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Archive: November, 2009
Julia Harte with your morning fix.
Eighty people were left homeless, and nineteen of them in critical condition in hospitals, after a fire gutted a 41-unit apartment building in northeast Philadelphia yesterday morning.
After at least 104 Chinese mineworkers were killed in a gas blast at a mine in northeast China, their relatives protested outside the mine's entrance, demanding that officials speak to them and answer their questions about the incident.
The bodies of 21 Filipino politicians and supporters were found earlier today in a small town in the Philippines, where they were believed to have been deposited by gunmen who hijacked their convoy and killed them on behalf of other politicians, in anticipation of the next national election in May 2010.
Two Swiss human rights organizations reported in a study that war video games allow players to virtually break many of the laws that actually govern real-world warfare, such as killing civilians, destroying homes and civilian buildings and torturing prisoners. The study's authors called upon game-makers to "consequently and creatively incorporate rules of international humanitarian law and human rights into their games."
Israel was rumored to be close to a deal with the Islamist group Hamas to exchange several Palestinian war prisoners for the Israeli soldier Sergeant Gilad Shalit, who was seized in 2006.
Recognizing the fact that Pennsylvania's prisoner population is growing faster than its prison system, state leaders plan to move as many as 2,000 criminals into prisons in other states beginning early next year.
Friend of the Clog/CP contributor Jesse Delaney sends this photo from Santiago, Chile:
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| Photo | Jesse Delaney |
| "Philadelphia should have these." |
Would love to see a red bicycle icon for the redlights here. Would that actually begin to change behaviors, such as the sorry-but-it's-illegal rolling stop?
Friday: Thanksgiving may seem close but it's actually six excruciatingly far days away. The Down Home Diner gives you your Turkey Day feast early in anticipation of Thursday's main event. Don't eat too much, though because you have an entire night of Creepy Puppet films to sit through afterward, featuring — dare we say it?! — a puppet sex tape!!! Or you can dance those extra calories off with Joker and friends at the Mausoleum. There is $2 suggested donation per ticket to save the 941 Theater. Get on it.
Saturday: This week, Kristen Humbert investigated why no one will take donations generated by the Diabolique Fetish Masquerade Ball but that doesn't mean you can't hit up yourself and help out with their new cause: Leather Heart, an org that provides emergency funds to fetishists across the land! Why don't you hit up Cut the Craft and see if there's any costume options that fit the steampunk theme?
Sunday: Please, let's not sit here and pretend you don't read the Harry Potter books, are there opening night for each movie and secretly wish you were a wizard too. So don't be embarrassed when we see each other at Harry Potter and the Magical Muggle Museum. Then get all Ron and Hermione-ly romantic at Pop Revisited where Aimee Robidoux pieces together a love story, while her partner in crim Peter Andrew Danzig sings forgotten pop songs of the '90s.
Just wanted to make sure everyone knows that my show on Sunday is at the Tin Angel. For a link to reservations: www.aimeerobidoux.com
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Two of Philadelphiaâs best mixed martial artists will be on display tonight at Alexandra Hall. Locked in the Cage is headlined by Wilson Reis (check the CP e-trail on Reis) squaring off with Dwayne Sheldon, as well as the top-ranked 135-pound female fighter Tara LaRosa fighting Valerie Coolbraugh. Though they're both based in the area (the Brazilian Reis fights out of Jenkintown's BJJ United, while LaRosa fights out of nearby Woodstown, N.J.), neither athlete has appeared in the ring within city limits until now.
The card features three other pro fights and 12 amateur fights.
LaRosa and Reis are both top-level contenders, known for showing up; the duo alone could make the night. (Check out my Oct. '08 feature for more on Reis.)
Tickets are still available here for $45, or $65 with four 16-ounce beers. Quick math: That's 64 ounces of muscle to help you properly root on our homegrown bloodletters.
The show starts at 7:30 p.m. at at Alexandra Hall in Sherman Mills, 3510 Scotts Lane in East Falls.
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It's been a long 24 hours of bike news in Philly.
Yesterday morning, Councilmembers Jim Kenney and Frank DiCicco co-sponsored and introduced laws aimed at greater enforcement and regulation of bicycles. One would would raise the penalties by jaw-dropping factors (a hundredfold, in one case) for bicycle infractions and require bicycles to register and carry license plates in the city.
To the latter, the Bicycle Coalition of Greater Philadelphia — which has been a consistent voice in calling for bicycles to obey traffic laws — offered on its blog a very interesting case study in what's happened when other cities tried to introduce similar laws. Spoiler alert: They repealed them because they didn't work.
But the former bill, the penalty-raising one, has some interesting quirks, as well. For one thing, it may effectively outlaw many fixed-gear bikes.
You see, Philadelphia's and Pennsylvania's bicycle regulations differ slightly. One difference: the definition of "brakes."
The two bills introduced by Councilman Kenney have new penalties for riding without brakes (one fines you a thousand dollars; the other has your bike confiscated).
But what is a brake?
If you know about fixies, skip this paragraph. Most bikes as we know them in the USofA have brakes — either hand brakes or pedal brakes. Fixed-gear bikes may or may not have hand brakes, but don't require them (although it's a good backup plan) because the rear wheel is inextricably tied to the crank. In other words, you pedal backwards and the rear wheel actually goes backwards — or, if you've got some momentum going, it slows down. You brake by resisting the forward momentum of your legs. Read more about it on Wikipedia.
Which begs the question: What constitutes a brake? In a Daily News article, Councilman Kenney spoke about the brake issue and mentioned "delivery" workers. I'm guessing he's talking about bike messengers, who often ride fixed-gear bikes:
"The trend with some of our delivery-service people and messengers, for whatever reason, is to remove the brakes," Kenney said. "It's a state law that bicycles [must] have brakes."
Is it possible — and not to knock the guy, it is kind of an arcane subject in most circles — that he doesn't realize that these bikes have alternate braking mechanisms?
But Kenney's bill only raises the penalties for an offense already on the books. To see what constitutes a "brake" we have to look at the laws.
Pennsylvania's law â closer, I'm told by the Coalition, to widely-adopted bicycle regulations, has this to say about brakes.
Every pedalcycle shall be equipped with a braking system which will stop the pedalcycle in 15 feet from an initial speed of 15 miles per hour on a dry, level and clean pavement.
But Philadelphia's code says this:
Every bicycle shall be equipped with a brake which will enable the operator to make the braked wheel skid on a dry, level, clean pavement.
Pennsylvania, in other words, only requires a "braking system," which fixed-gear bikes have.
Philadelphia, though, requires "a brake" â which could mean a hand brake, which a fixed-gear might or might not have (again: this is because fixed-gear bikes can be braked with the legs alone). In an interview yesterday, Councilman Kenney legislative aide Sarah Sachdev, who helped with the bill, did not know what a fixed-gear bike was, let alone whether the Councilman's $1000 fine/confiscation penalty would apply to one.f
[...] My friend Chris McKenna just sent this video shot by bike evangelist Michael McGettigan of University City's Trophy Bikes. McGettigan set up a camera at Rittenhouse Square — it appears to be the east intersection with Locust — to see if anybody at all comes to a full stop (that's his red folding bike in the foreground). There are, count 'em, three stop signs and a flashing red light which means, as McGettigan explains in the video, that drivers must come to a complete stop and then proceed when it's safe. The coming to a stop issue is one that's always brought up by people on the "cyclists are scofflaws" side of the urban biking argument whenever these things are hollered about. [...]
Barry,
Try slamming your front break in a pinch and see what happens, or more accurately, where you land.Andy Dyson, No experiment required, physics already tells us that a front braking system is required for maximum breaking power. It is just a fact. That isn't to say that fixie riders can't stop safely, but they will be able to stop MORE safely with a front break.
I guess I have to tell my 9 year boy that we have to ride our bikes in the street now. Or should I ride on the sidewalk with him and risk a ticket? How will I explain to him that the police are just doing their job and that I am not a 'real' criminal? I guess we'll take or chances with the motor vehicles that don't stop at stop signs, run read lights, turn on 'no turn on read' signs, and don't share the read. Remember Tony Jr.,, daddy loves you but our City Council doesn't. Oh yeah, how much has it cost tax payers already for the creation of bicycle laws? How much is it going to cost for the enforcement of these new laws?
Most people that ride a fixed gear bike can stop much quicker than non-fixed gear bikes with traditional brakes. Most hand brakes do not make the wheel skid at all. please read this article if you think a fixed gerar rider does not have a brake, because they DO! http://www.newsreview.com/sacramento/content?oid=1304912 to quote: 'he "skidded to an immediate stop.â Then, he describes that the cops applied their hand brakes and slid past him. "One guy almost fell over. I had more control than they did,â'
unbelievable!
I don't think it's a bad idea to enforce that bikes can come to a screeching halt on command: if you were in the path of a cyclist -- as another cyclist, a motorist, OR a pedestrian (who, might I add has no frame of any sort to protect them), I'm certain you'd like to think that bike can stop quickly for your own safety.
I have been a cyclist since 1982, I have raced both mountain and road. I am a true advocate across the board. I also feel that although the fines are steep, they are in order. the majority of cyclists will refine their riding styles accordingly. The jokers will continue to be jokers and as a result they will be fined. As for the license plate, well that is just stupid. In centre county,Pen State area, a registration sticker sufices that is placed somewhere on the bike frame. this also helps with theft as it is not removable with indication that it was there. In most European countries this is mandatory as well as fixed lighting both front and back. all issues of traffic law are applied and come with a fine. If we want more more rights as cyclists and more safety on the road then we must bear the responsability as a result. I see this an overall positive. SO please stop crying
[...] redundancy, in a clear attempt to target fixed-gear bikes, a Philadelphia councilman proposes a $1000 fine or immediate confiscation of any bike without brakes — yet fails to comprehend that a fixie is a brake. Possibly related [...]
First they came for the fixie riders, but I was not a fixie rider, and Idid not speak out because I was not a fixie ridermade snide, petty comments...
Man, who cares. Fixed Gear bikes are for hipster doofuses who ride to show off. The only thing I regret about outlawing fixies is that the amount of hilarity that I will witness when these losers wipe out due to their own stupidity will decrease. Too bad.
These laws make sense for safety reasons, but the fines are ridiculous. The reason I ride is to save money. I'm in the process of selling my car because insurance, gas, and maintenance were killing me... Now I have to worry about biking fines that cost more than my car?! I'm not too worried though, because I think enforcement of these laws will be tough. I don't plan to change my biking habits...
State law supercedes county or city law. Hence this "law" is not really law. First person who gets an infraction due to this new "law" can take it to court and any judge worth his salt should throw the law out. Done.
These laws make sense for safety reasons, but the fines are ridiculous. The reason I ride is to save money. I'm in the process of selling my car because insurance, gas, and maintenance were killing me... Now I have to worry about biking fines that cost more than my car?! I'm not too worried though, because I think enforcement of these laws will be tough. I don't plan to change my biking habits...
Please also read the following article: http://www.slate.com/id/2232555/?gt1=38001
I would also like to express my support for Stop as Yield for Bikes. If Stop as Yield is not honored, I feel pedestrians should be ticketed for j-walking or crossing at an intersection when they have a red light/don't walk even when there are clearly no cars around. If you want to be so strict with laws and promote safety, it has to be across the board.
Solve problems like gun crimes, homeless people, domestic abuse, and potholes.
I think this calls for some science. I suggest some identical bikes with identical tires and tire pressure and identical weight riders, a speed gun, a suitable paved area, some chalk and a measuring tape, and some agreed upon referees. Since the fixie rider is the one with something to prove, --they are the ones under attack-- they can pick the gear ratio and the riding position. Since this won't be a handling test the fact that it's not their regular bike shouldn't be an issue, and in fact it probably won't be the regular bike of either competitor; we're not talking how well it corners or something. This event would be a fundraiser for Neighborhood Bike Works. If there is interest I'll be contacting bike manufacturers so that we can borrow a pair of identical bikes, and maybe some of the people at Drexel who organized a human powered vehicle race here last summer. They have timing equipment. Contact me with suggestions regarding people, bikes and locations where this could take place. I myself am genuinely interested in the outcome but truly neutral regarding any desires as to who would be seen to stop in a shorter distance. I suggest that there be committees or teams on either side of the issue that can agree on equipment and rules. The event should test fixed-only versus fixed-with-front-brake verus freewheel with two brakes. We should consult some statisticians to make sure that the number of runs by each side make a statistically significant result. The experiment should be conducted with runs at various speeds so that any advantage of one system over another would be demonstrated in such a way that nobody could say something like "well, the fixie may have won, but brakes work better when you're going really fast/slow," etc. Who is really neutral about this and would like to work on the event, so that there's no feeling of bias by either side? Send me an e-mail.
Case you haven't heard...
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Click above to see the rules and requirments.
Thank you for taking the time to consider my petty, manic scribbles. This contest will provide we wannabe scribes with a small glimmer of hope before crushing our self-absorbed, whiny asses with a hammerful of dismissive rejection. We live for this!
Bicyclists, take heed: The Philadelphia Police announced today that officers will be launching the slightly-terrifyingly-named "Central Bicycle Enforcement Initiative" at Rittenhouse Square.
What, if anything, 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 is.
I received two press releases about the "initiative." One came from the police. It read:
Tomorrow Friday, November 19, 2009, the Central Bicycle Enforcement Initiative will begin at 1:00PM at Rittenhouse Square. Members of the Bicycle Coalition will be on hand to help with the education on bike laws, rules and safety. Hand-out material will be provided.
The other came from the Bicycle Coalition of Greater Philadelphia. It was a little more involved.
While the police make the event out to be a friendly get-together between the two groups, the Bicycle Coalition's press release suggests that the Coalition got involved only after 9th District Police Captain Dennis Wilson informed them that he was already planning a crackdown.
(You may remember Captain Wilson, by the way, from just over a year ago, when the City Paper reported that his officers had somewhat inexplicably raided a houseful of activists and detained them. Charges were never pressed.)
Here's the slightly-abbreviated dilly, according to the Bike Coalition (read the full press release, including bicycle violations and how much they cost, here):
The Bicycle Coalition's Education Department sat down with Captain Wilson from the Philadelphia Police 9th District today (November 19, 2009). This meeting confirmed that Police intend to begin an enforcement and education campaign beginning tomorrow, November 20, 2009. The campaign will focus on egregious actions of motorists and cyclists in the Center City area.
Bicycle police officers from the 9th, 6th and Center City Districts will be on the streets enforcing the rules of the road in Center City. In addition to other violations, the Police will be stopping bicyclists riding on the sidewalk, not stopping at red lights or stop signs and riding the wrong way in the road. The Police Department will also have vehicle units out on Spruce and Pine Streets ticketing motorists who are driving in, or illegally double parking in the bike lane or driving aggressively.
. . .
In response to this enforcement campaign, the Bicycle Coalition will have Bicycle Ambassadors out on the streets helping to educate bicyclists who may not know the rules of the road and provide tips for riding in traffic.
. . .
Please be advised that this is not a warning period and tickets will be issued. Safety education coupled with enforcement, applied equitably to all road users, is the first step to improve safety for all.
. . .
[...] response seemed out of proportion. While it has led to a mostly healthy debate over road safety, a stepped-up enforcement effort against bicycle scofflaws seems to many like a case of misplaced priorities, considering how many [...]
[...] response seemed out of proportion. While it has led to a mostly healthy debate over road safety, a stepped-up enforcement effort against bicycle scofflaws seems to many like a case of misplaced priorities, considering how many [...]
[...] response seemed out of proportion. While it has led to a mostly healthy debate over road safety, a stepped-up enforcement effort against bicycle scofflaws seems to many like a case of misplaced priorities, considering how many [...]
[...] in collisions with cyclists on Philadelphia streets precipitated an uproar in the local press, a crackdown on cyclists by the police and a new round of proposed legislation to fight the perceived scourge of scofflaw [...]
[...] in collisions with cyclists on Philadelphia streets precipitated an uproar in the local press, a crackdown on cyclists by the police and a new round of proposed legislation to fight the perceived scourge of scofflaw [...]
[...] in collisions with cyclists on Philadelphia streets precipitated an uproar in the local press, a crackdown on cyclists by the police and a new round of proposed legislation to fight the perceived scourge of scofflaw [...]
Why is this bad? Breaking the law on your bike isn't just dangerous for you, it's dangerous for all the other bikers and the pedestrians, because you anger drivers and do unexpected things like ride on the sidewalk. If you believe the laws are unfair, go ahead and break them, and take your ticket to court like a good civil disobedient. Otherwise if you want to operate a vehicle, motorized or leg powered, you have to follow the rules. I don't get why that's some awful injustice.
Riding up 22nd Street this morning there was a police car parked in the left hand lane pointed south (22nd St runs north) and an officer was talking with a biker and seemed to be filling out a report/ticket. Could this be a symptom of the Initiative?
I hope this "Initiative" 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 don't care WHY you are riding on the sidewalk, if you are doing it, it's 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 can't we be content to pay only a fine?
Is this a one day event?
will this be a one-day enforcement?
It makes me happy to know that I can feel free to commit heinous crimes now, knowing that the police will be tied up with bikers. Loot and pillage, motherfuckers! It's a free for all!!!
Hey Isaiah - you might want to check this group out - it's been spontaneously organized and in less than 48 hours has about ~350 participating - and made the evening news
enforce the laws already in place. also, please read "A Letter to Philadelphia City Councilman Frank DiCicco" @ http://mattkosoy.com/index.php?id=18
I do not support bicycles on sidewalks. I am an avid cyclist. I would like you all to see my comments in the other post about this as well: http://citypaper.net/blogs/clog/2009/11/20/does-the-proposed-council-law-target-fixed-gear-bikes/#comment-202897 http://citypaper.net/blogs/clog/2009/11/20/does-the-proposed-council-law-target-fixed-gear-bikes/#comment-202912 I do ride a fixed gear (and also a hand brake) but many riders can stop their bike riding fixed without a hand brake within 15ft, as the law expresses the brake should do.
Enforcement is fine. Augmenting fines, forced registration and confiscation is crazy. I follow the laws as it is, but god forbid I get my bike taken away - i cycle 10 miles each way to work daily.
"Central Bicycle Enforcement Initiative" Does that mean downtown? Great, yet more rules and laws which are enforced only in certain areas of the city.
If I have to obey all the laws, and get a license plate, I should then be able to take up entire lanes AND be able to ride on 676, etc. Right? Please... I am NOT opposed to enforcement of the sidewalk law. I enforce that now with elbows. If you are too scared to ride on the street, you shouldn't be riding. BUT, many of the sidewalk violators are BMXicans, and since a good number aren't legal, does anyone really expect that without proper documentation they are going to get licenses? They ride bikes because they don't have the docs to get drivers licenses for crying out loud... I'm not against all the proposed laws, but some just scream fascist police-state and are an obvious pick on the little guy to make money scheme. Like our cops have nothing better to do? Or it will be enforced in part by the outsourced PPA? We have easily the worst transit system in the country, the economy is shit, and now people who were going to find alternatives to paying for gas or dealing with SEPTA are getting attacked? Ugh.
You should always keep in mind the rules and regulations of the road when your riding your bicycles for your safety.
Don't know if you saw this little thingamajigger on Phawker, (which itself links to this thing from Washington City Paper), but our Police Commissioner may have a truthiness problem from his days down in DC. From the WashCP:
An affidavit filed today in U.S. District Court raises questions as to whether former D.C. Police Chief Charles H. Ramsey may have committed perjury in his sworn testimony about the Pershing Park fiasco. Ramsey had repeatedly stated in depositions that he had not ordered the mass arrest of approximately 400 people during the Sept. 27, 2002, World Bank/IMF protests.
Yet the affidavit, by Det. Paul Hustler, a 22-year D.C. Police veteran, maintains that Ramsey indeed ordered the arrests.
Hustler's affidavit, taken Nov. 16, [PDF] is just the latest shock in a pair of Pershing Park class-action civil suits in U.S. District Court. In recent months, the case has been dogged by allegations of massive discovery violations. Judge Emmet Sullivan has called for an outside investigation into how basic evidence in the cases had gone missing.
We took a quick read through Hustlerâs testimony, and indeed, if heâs telling the truth, it might not bode well for Chief Ramsey. So, being the judicious reporters that we are, we (technically, an intern) placed a call to Ramseyâs public affairs office, to ask if he had any thoughts on Hustlerâs statement. Here's what the lady who answered the phone told us, in whole:
"We're not willing to comment, and neither is he!â Click.
So, um, there you go.
great reporting
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!!
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