As the year closes, we’re highlighting what we accomplished thanks to our members and volunteers. We’ll be publishing a blog each day covering the successes enabled by our members’ and partners’ investment in us. See all 2018 highlights here.
Citizens Demand Wawa Keep Trucks Out of Bike Lane
Within the span of just a few months, cyclists fed up with a new Wawa at 22nd and South Streets allowing its customers and delivery drivers to park in the bike lane, got Wawa to take responsibility and install new bike infrastructure in front of its store.
The advocacy included a human protected bike lane action, threats of a lawsuit, and meetings with Councilman Kenyatta Johnson, who represents the area.
The Bicycle Coalition also started a petition which we gave to the City, the PPA, and the Wawa, which called upon all organizations to do the following:
Wawa should protect the lane with plastic bollards, signage, and direct customers out of the bike lane and into a legal parking spot.
The City of Philadelphia should create a Loading Zone on the west side of the street, so patrons have a place to park, and delivery trucks have a legal space to unload.
The Philadelphia Parking Authority needs to better enforce this corridor. A mere 34 tickets were handed out during the first five months of 2018 for motor vehicles parked in the bike lane at 22nd and South Streets — only two of which were given out in May. The PPA should up its enforcement at this intersection, deterring Wawa’s delivery truck drivers, and customers, from parking in front of the convenience store and endangering the lives of people on bicycles who use this street.
More than 500 of you signed the petition. The owner of the building where the new Wawa is located then paid for new flex posts in front of their building — but only there.
More needs to be done on 22nd Street, largely because people continue to park in the bike lane, outside the zone of the posts.
Ironically, this is proof that protected bike lanes work.Which is why the posts should stretch down the rest of the street.
As far as getting new loading zones installed, the Bicycle Coalition would lead the charge to incentivize businesses to install loading zones later in the year.
New, Safer Trash Trucks Unveiled
The city publicly unveiled new garbage trucks that have added Vision Zero protections, including night vision cameras, 360 degree cameras on each side of the truck, side guards, and side mirrors.
The Streets Department has been testing these truck safety enhancements over the last several months and will add these features to all new trucks purchased moving forward. Streets plans to purchase 34 trucks in fiscal year 2019, and currently has four trucks in operation with one or more of these added safety features. These safety improvements directly support the Fleet Management actions outlined in the Vision Zero Three-Year Action Plan.
We had called upon the City to add side guards to their trucks, and require all trucks to install them, as part of a Vision Zero policy. We are happy to see the city follow suit. But, as many already know, two cyclists have been killed over the last year by private trucks, and both may have survived if the trucks had been equipped with these safety precautions.Marriott Gets Sued, Installs Posts to Protect Bike Lane
Since it opened in summer 2018, the new Fairfield Marriott hotel at 13th and Spruce Streets in Center City, Philadelphia, had been using the well-traveled 13th Street bike lane to help its customers unload their bags instead of the designated valet parking spot across the street from the hotel.
So, the hotel chain was sued for putting people’s lives in danger.Lawyer Stuart Leon sued Marriott hotels on behalf of a cyclist for their inattentiveness and lack of enforcement of a bike lane and No Stopping Zone in front of their business.
Parking motor vehicles in bike lanes puts cyclists, motorists and pedestrians at risk and it is up to the Fairfield Marriott Hotel to make sure they are not aiding in this added risk.Marriott installed new posts later in the summer.
The safety protections were welcome, but, like the posts installed in front of the Wawa, not enough to keep drivers from parking in the bike lane where the posts end.
We Analyzed Circuit Trails for Community Impact
Looking at issues like equity, length, population, and connectivity, the Bicycle Coalition of Greater Philadelphia recently analyzed coming-trail segments to better understand the impact these trails will have on citizens of the 9-county Greater Philadelphia Region.This analysis helped us better understand where already-funded trails should be prioritized for building, and where residents are especially in need of new trails. Keep reading for information on this analysis, how it was conducted, and what it means for The Circuit Trails.
Youth Cycling’s Longest Sojourn Ever
From August 13th — 17th, the Bicycle Coalition Youth Cycling (BCYC) All Star Tour Team biked from Pittsburgh, PA to Cumberland, MD on the longest Sojourn yet.
At the Youth Bike Summit last year, BCYC athletes made connections with representatives for the Great Allegheny Passage and decided they wanted to bring the rest of their team to see the world-class trail for themselves. Months of planning and coordination by the youth leadership team BCYC.le Squad made this trip a reality.
Through on and off rain, challenging gravel, and a 57.5-mile 4th leg, youth displayed the perseverance, support and empathy for each other that makes this team so special. The team trusts that everyone is doing their best, and that the group will hold up individuals that need a bit of extra support at each step.
New Affiliate Chairs
As part of our move to better organize the Philadelphia suburbs, we announced new affilaite chairs in Gloucester, Delaware, Camden, Montgomery, Bucks, Chester, Burlington, Mercer — signed on in 2018 and continued working throughout the year to make their counties better places to ride bikes.
Through advocacy and education, the Bicycle Coalition leads the movement to make bicycling a safe and fun way to get around for anyone in Greater Philadelphia. We’re a member-funded organization, and we can’t advocate for building out the region’s bicycle network without your support. Join or donate today to partner with us and make your ride better.