|
|
|
Council's problematic bicycle crackdown
The Web site for the award-winning alternative weekly, the Philadelphia City Paper.
Council's problematic bicycle crackdown
This morning, Councilmembers Jim Kenney and Frank DiCicco introduced legislation aimed at reining in bicyclists.
The particulars: Three bills were introduced today, two as an either-or pair.
Councilman Kenney introduced two bills (co-sponsored by Councilman DiCicco) that each seek to increase fines for riding on the sidewalk (from $10 to $300), wearing headphones (from $3 to $300), and riding without brakes (a $1,000 penalty in one bill; confiscation in the other).
Councilman DiCicco introduced one bill (co-sponsored by Councilman Kenney) that would require all riders to register their bikes with the city (at a fee of $20), and mount license plates on their bikes. The penalty for not doing so would be $100.
The Bicycle Coalition of Greater Philadelphia â which has been a vocal advocate for bikers' following traffic laws â has voiced its opposition to these bills.
They make two points. The first is that raising penalties while enforcement is still so lax is counter-productive and unfair.
The first step toward safer streets is equitable and consistent enforcement of traffic laws as they apply to all road users. Up to now, traffic enforcement has not been a priority. The Bicycle Coalition of Greater Philadelphia urges City Council and the Nutter Administration to implement immediately an equitable and consistent traffic education and enforcement program to enforce the laws that are currently on the books before City Council raises penalties, requires mandatory registration, and puts other restrictions in place.
The second, regarding bikes being required to have license plates, is that similar attempts have failed elsewhere and would simply discourage people from riding.
With regards to laws requiring registration and licensing of bicycles, the Bicycle Coalition does not support a mandatory program. Among other issues, we are concerned about the potential for a registration program to discourage riders, impose financial disincentives, and expose the City to numerous legal issues. Peer cities and states have passed and then repealed registration and licensing programs. We recommend a thorough investigation of registration and licensing programs in other cities to determine whether such programs would help or hinder efforts to achieve peace on Philadelphiaâs streets.
My own opinion is that these bills, while well-intentioned, are over-reactions to a problem that's consistently misunderstood and blown out of proportion.
There have been two deaths of pedestrians by bicyclists recently: that's tragic. But step back and look at the number of pedestrians — or bicyclists — killed by drivers in any given period, and you'll see that bicycles are the least of our safety woes.
These fines mostly apply to laws already in place. I think those laws are OK (although I propose you should be able to have headphones if you only use one ear bud!), but the high fines are seriously misguided.
If more Philadelphians tried riding through inner-city traffic themselves, they'd understand how scary it can be, even for the most experienced riders. Many of the people who ride on the sidewalk do so simply because they find it scary to ride with cars â and looking at the numbers of fatalities and accidents, it's a perfectly logical fear. These riders need a little help, not fines.
Regarding headphones, The Bicycle Coalition Advocacy Director John Boyle points out the Pennsylvania law contains no prohibition at all on headphone use. The proposed fine for headphones ($300) is almost three times the fine for running a red light — which, it seems to me, is a much more dangerous offense.
To be fair to the Councilmembers, both spoke eloquently and sensibly about their bills today. Both insist they support and encourage biking in the city, and both have emphasized that these bills are open to discussion and amendments, and that they're willing to listen.
You've shown me the light, anonymous. I think I'll start driving on the sidewalks, and when I feel particularly randy, will rape anything in sight since there's no infrastructure currently in place for rapist convenience.
@ Anonymous. Just because we cyclists (oh yes, I bike) don't have a designated infrastructure does not give us the right to ride on the sidewalk. Is it OK to endanger pedestrians simply because we are endangered on the road? No. Emphatically no. It is selfish to endanger others. Take the high ROAD and ride in the street. Slowly this town is giving us space on the roads. Those new bike lanes are great!
I live in Victoria, British Columbia, Canada. I have ridden in a number of different cities in the U.S., Canada, and Britain. After reading your entries here, I promise that I will never again complain about dumb drivers and pedestrians, where I live, again. I wish you all the best of luck with your struggles, and urge you to form an active, city-wide, multi-gender, and age crossing coalition. Demonstrate. Do Critical Mass rides. Organise mass naked bike rides. Publicise those who oppose you and those who support you. Don't get mad, get organised. Yrz Danna.
@ Break Before I Bend If cyclists were provided an equitable amount of infrastructure, your selfish comments might make sense. As it stands, pedestrians are served by sidewalks, driver by roads, but dedicated services for cyclists are few and far between. Next time you consider your histrionic stance of impeding cyclists on a sidewalk, consider their other options, and how far out of your way you're going to make a selfish and childish point.
[...] brought up by people on the "cyclists are scofflaws" side of the urban biking argument whenever these things are hollered [...]
I've had it with bikers on the sidewalk, and I've decided I am going to move into their path of travel if I see them on the sidewalk. No doubt I will incur an injury or two, but not as bad as that sidewalk cyclist I put in the street. It's a sideWALK not a sideRIDE, pussy.
[...] the timing has to do with today's proposal by Councilmembers Jim Kenney and Frank DiCicco for rather draconian bike enforcement laws, I don't know. But there it [...]
[...] and introduced laws aimed at greater enforcement and regulation of bicycles. One would would raise the penalties by jaw-dropping factors (a hundred fold, in one case) for bicycle infractions and require bicycles to register and carry [...]
As a cyclist, I would never ride in sidewalk. Not only is it against the law, but as a pedestrian, I don't appreciate having to dodge other cyclist. If you're afraid to bike in the streets, then you shouldn't be biking in Philadelphia. I also disagree that the problem is blown out of proportion. I walk to work and every morning and afternoon I see at least one flagrant traffic violation by a cyclist, including running a red light, going down a one way street the wrong way, or biking in between lanes. Is it any surprise that motorist hate bikers? As for the number of people killed by bikes vs cars, if you break the number down by proportion, I wouldn't be surprised if bikes are greater. Accourding to the Bicycle Coalition, in 2008 over 11,000 people cycled to work on a normal day, with 36,000 people doing so at least once a month. The number of people driving to work within the city limits is easily in the hundreds of thousands.
I ride in the street every day. Sidewalk riders are either rebels in their small minds, scaredy cat crybabies, or incompetent bike messengers who can't get the job done on time without riding on the sidewalk. I applaud the fearlessness of the bike messengers of this city, but if you need to ride on the sidewalk to do your bike job, then there is room for improvement. I go the extra block and a half to ride in the correct direction of traffic to reach my destination while staying off the sidewalk. @dennis: Man, you are one angry guy. Let's not get into a "Who kills more" comparison or insinuate that maybe the pedestrian deserved to die for not paying attention. Pedestrians, like bikers, are doing their part to cut down on pollution by not driving. Show some respect. While your claim that cars kill more people than sidewalk bikers is true, it draws attention from the main point: A person died.
I hope this "Initiativeâ continues and the push is directed at sidewalk riders. Why would anyone object to that? And to piggy back on another commenter yesterday in this overall thread; I donât care WHY you are riding on the sidewalk, if you are doing it, itâs illegal, so stop rationalizing it. BTW, NY State Law calls for confiscation of bikes if caught riding on the sidewalk: § 19-176 - Bicycles operation on sidewalks prohibited Bicycles ridden on sidewalks may be confiscated and riders may be subject to legal sanctions. See also N.Y.C. Traffic Rules and Regulations §4-07 (c). If they can do it, why canât we be content to pay only a fine?
@dennis, so all shipping and deliveries should stop so cyclists can ride their bikes safely? Hmmm. I can't count the number of ties I have narrowly escaped being hit by someone on a bike who was just swerving along without paying any attention to traffic lights, pedestrians, or anything else besides his desire to ride fast on his bike. I would welcome some legislation that enforces the law that says bike riders must obey the same rules of traffic that car drivers must obey. Just because you're not operating a vehicle with the force of a ton and powered with fuel does not mean you can't cause serious damage to the human body with your bike.
I bike, walk, drive, or ride a scooter or SEPTA to or through Center City almost weekly and have done so for all 20 years of my adult life. If these bills pass, they'll be as well enforced as the ones about having to get a dog license or register to mountain bike on any of the trails in the Wissahickon except Forbidden Drive. What it's really about is exclusive car drivers being pissed off at the sight of cyclists not getting stuck in traffic no matter how bad the gridlock while they are trapped and immobilized in their SUVs that are too big for this town's streets.
UPS and and FED EX (and other delivery)trucks will continue to terrorize the city and endanger bikers lives by operating as the usually do. Park their truck every block and deliver to buildings. This causes a back up of two to four blocks every time they stop, which causes bike to have to squeeze over into the other lane and try to not get run down by some scumbag in a car or SUV that can't wait to get to the next red light and sit there. This also causes people to block the box because the back up of two lanes cutting down to one results in a situation where the light turns green and no one can move. Drivers become angry and take out their frustration on bikers. Cops do NOTHING, because it "is not their job/problem, they are just collecting their fucking check and being lazy fucking worthless pigs. Serve and protect.... not in center city. Cabs, buses, and drivers have a free pass to drive in a way that endangers peoples live. Washington Ave, west of Broad street, bike lanes are full of illegally parked angled cars all day every day, as well as businesses operating in the bike lane. Chestnut, Walnut, Spruce, etc., in center city are illegal loading zones all day. People are so uneducated that half of them try to run bikers down because they think bikes are supposed to ride on the sidewalk , or think that bikes are only allowed to ride in a "bike lane" (read: illegal parking zone). A pedestrian dies being hit by a bike and douchebags like councilman Kinney want to start a war on bikers. Everyone cries that bikes ride on the sidewalks. That is because we are not safe riding in the street! Keep protecting the corporate interest and fuck the responsible people trying to ride a bike around the city and not contribute to the pollution of our air that we all have to breathe. Vehicle operators routinely switch lanes without looking or signaling, often while driving and talking on a cell phone, (distracted and blocked vision) or texting. Make the city safe for us to ride and we will stay off of the sidewalks. 38 bikers and pedestrians were killed by cars last year in Philadelphia. One person is killed by a biker and the whole world stops. Has anyone questioned whether this pedestrian was one of the many, many people who cross without looking, or stand with their toes on the very edge of the damn street, taking on phone, staring into space, texting, jaywalking, or any of a million other dumb ass things as bikers hug the edge of the lane to prevent being crushed to death by some obnoxious, oblivious asshole driver in a giant SUV that takes up the whole fucking lane, while trying to not get doored by random morons that open their door into the lane without looking? Boo-Hoo a pedestrian died. Excuse me if I don't have any tears left for the situation. Center City cops should get up off their fat lazy asses and do something to earn their check and enforce the laws regarding pedestrians, bikers, and drivers. If they are not willing then transfer them to the hood where I live and let them fight real crime.
as a cyclist, sidewalk riding is hands-down reckless. I also walk with a baby in a stroller on the sidewalk, bikes should not be allowed to be where I am with those babies. Who cares if people in cars are yelling at you and honking their horns? it is your lawful right to ride in the road. It is much safer, smoother, and faster! Now we just need to keep pedestrians from walking out into the middle of the street without looking and not at a crosswalk. can the city please enforce that law? i'm tired of almost running people down because they're ignorant and jump out into the middle of the street.
It's hard to convince people not to ride on the side walk when people in cars are constantly yelling at them to "get off the road" or "you're supposed to be on the side walk." Motorist harassment of cyclists needs to be punished too. It is illegal to honk at a bicycle unless it is to prevent an imminent collision but I have never seen that enforced.
I have a car that goes 120 no problem (not that I'm saying I'm the man or anything, just trying to make a point) with a decent stereo that can get as loud as any headphone system. However, this is all perfectly legal. Yet, my bike with no brakes and love of music (in every and all situations, especially while riding a bike) is illegal and punishable with ridiculous financial penalties. Im sorry, but I know how to ride a bike, I learned when I was probably two or so. I'm no professional cyclist, but I'm no rookie. If I am wearing headphones while riding on the sidewalk and swerving during rush hour, I deserve some form of penalty, absolutely I do. But this is so often not the case, with so many bikers. If people can safely ride a fixed gear and prefer a more streamlined look with no brakes, more power to them. People with the means can go buy a Ferrari which to me is much more dangerous than any bike, and thats considered totally fine. The point here is that people who use discretion should be allowed to ride their bike (safely) however they please. If your not using noise canceling headphones you should still be able to wear them (at a reasonable level music does not drown out car horns and exhaust). Minus the sidewalk thing this whole idea is completely ignorant and misguided. Next thing you know we'll need brakes on our skateboards and rollerblades, need to wear helmets while walking on the sidewalks, and face fines for playing wall ball. Worst slippery slope ever, way to go big brother.
Its illegal to bike on the sidewalk NOW. No one is enforcing it NOW. So what is a higher fine on an not-enforced law do? This city needs more traffic cops. For the auto drivers, bikes and jaywaking pedestrians. Otherwise these laws are feel good efforts that do nothing but make bicyclists look more dangerous then they are.
I don't care WHY people ride on the sidewalk. It's illegal. If you're afraid of riding with cars, then don't ride. But don't transfer the risks of accidents and fatalities to pedestrians by riding on the sidewalk.
I agree with Ann, Pedestrians deserve to have a sidewalk free of objects moving faster than 4 or 5 mph. Cyclists MUST get in the street, and take a lane when applicable, if they want the bicycle to be taken seriously as a mode of transport. Every cyclist that rides on the sidewalk, or rides against other traffic is setting back the inevitable acceptance of bikes as a viable mode. On the other hand I find these proposed ordinances appalling. There are many more ped and cyclist deaths caused by errant auto drivers than there are deaths by any other cause in the streets. If safety is the goal, stricter penalties and enforcement for dangerous drivers of autos should be priority number one. It seems to me that these laws may simply be a reaction by the councilmen to the anger they are hearing from auto drivers who are upset that they no longer have nearly exclusive use of our streets.
really A. Orange? I am so not for creating more animosity between drivers and cyclists and pedestrians - we all have our faults. But honestly why don't I stop at every single red light? Because to completely stop is just a pain in the ass in order to get my bike going again - it's not as easy as just putting your foot on the brake and then the acceleration. I try to be as careful as possible and pay serious attention to my surroundings. Which is why i agree cyclists shouldnt be wearing headphones and they DEFINITELY shouldnt be on their cell phones whilst riding. I just don't understand why there can't be this overall respect for each other.
As a pothole i can not handle it when bikes cars and feet tread upon my people and me without the least bit of concern about our wellbeing. Mebbe we're just as ethical as bikes and less cool than cars but we should get the same amount of respect as a toe.
As a pedestrian I get really annoyed when bicyclists and motorists start complaining about us despite the fact that pedestrians always have the right-of-way provided they do not stupid things such as jaywalk and/or walk directly in front of said bicycles and motor vehicles. And if we pedestrians do, then by all means a ticket is warranted, that is if we don't get get killed by our own stupidity. Yes bicyclists and motorists, but mostly bicyclists, I hear your Lamentations but really? You are riding a vehicle, be it a bike or a car and you have the arrogance to ignore the pedestrian in the crosswalk of an intersection controlled by a redlight or a stop sign, both of which mean stop, not yield, not slow down, not first see if traffic is coming and if not then keep moving, but stop. Or as I walked along the the Race Street sidewalk in front of Police Headquarters on Friday night, when a bicyclist almost clipped me from behind and kept on going. I noticed she took to the street when she saw a cop car stopped at the light. Jackass!
As a cyclist I get really annoyed when car drivers start complaining about us when most of them haven't actually tried to ride a bike in the city- it's not easy. I ride because point blank i can't afford other options on a daily basis. Yes car drivers i hear your Lamentations but really? You're in a fucking car and have seriously injured me before. The fact of the matter is car drivers can't and won't understand until they try riding in Philly. When I used to drive all I did was use a little patience and let the biker 'get out of my way' because we all know theyre getting where they're going faster.
As a driver I get really annoyed with bike drivers start complaning about us when most of them havent followed traffic rules and regulations since when Moms and Pops took the training wheels off. I drive because point black I want to. Yes bikers i hear your Lamentations but really? You're on a bike in the middle of the intersections and sidewalks disobeying traffic signals and driving over pedestrians. The fact of the matter is bike drivers can't and won't understand until they grow up and realize the world don't revolve around there right to the road.
This is seriously insane. As an avid bicyclist who has rode to work in rush hour every day for over a year, I can tell you, that the streets are not safe, not because of us, but because of cars, and even the road itself. everyday I ride those roads, I am putting my life at risk, rush hour drivers are incredibly angry at seeing me in the road and IN THE BIKE LANE! I have heard "get out of the street!" yelled at me virtually every day, and often I'm in THE BIKE LANE! Or I am screamed at to "move over" into a park space that is unused- which is unsafe as well, because, it will be used up the block, and the drivers are not looking for you on a bike when you re-enter the driving lane/bike lane (as the case may be) and you are hit. I have amazingly avoided being killed and even hit, I consider this a miracle. I have many friends who have been hit and seriously injured (and yes they went to court and yes they sued and yes they won because it was the motorists fault). Including friends who have been hit by: cars, A SEPTA BUS! A POLICE CAR! Yes, A POLICE CAR hit my friend after FAILING TO STOP OR LOOK OUT FOR HER! This is a problem. I also have other friends that have sustained injuries from the streets being unsafe. My guess is that if you see a "swerving, or weaving" bicyclist, you are observing someone avoiding one of the following: A) A pot hole B) Cars cutting them off C) Sink holes D) Car doors E) Trolley tracks F) Unaware pedestrians
I wouldn't worry about any of this too much. Philly is a lazy, apathetic city that rarely ever follows thru on anything. At most, this "enforcement" will last a couple days, get the numbers they are looking for, and fade away quickly and quietly like every other "iniative" aimed at improving our city. It ain't safe, and it never will be. You need to be worried about getting hit by that bike, that car running the yellow-to-red and that mugger in that shadow who wants your wallet and ipod. You are just as apt to get hit by a stray bullet as an idiot making an abrupt u-turn without signaling. this town is riddled with idiots, and there just isn't enough police to enforce every little thing going wrong, the littlest of which is BICYCLE ENFORCEMENT. so let's all have a good laugh over this hullabaloo, smirk at the peds and drivers who think theyre getting their way and that any of this will last, and go on with our fixed gear, stop sign running lives. Nobody cares... for long...
Skullboy said "I donât give way because I shouldnât" Skullboy, You have a duty to avoid harming someone no matter what mistake they are making. Would it be fair for motorists to teach you a lesson by ramming you for a percieved traffic mistake?
Just went through PA statutes. Oddly, it is legal to ride bicycles on the sidewalk. I also couldn't find any provision for municipalities to alter state code. Does Philly even have a legal right to impose this rule?
Last year I was stopped in an intersection waiting at a red light when i biker on the sidewalk did'nt look in front of himself and by the time I saw him it was too late, he slammed into me. I'm happy I wasn't hurt too badly(even though it was quite painful at that moment). Cyclists on the sidewalk are dangerous and cyclists should know that. But at the same time, car drivers need to respect bicyclists rights on the road. More bike lanes would be a great incentive to get bicyclists who are scared off the sidewalk. I don't think fines are the way to go, however. I do think that cyclists need to follow the rules of the road. Pedestrians need to do this too! I've almost hit pedestrians because they jump out right in front of me when they have a red light and it is really bothersome...more restrictions need to be put on pedestrians who don't give a crap about themselves and others.
[...] on the City of Brotherly Love over-reacting to a statistical blip in bicycle/pedestrian wrecks. Councilâs problematic bicycle crackdown For perspective, “The proposed fine for headphones ($300) is almost three times the fine for [...]
[...] BIRTHPLACE OF FREEDOM, every small gain by cyclists is met by some heavy-handed, ham-fisted, draconian/Stalinist attempt to curtail cycling. Tags: [...]
I whole heartily agree with Lola but don't forget the damn cabbies. They are in a class of their own.
The bottom line is that we all (pedestrians, drivers and cyclists) need to be more respectful of each other and the rules. Unfortunately, the only way that will happen is if the police begin cracking down on those who break the law. That said, I would much prefer it if they concentrated on all the erratic, distracted drivers who are on their mobile devices while driving or who don't understand city traffic laws. That and the cyclists on the sidewalk - which are completely unacceptable.
BTW, does anyone think that these bills are really just retaliation for the bike lanes on Spruce and Pine Streets? There are a ton of angry drivers because they have to extend their commute 1 minute longer because they only have one lane (which many don't observe anyway). I think the politicos are using the two deaths as an excuse for the bills but really they hate that the cyclists got a win.
Elizabeth, As a bicycle commuter in this city, the pedestrians don't follow the basic traffic laws either and maybe you have almost be hit because you are crossing against the lights. I don't know how many times I have almost hit pedestrians who think that is okay to step out in front of bikes. They wait for the car to pass and then walk out in front of me. I don't give way because I shouldn't, not when I am following the law. As we now know bikes can hurt and even kill pedestrians not to mention serious injure the cyclist. I hit a bozo 10 days ago because he did that very same thing and then had the nerve to call me a "faggot". Nice!!
Comments (0)
Popular Posts
Search this blog:
Topics:
- ActiVman
- adventures
- Arts
- Ask A Man-About-Town
- Award Tour
- Awards
- Bad Idea Factory
- Beer
- Below the Curve
- Bikes
- Booze
- Brian Hickey
- BRT
- Budget
- Budget Fuss
- Business
- Casinos
- City Council
- City Hall
- CouncilMANIC
- CP Abroad
- CP in the Community
- Criminal Justice System
- Day Tripper
- Death and Taxes
- Delaware River
- Design
- DROP
- Drugs
- Dubious Distinction
- Elections
- End of Days
- Environment
- Fashion
- Film Fest
- Financial Meltdown
- FrackTrack
- Free Library
- Gambling
- Gay Stuff
- Get Lit
- Greenstorming
- guns
- Hall Monitor
- Health
- Health Care
- Hello, Kitty
- Holidays
- Ice Cubes
- Iggles
- Immigration
- In Memoriam
- Labor
- Lawsuits
- Letters
- LGBTQ
- Maps
- Marcellus Shale
- Media
- MMA
- Mummers
- Music
- MUST READ
- Mysterious Mysteries
- Nation
- News
- Non Sequitur
- Opinion
- PA politics 2010
- Parking Wars
- Parks and Recreation
- People Send Us This Stuff
- Philadelphia Police
- Philadelphia Union
- Philaphemera
- Philly From Scratch
- philly madness
- Photos
- Poverty
- PPA
- President Obama
- Print Edition
- Prisons
- Protest
- Readers Write
- Real Estate
- Rock Bottom
- Schools
- Science
- Screwing Philly
- SEPTA
- snow
- So Lush
- Soccer
- Sporting Life
- Sports Complex
- State Politicians
- State Politics
- Street Art
- Strike
- Stuff We Like
- Taxes
- Taxi Drivers
- Tech Fetish
- television
- The Budget Crisis
- The City Paper
- The CLOG
- The Human Condition
- The Mayor
- The Phightin Phils
- The World
- Things that make you go hm
- Tinfoil Hats Off
- Under the Table
- Under the Tables
- Urban Development
- Urban Planning
- urban wildlife
- Video Poker
- We Call Shenanigans
- Weather
- Web Junk
- Weekend Omnibus
- White House
- What We've Found
- Women's Issues
- Flyered Up!
- How 'Bout That Weather?
- it's always sunny in philadelphia
- Stu!
- Shopping
- get out
- 10-track mind
- ArtsFlash
- Bloggity
- Bruce Being Bruce
- Colleges
- Comedy
- Gigantic Surprises
- Hello Canary
- Hello Puppy
- errata
- get lost
- Inside The Fishbowl
- Library Closings
- Local Support
- Movies
- Murder
- Night Moves
- Recycling
- radio
- Scientology
- Sex
- Sixers
- Skeeze Police
- State Politicians Screwing Philly
- That's a cool stencil!
- Theater
- Things We See
- This Week
- This Week in Oates
- University City
- WIN
- What we don't heart
- trailer!
- what we heart
- Feeling Guilty
- Askadelphia.
- Broke in Philly
- Contest
- Dance
- Dear Paper Doll
- Do A Good Thing
- Education
- Film Fest Schism
- G20-20 Vision
- Goodbye
- Gossip
- Great American Heroes
- PATCO
- Pearl Jam Week
- Puppy
- Stars of the Photostream
- sustainability
- Lower Merion Webcam-Gate
- The Cycle
- Equality Forum
- Bureaucrat of the Week
- Animals
- ElectionEar
- Photostream
