why. Another concern is the whole "right hook" problem. I think that it's safer to ride in traffic than in a bike lane, though admittedly my experience is limited (I live, and mostly ride, in the suburbs).