*Please take note this post was revised 5/28/26 late afternoon with minor stylistic edits. Any previous versions should be disregarded.*
Today the Bicycle Coalition of Greater Philadelphia sent the following letter of support calling for increased biking infrastructure near the 48th and Woodland OTIS planning project.
Dear Councilmember Gauthier:
Thank you for your commitment to support Vision Zero and for your fierce advocacy for cycling and pedestrian infrastructure. Thank you to OTIS and the Streets department for adding 40 miles of bike lanes over the last five years. Those investments have helped expand Philadelphia’s cycling network.
The Bicycle Coalition of Greater Philadelphia is writing in response to the proposed project at 48th and Woodland because there is a need for additional infrastructure.
So far this year, there have been 35 traffic deaths in Philadelphia. At the current pace, the city is on track to exceed the more than 100 traffic deaths recorded in 2025 unless critical interventions are implemented. Research consistently shows that protected bike lanes dramatically improve safety, reducing the risk of injury by as much as 90% compared to major streets with no cycling infrastructure. With concrete protected bike lanes, the possibility for better outcomes could be even higher.
Roadway design and driver behavior continue to fail vulnerable road users. Earlier this year, a cyclist named Glenn Colville, Jr. was killed at Aramingo and Lehigh Avenues while riding in a bike lane with flex posts. Bike lanes that consist of flex posts are constantly damaged by vehicles (evidenced by their frequent replacement); we can make bike lanes better by adding concrete protection. Glenn’s death underscores the need for concrete-protected bike infrastructure that physically separates cyclists from traffic and highlights the urgency of expanding safer street infrastructure citywide.
Recent data from the Bicycle Coalition of Greater Philadelphia’s Bike Count Report further demonstrates why safer infrastructure is urgently needed. The report found that micromobility usage continues to rise across Philadelphia, and that cyclists are far more likely to ride on sidewalks when protected infrastructure is missing or inadequate.
Using data collected at 18 locations over a two-month period, with counts conducted during both morning and evening travel times, BCGP observed:
- 4,054 cyclists, representing a 10% increase from 2024
- 530 Indego bike trips, an 11.6% increase
- 642 scooter trips, a 28.4% increase
These numbers make clear that more Philadelphians are choosing bicycles, scooters, and shared micromobility options to get around the city. Infrastructure must keep pace with that growth. Safe, concrete-protected bike lanes are no longer optional improvements, they are essential public safety investments.
We that in mind, are writing to request concrete protected lanes on the following corridors adjacent to the 48th and Woodland project:
- The installation of two protected bike lanes (one on each side of the street) on 47th Street between Kingsessing to the Grays Ferry Bridge.
- Installing a two-way protected bike lane on Grays Ferry Avenue from Woodland to Paschall.
- Installing a protected two-way bike lane along Greenway Ave, 48th St, and Grays Ferry Ave, between 49th St and the Gray’s Ferry Bridge. (Greenway becomes 48th as it curves south after 49th, then curves east to become Grays Ferry Ave).
Indego Bike Stations
We’d also like to uplift the various Indego Bike Stations near these proposed bike improvements which could increase bike ridership and propel increased multimodal access.
In 2025, these Indego stations saw the following ridership:
- 48th & Woodland – 1,833
- 50th & Woodland – 1,370
- 49th & Chester – 2,052
- 51st & Regent – 2,271
From our analysis, Indego in other residential areas can average 8,000-10,000 trips per year. So this infrastructure can truly help increase micromobility options for users and help push a cleaner, greener, and safer city which aligns with Mayor Parker’s vision for the city of Philadelphia.
With the opening of the Swing Bridge during the FY26 summer, these connections can help ensure community members and thousands of cyclists can utilize a connected system.
Thank you to Philly Bike Action for providing a visual of the current network and highlighting the proposed connections we are suggesting. BCGP looks forward to hearing the possibilities of making these connections a reality.
Sincerely,
Julio Rodriguez
Policy Director, BCGP
CC: OTIS
Streets Department