Philadelphia Police Poised To Crack Down On Bicycle Traffic

July 18, 2011 11:20 PM

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PHILADELPHIA (CBS) – Philadelphia officials next month plan to use more “stick” in a program that takes a carrot-and-stick approach to bad behavior by people in cars, on bicycles and on foot.

The program, dubbed “Give Respect, Get Respect,” was launched at the beginning of May, aimed at reining in bad behavior by motorists, bicyclists and pedestrians in Center City (see previous story).

Since then, some tickets, but mostly warnings have been handed out.

But deputy mayor Rina Cutler says that starting in August, more citations will be issued.

“After the first several months of doing that, we really need to pick up the enforcement side and really get serious,” she told KYW Newsradio.

Cyclist Andrew Fleming was riding in the bike lane on 10th Street when he had to slam on the brakes to avoid crashing into a man who wrongfully crossed against the light while talking on his cell phone.

“I’ve always had to look out for pedestrians whether or not there have been bike lanes, but I feel like it is a little more obvious now when you should be paying attention when you are a pedestrian,” Fleming said. “I try to follow the rules of the road because I used to be someone who didn’t follow rules of the road and a couple of times I got into accidents and that made me think twice.”

Nearly 600 bicyclists were given warnings since the program started, many for riding on the sidewalk or running red lights.

“We are starting to see a place for us to feel safe. It feels like there’s been room made for us on the road and so it’s time for us to start thinking about how it is the rules of the road apply to us now,” said Alex Doty, executive director of the Bicycle Coalition of Greater Philadelphia.

Pedestrians who text while they walk without looking ahead will also be targeted, but for warnings only — a point emphasized by Cutler in a later clarification of her original comments about the program.

“Pedestrians may be reminded to be more aware of their surroundings; however, there are no citations issued by the PPD (Philadelphia Police Department) for texting while walking. If a Philadelphia police officer observes a driver, cyclist or pedestrian participating in any kind of potentially dangerous behavior, the officer will remind them to be careful,” the city said in a statement.

And on the motorist side, officials will be looking for drivers who don’t respect the bike lanes.

The citations include $120 fines.

Grant money is being used to cover the costs of the increased enforcement which will last through the summer.

There are already plans in the works to get another grant to extend the increased enforcement another 40 weeks.

Reported by Mike Dunn, KYW Newsradio

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Philadelphia Police Poised To Crack Down On Bicycle Traffic

Bruce_Almty

Tax Tax Tax… Call it what you like but….. Tax Tax Tax

tax the stupid

I support taxing those who are being unsafe. That reduces the burden on the rest of us that follow the law.

Responsable use of Technology

I couldn’t agree more with this new policy. I have had my car been walked into, 3 TIMES by pedestrians in the last few years or so. I was paying attention to driving and was WALKED INTO! It happened again last Thursday on my drive home!!!! This is not to mention that I have been walked into during my morning Starbucks stop AND once again at work. I will give you all a hint as to what these mindless, inconsiderate fools were doing with their phones. It starts with text and ends with ing, any takers???
If you really want to blather on texting about unimportant BS I really don’t care. But try not walking around, driving or cycling while you are doing so! Get some freaking common since people! You are putting yourself, but far more importantly, OTHERS in real potential danger. This isn’t a joke or something just to blow off anymore, this is becoming a real problem. I am so glad that Philly is finally waking up to this fact! Unfortunately, observant people have already realized this for years!
And P.S if you think I’m an old man screaming “you damn kids with your gadgets and Internets” you are DEAD WRONG!!! I am 26 and in fact work for an IT firm in the Philadelphia area.
simon

Philly is a hell hole no matter how they try to giftwrap it..
Devin McKensy

Ticketing pedestrians sounds like a poor idea, but I have to agree about increasing enforcement for both cars and bicycles.

As a regular pedestrian in the city, I can’t tell you the number of times where I have almost been hit by a car that thinks a red light means hit the gas, by a bicycle going to the wrong way on a one way street, or had some arrogant bicyclist yelling for me to “get out of the f***ing way” so he can proceed unhindered through a crowded sidewalk.

Both drivers and bicyclists need to understand that the rules of the road apply equally to them and they need to be followed. Maybe a few extra tickets will help get that across to them.

yunkk

Ticketing cyclists sounds like a poor idea, but I have to agree about increasing enforcement for both cars and pedestrians.
As a regular cyclist in the city, I can’t tell you the number of times where I have almost been hit by a car that thinks a red light means hit the gas, by a pedestrian crossing against a red, or had some arrogant leg walker yelling for me to “get out of the f***ing way” so he can jaywalk unhindered through a busy roadway.
Both drivers and pedestrians need to understand that the rules of the road apply equally to them and they need to be followed. Maybe a few extra tickets will help get that across to them.
Kevin McDensy

Ticketing motorists sounds like a poor idea, but I have to agree about increasing enforcement for both bikes and pedestrians.
As a regular motorist in the city, I can’t tell you the number of times where I have almost hit a person that thinks a red light means keep walking, by a bicycle going the wrong way on a one way street, or had some arrogant bicyclist yelling for me to “get out of the f***ing way” so he can jaywalk unhindered through a crowded sidewalk.
Both bicyclists and pedestrians need to understand that the rules of the road apply equally to them and they need to be followed. Maybe a few extra tickets will help get that across to them.

Common Sense

Well she’s a typical dumocrat with her idea of taxing and imposing fines any which way they can until they fine or tax you for breathing air in their city limits. Pretty weak.
http://totallyarbitraryurl.wordpress.com/2011/07/19/guilty-of-reckless-strolling/ Guilty of Reckless Strolling | Gusty Winds May Exist

[...] Thankfully, the city of Philadelphia never has to worry about such a tragedy again because their ever-so-thoughtful city council has enacted an ordnance that, among other things, will target pedestrians who have the sheer disregard for human life to text and walk at the same tim… [...]
http://www.fastnews.tv/?p=35975 Philly To Ticket Oblivious 'Text-Walkers'… | Breaking News

[...] (First column, 9th story, link) [...]
Wyatt

174 (as of today) homicides in this town, and this is what we’re concerned with? Priorities, Mayor Squidward!
phillies 2012

Couldn’t agree more. I have had my car been walked into, 3 TIMES by pedestrians in the last few years or so. I was paying attention to driving and was WALKED INTO! It happened again last Thursday on my drive home!!!! This is not to mention that I have been walked into during my morning Starbucks stop AND once again at work. I will give you all a hint as to what these mindless, inconsiderate fools were doing with their phones. It starts with text and ends with ing, any takers???
If you really want to blather on texting about unimportant BS I really don’t care. But try not walking around, driving or cycling while you are doing so! Get some freaking common since people! You are putting yourself, but far more importantly, OTHERS in real potential danger. This isn’t a joke or something just to blow off anymore, this is becoming a real problem. I am so glad that Philly is finally waking up to this fact! Unfortunately, observant people have already realized this for years!
And P.S if you think I’m an old man screaming “you damn kids with your gadgets and Internets” you are DEAD WRONG!!! I am 26 and in fact work for an IT firm in the Philadelphia area.

tom

they should ticket you for being too sensitive and sticking your nose in other peoples business.
Marbran

You mean you work for Geek Squad? Exactly how are folks walking into your car? At a red light? While you are doing 50 in a 25? Tell us more.

Herbert

Marbran sucks.

dunkk

The Phillies suck.
junkk

The Phillies suck.

John

Okay, ticketing bicyclists makes sense. They can hurt a pedestrian if they’re on the sidewalk, but ticketing someone who is texting while walking??? Eh? Who are they going to run over?

richard Allen

John you are clueless…

Its who car are they going to walk into and whose windshield are they going to smash?

And the worst offenders are mothers pushing their kid against a don’t walk sign while on the phone….maybe kill a few of them and they will get the message….

GOOD for Philly….we need our streets safe for drivers…

Jim

Richard,
You are clueless. Just how far are you willing to let the government go in telling you how to act in life. You idiots need to go back and study history to find just where the current state of control will lead. The support for many of the repressive laws that have come to pass in this country in recent years is a major shock to those of us over 40 or so. Just 1/100th of the government encroachment on freedom that we see today would have sent the public into a major revolt just 30 years ago. The youth have been spoon fed lies and prevented understanding the principles of this country to the point of blind acceptance of anything big brother says. I just want to shake everyone I meet and scream at them to wake them up. They know not what they are being led into. Aaaargh!
SailorV

I completely agree with Jim’s reply to Richard. These do-good feel-good laws will lead to unintended consequences like pushing a baby carriage while talking on the phone.

zombierocket

I’m all for tickets. I had an idiot walk right into me while she was texting and I was carrying hot coffee… burned myself. I was tempted to bust her teeth out. And she never even apologized… I say fine them all!!

bryanabbott

We need to fine these reckless people carrying scalding hot liquid. They’re a danger to their fellow citizens.
Marbran

Oh, so it’s all about you, huh? Did you ever think that accidents just happen sometimes? Maybe you should be mad at the coffee brewer for making it so hot, or maybe at yourself for deciding to walk in the presence of others with a hot beverage. You, sir, should be fined for endangering others! And these fines are really just money grabbing opportunities for the city, preying on the misfortunes of the citizenry. Good day, sir! I said, “Good day!”

Fanny Forbes Franklen

Just another degenerate government run by mentally decrepit parasites that want your wealth and are going to take it anyway they can. When there is nothing left these morons will try and tax your reading.

—————— http://911essentials.com
Incredulous

I guess the revenue patrols will be out in full force. HEY NUTTER …FU
http://www.thelifefiles.com/2011/07/18/philadelphia-to-give-out-tickets-for-texting-while-walking/ Philadelphia To Give Out Tickets For Texting While Walking?

[...] should be interesting to enforce, according to the news report out of [...]
g

god, im so glad i left this city! btw this is news out here in california. every place i been all people know about philly is how it’s worse than detriot.
http://stevebussey.com/wp/2011/07/how-much-are-you-going-to-take/ How much are you going to take? | Steve Bussey

[...] now we have this story out of Philadelphia: Philadelphia Police Poised To Crack Down On Bicycle, Pedestrian Violations [...]
PhillyIsALostCause

Yea can’t understand why there are more than 200 murders every year. It’s easy to walk out of a donut shop and ticket a pedestrian then go into the neighborhoods and get the bad guys off the street.
http://pnwriders.com/portland-region/155000-portland-bicycles-5.html#post2542028 Portland and Bicycles – Page 5 – PNW Riders

[...] Portlanders would scream over this…. http://philadelphia.cbslocal.com/201…an-violations/ Nearly 600 bicyclists were given warnings since the program started, many for riding on the [...]
offended

ticketing for head up ass disease, the politicians that thought this up should then be sentenced to life on the electric chair.
tom

Welcome to Philadelphia aka Detroit 2.0. Another liberal sink hole that is trying to save itself by pushing progressive dogma down the throats of the citizens. I guarantee you being fined for texting while walking is a progressive thing. Very soon the Progressives in their visionary approach will restart prohibition. Oh they already started that with smoking cigarettes

James

> Very soon the Progressives in their visionary approach will restart prohibition. Oh they already started that with smoking cigarettes

Nancy “War On Drugs” Reagan says ‘Hello’!

tom

Pot heads won with it now being available as “medicine”. And since when is smoking pot safer than smoking cigarettes? More progressive dogma. Keep drinking your koolaide, sheep.

Romantic Violence

Yeah in NYC.

thisiscreazy

Because philly has no criminal matters to attend to it must devote it’s resources to “fixing up society.” Thanks philly police for monitoring stopping my bike from being stolen from a legitimate bike rack with “video surveillance.”
Mark

How’s tyranny for change? The country is broke, expect a lot for fines, fees, charges and the TSA searching everyone everywhere.
Tony Zebekis

but its ok to smoke crack or weed and harrass white peopel its ok to drive around with a thumping car stereo
uts ok to rob people its ok to steal in this devastated third world city philadelphia is a giant toilet
RedBlooded1776

Thank you, comrade Linda.

You cannot legislate good behavior. Why is it that the city that hosts the Liberty Bell and Independence Hall is hell-bent on anti-liberty measures? Typical northern city…

Bob W

You’re right about not being able to legislate good behavior unless, of course, we become a police state that has the technology and manpower to enforce the law, ordinances or whatever “rule” an officer says you violated. Buit, no danger of that ever happening in the good old USA, which is a beacon of freedom and democracy for all the world. Everybody wants to come here to live! The Muslims hate us for our freedoms. We’re No. 1.
Finbar O’Shaunnessey

Right! I mean, why should bus drivers have to follow those silly routes anyway? It’s an infringement of their unalienable right to wander!

weakleader.com

pedestrians should be fined for being in Philadelphia.
Linda D Bryant

Pedestrians should also be fined for walking/talking–crossing the street while talking on their cell phones!!!!

Septa bus drivers, and cops should also be fined for using their cell phones on the job!!!!

MrRee

Don’t forget gum chewers! All that smacking and bubble blowing drives me nuts! Not to mention the mess it leaves on the sidewalk! Ticket the gum chewers! /s

MrRee the Troll

How is chewing gum unsafe? Faiiled agiain TROLL!!!

jr

What’s a newspaper?
Angry Revolutionary

Absolutely absurd….
Silly

you asked who pays?

There persone who caused the accident. Just like in a car. The guy that caused the accident pays, infact hes been paying for a long time for such situations. Insurance doesn’t pay. The guy who causes the problem pays, and its called responsibility.

10% of GDP (the value of everything a country produces) go to regulation. Thats the base cost of the government and you want to add a bicycle regulation. You nut, I want 8 million people employeed again, not some dumb burdensome regulation.
So how do you

go about registering/insuring bicycles?