Philadelphia Councilman Wants Future Bike Lanes To Have Council Approval

PHILADELPHIA (CBS) - A Philadelphia city councilman wants any future bike lanes in the city to require Council approval. The new buffered lanes on Spruce and Pine, and upcoming bike lanes on 10th and 13th streets were products of the Nutter Administration.

Councilman Bill Greenlee wants to create an ordinance that puts council in the saddle.

"We're not anti-biker or anti-bike lane. As long as we regulate what goes on along the highway; it's just being consistent with the policy we have for motor vehicles."

Bicycle Coalition of Greater Philadelphia Executive Director Alex Doty says no City Council approval is needed for new vehicular travel lanes, crosswalks or bus stops.

"It's putting red tape between the streets department traffic engineers to put bike lanes in place."

While Philadelphia has some 220-miles of bike lanes, the most noticeable are the latest - the Spruce and Pine Street buffered lanes, pushed by the Nutter Administration. Its next venture, expected to be painted by late June, are north south bike lanes on 10th and 13th streets, between Spring Garden and South streets.

Reported by Steve Tawa, KYW Newsradio