Philadelphia Adding Bike Lanes To 10th And 13th Streets In Center City

April 29, 2011 4:10 PM

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PHILADELPHIA (CBS) - Bicyclists may be rejoicing, motorists perhaps not, now that the Nutter Administration plans to add two more bicycle-only lanes in Center City.

The Nutter Administration has chosen southbound 10th Street and northbound 13th Street as the latest locations for bike lanes, complementing the east-west bikes lanes on Spruce and Pine Streets that began in 2009.

Officials in late June will remove one lane of auto traffic from both 10th and 13th, from South Street to Spring Garden to create the bike lanes. Deputy Mayor for Transportation Rina Cutler the demand for north south bike lanes is already there.

“This isn’t really as much about creating additional biking lanes, as trying to accommodate users that are already riding, and trying to do it in a way that balances safety for all those who use the roadway.”

And Cutler says 10th and 13th were chosen for three reasons.

“We believe there’s enough capacity to take a lane out and create a bike lane. Secondly, there are no SEPTA bus routes. Thirdly, if you stand out there now, there are so many bicyclists out there commuting (already).”

Walt Hunter reports…

Cutler says studies show previously created bike lanes on other center city streets have not caused traffic congestion. Drivers, however, seemed to feel, almost unanimously, that the lane cuts were a bad idea that would lead to still more delays and gridlock.

Cutler also said that with more bikers than ever on city streets, she hopes the bike lanes would encourage bikers and drivers to cooperate. Extra police officers will be enforcing traffic laws, looking for violations among both drivers and bikers.

The lanes for on-street parking on 10th and 13th will remain. The pilot will last six months, and Cutler says the plan may need some tweaking.

“But we will think it will work on both streets.”

Reported by Mike Dunn, KYW Newsradio

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Philadelphia Adding Bike Lanes To 10th And 13th Streets In Center City

Frank Graff

Time to start taxing cyclist, if their going to be sharing the roads with vehicles paying licensing fees.. I think I’ll be discussing this with Governor Corbett soon.

Anon

Time to go back to grade school and learn basic grammar first!

jel

The single lane streets with double sided parking found south of South Street (and other neighborhoods such as Fairmount) are far more dangerous and frustrating than where these proposed lanes will be installed. Single lane streets due to double sided parking need to be converted to double lane streets with single sided parking providing a lane for bikes and a lane for motor vehicles. Car garages can be built to accommodate the displaced vehicles. Garages would provide protection from weather and theft for these vehicles. Motorists would have a guaranteed parking spot and would not have to drive around trying to locate one. Furthermore, requiring only single sided parking on these streets would also make trash pickup, street cleaning and snow removal easier and more effective. If motorists could provide shelter and protection for their cars in a guaranteed indoor space, they may not mind the small added expense required to ensure it. Until the city eliminates double sided parking on these streets, motorists will have to continue to endure driving behind cyclists who are also just trying to get to and from work.
jel

Cyclists do not take up parking and they are one less car in the way. If cyclists had lanes, everyone would know which side of the street to expect them to be riding on. If pedestrians were supposed to walk in the street with cars, they’d walk wherever they could get through. Sidewalks help regulate where pedestrians are supposed to walk. Should cyclists ride there too?
sheriff

Eliminate all vehicular traffic from city hall to delaware ave. Too many cars & smog in the city. Tear down the garages & use the space fpr mini green parks.
NS

SEPTA bus routes 124 and 125 operate on 13th Street between Chestnut and Arch. As Ms. Cutler didn’t get that right, I wonder how much of her other information is inaccurate?

No more underutilized bike lanes for arrogant bicyclists.