Advocacy & Safety - Philadelphia - New South Street Bridge

Bikeforums.net is a forum about nothing but bikes. Our community can help you find information about hard-to-find and localized information like bicycle tours, specialties like where in your area to have your recumbent bike serviced, or what are the best bicycle tires and seats for the activities you use your bike for.




Austinnh
11-10-10, 08:35 PM
Not sure if this belongs in regional forums or here. I'm sure it will get more notice here. Don't think it's a re-post.

So what does everyone (anyone?) think of the new South Street Bridge in Philly? I think it's good. Especially compared to the Walnut Street Bridge.

Full bike lane on both sides with no opportunities for right or left hooks (unlike Walnut St Bridge) and no "door zone" (again, unlike Walnut St Bridge). The bike lanes is also wider than the one on Walnut Street Bridge.

There is one major intersection at the West end of the bridge, with a long, and somewhat perplexing light. What's perplexing is that you can have a green light, but a red right arrow. Why? The only possible reason I can think of is to prevent right turners from hooking the bicycle traffic. Nice. If I'm right, the design of this light clearly put cyclist safety before motorist convenience, which I applaud.

At one point, at the East end of the bridge heading east the bike lane does cross a right turn lane (similar thing on Walnut St Bridge).

Thoughts everyone? I think this is a very good example of safe and efficient integration of bicycle and motor traffic.


crhilton
11-11-10, 10:22 AM
Pictures would be really helpful. I'm guessing google street view will be out of date.