Hop on Your Bike and Hit the New Lanes
NBCPhiladelphia.com
It was safety first for Mayor Michael Nutter as he prepared to bike to work on the city's newly opened bike lanes.
Bikes are not used in Philadelphia nearly enough, but after Wednesday's green ribbon cutting, hopefully, that'll change.
On Wednesday morning, Mayor Nutter officially opened two broad bike lanes on Spruce and Pine Sts. that run across the city to provide a river-to-river connection, no car needed. Going to work, exercising and sightseeing are now possible -- by bike -- without fearing to be run over by a car.
Nutter calls this a “demonstration of our commitment to ensuring that the streets of Philadelphia are open, accessible, and available for all travelers.”
And to prove his point, our fine Mayor biked his way from the ribbon cutting ceremony on Pine to City Hall.
Hop on your Schwinn and ride along Pine eastbound from 22nd Street or use the alternative route on Spruce from 2nd to 22nd, westbound saving both gas and the environment -- not to mention the killer glutes you'll have.
The city says that the cycle lanes are part of a pilot program and that its practicality will now be tested. Cars and bikes will be counted to see if the community accepts the changes. And drivers will be watched carefully to ensure the safety of bikers.
"Drivers should expect police enforcement of the bike lanes. Bike lanes are not passing lanes for cars," says Rina Cutler Deputy Mayor for Transportation and Utilities.
But she also asks all bikers to stop at red lights, stop signs and signal when turning.
The hope is that drivers and bikers will get along and be courteous of one another for the good of the environment. .
Posted Wednesday, Sep 23, 2009 - 1:10 PM EST
