An ordinance for a federally-funded improvement project on American Street was introduced in City Council on Thursday, paving the way for Philadelphia’s first raised protected bike lane.
The ordinance, introduced by Councilwoman Maria Quinones Sanchez, will create a center-lane protected bike lane on American Street in Kensington. The project, funded by a federal TIGER grant, has been long-debated in that neighborhood. It, along with the other federal improvement projects along the corridor, will Make American Street Great Again.
Last summer, the Bicycle Coalition of Greater Philadelphia asked our supporters to join us at meetings in The Crane Arts Building, asking specifically for protected bike lanes to be included as part of the project. Those meetings made an impact.
Earlier this month, Sanchez’s office noted they were ready to introduce the ordinance. We’re glad they did so.
There were several behind the scenes kinks to work out, and members of the South Kensington community were able to do that.
This ordinance is the third introduced since Council passed a bill giving themselves authority over bike lane installation in Philadelphia.
This is a developing story. Stay with this blog over the next two days for more information.