Anyone commute from S.Jersey into Philly? (advice for potentially unsafe areas)
 

I have done this on and off since last September... Was looking for route advice. Have you experienced any problems in Camden? I go down Haddon Ave then over to the BF Bridge. Is there a better route? Safer?

To any others reading this thread, how do you handle higher crime rate areas?

My general rules are:
- Don't wear spandex
- Don't make eye contact
- Pedal fast and don't stop
- If i do get a flat, change it in front of the hospital, train station or somewhere there are a lot of people around.
- If I get caught at work late (i.e. after dark) take the train home.

Funny, I was just contemplating a way to cross from PA -> NJ and it seems the BF bridge is the only option. Sorry I can't help you with the route though

your a madman (and i mean that in the BEST possible way). good work on douing such a seemingly undoable commute!

sorry i have no advice, but plenty of respect for you...

Haddon isn't that bad; I go up Broadway every day...
I like your criteria. I _never_ come to a complete stop in Camden! I try to get through there as fast as possible. No other advice. Though I think the 403 goes down Haddon if you want/need to get on the bus. Btw how far down Haddon are you going?

The only "bad" section (and I use that term loosely since I really haven't had any problems) is the 1-2 miles from Lourdes hospital to Cooper hospital. Yeh, I know, at least there is a hospital on each end.

I have the option of taking Haddon Ave all the way from Haddonfield or going through the park. I usually take the route through the park as the roads are more bike friendly.

I do love Philly for biking though. There is a bike lane almost my entire trip (5th St. to West Philly via Spring Garden.

I just read in the local Metro paper that Philly has the most miles of bike lanes of any city.

How about taking the ferry over vs. the bridge?

I have an aquintance of mine that teaches in Philly. She lives in Cherry Hill and cyclocommutes fairly often. I got to get a hold on her and ask her how she does it.

The ferry would probably work too.. But the bridge is the best part of my commute. The walk/bikeway is above the traffic. It's a good hill climb. And it's a nice view of the city.

Yea the BF bridge is good training!

My general rule is not to bike through anywhere where I wouldn't walk through. Thus I've never
biked over the BF bridge thru Camden; even though some of those South Jersey rides look tempting.
I would probably take SEPTA to Woodcrest or Lindenwold and ride from there.

Of course you have to go thru Camden to get to/from the BF bridge, and I've heard that most people
have no problems whatsoever when going through without stopping.

actually Patco goes right over the bridge. Anywhere like Ferry Av or anywhere else is Ok.

Haddon Ave is fine, except for the horrible condition of the roadway (and it's a county road!).

It might look bad, but it's a 'main street' type place, with lots of eyes on the street. It's not like you're riding through a deserted slum.

I've been commuting through Camden (Haddonfield to West Philly) for 7 years, trying to ride 100 times a year.

The best part of riding through Camden is telling people you ride through Camden (watch their eyes bulge). Most folks figure you're dodging bullets the whole way. But I haven't felt threatened on Haddon Ave.

The ferry doesn't run early in the morning, and it's really expensive.

She told me that she goes over the bridge when open.

This morning on my commute down Haddon I:

Wore spandex

Made eye contact

Had a flat and fixed it where it happened.

And I wasn't murdered.