Why I ride

I ride because for most errands I do not need a car.

I ride because I can get to where I need to go as fast or faster than a car or SEPTA.

I ride because SEPTA makes it easier to bring my bike with me.

I ride because parking my bike is easier and cheaper than parking my car,

I ride because when I see something or someplace interesting I can check it out.

I ride because I get exercise.

I ride because I save money on gas and SEPTA fares.

I ride because being a better cyclist does not mean having the best bike money can buy.

I ride because I enjoy rebuilding old bikes and turning them into new bikes.

I ride because some of the trails take me far away from Philadelphia so I can get away from people.

I ride because when I want go faster or farther I have to make it happen.

I ride because it makes me feel better about myself.

I ride because I can have ice cream after a long ride.

I ride because sometimes I imagine I am Dave Stoller racing the truck and I can hear the music playing.

 breaking away highway scene from Louis Renna on https://vimeo.com">Vimeo


Like us on Facebook
http://tinyurl.com/kmpe8yk

Friday Funnies - Who Are You?

With warm weather coming. Ask yourself, which cyclist are you?








Like us on Facebook
http://tinyurl.com/kmpe8yk

Sometimes 140 Characters is not Enough

Recently I engaged Philadelphia Inquirer writer Inga Saffron in a discussion on Twitter regarding her concerns over a bill being considered by Philadelphia City Council(http://tinyurl.com/pq8qyjd). One that would consolidate several city departments under a single authority, possibly under the authority of the City Council. Which could create a patchwork effect for future projects.

As you can see from the Twitter exchange Ms. Saffron seems to be under the impression that Mayor Nutter’s administration bears some responsibility for the lack of new bike lanes since 2012. The dialogue reached a point where I felt that a 140 character sound bite was not going to communicate what I had to say.

https://twitter.com/IngaSaffron/status/572438262075293696

So let me be blunt, Mayor Nutter’s administration is not responsible for the lack of new bicycle lanes since 2012. That honor is bestowed upon the Bicycle Coalition of Greater Philadelphia. Who in 2012 thought that giving City Council approval over the installation of future bike lanes that would replace parking or an existing lane of traffic in exchange for the Complete Streets Bill. This was the same deal that the BCGP fought against in 2011.

I don’t know what the BCGP was thinking when they made this deal. The City Council has history of trying to pass punitive bills against cyclists and to think that a City Council member would not use this option was delusional.

This point was driven home Council-Man at Large Bill Greenlee (http://tinyurl.com/kglwfwe) who declared that no bike lane would be installed on 22nd St, between Fairmont and Spring Garden. He claimed that the street needed two lanes of traffic, even though the Streets Department stated that two lanes would not fit. He also claimed that local constituents objected. But refused to allow a public hearing. The frightening thing about this is that a Council-Man at Large has no defined district. They are free to take action in district they chose, even though each district has its own councilman.

There are things I do blame the Nutter administration for. Their failure to deal with the police turning the bike lane at 13th & Arch into police parking. Even though there is public garage and a police parking lot available. Or their unwillingness to get religious institutions to stop using the Pine St. bike lane as on street parking. As most of them have arrangements for off street parking.

But at the end of the day the reason there have been no new bike lanes in Philadelphia since 2012 is because of the deal the BCGP made with City Council for the Safe Streets Bill. Not because of a failure on the part of the Nutter Administration.

If Ms. Saffron feels otherwise she can write something more than 140 characters long about how the Nutter Administration is partly or fully responsible for the lack of new bike lanes since 2012.

Like us on Facebook
http://tinyurl.com/kmpe8yk

Lets Go Ride a Bike

With warm weather approaching people will be turning to thoughts of love. The love of bicycling. For those of you who are looking for way to socialize and ride your bikes there many options available in Philadelphia.

Take Your Time Bike Ride - http://tinyurl.com/pnlu3tj

Departing from Rittenhouse Square on the second Tuesday of every month around 6pm. These rides always include a different destination each ride. Starting in April and ending in October these rides alternate between coed and women only.

Philly Full Moon Bike Ride http://tinyurl.com/n9vfype

Come howl at the moon with the Philly Full Moon Bike Ride. Held on the full moon of every month this ride departs from the Philadelphia Art Museum in the evening. Well attended, with a no drop policy this ride ends up at a local bar for drinks. Rides are held year round so dress for the weather and bring lights.

Philly Bike Party http://tinyurl.com/ot2l67t

Come dance the night away with the Philly Bike Party. The Philly Bike Party rides are usually on the third Saturday of the month and is 6 to 8 miles long. Along the way the ride makes several stops to socialize and dance.

Philly Kidical Mass http://tinyurl.com/oan2vp3

Kidical Mass Philadelphia is part of nationwide movement seeking to promote family friendly bike rides and bring awareness in our cities that kids are traffic too. Riding as a group Philly Kidical Mass provides safety in numbers by using routes that incorporate bike lanes and low traffic streets that are 1 to 4 miles long. These rides often end at local playgrounds giving you the opportunity to socialize while your children play with new friends.

Cranksgiving Philadelphia http://tinyurl.com/pf2hgvc

Held in November close to Thanksgiving. Each rider has to purchase food from a shopping list at predesignated supermarkets and then arrive at a final destination. All of the food is donated to Philabundance. For those of you who want to race there are prizes for top finishers in several categories and a special award for the individual who brings the most food. In 2014 Cranksgiving Philadelphia had 100 participants who brought 1200 pounds of food and $700 in cash.

Philadelphia Tweed Ride http://tinyurl.com/mxkt492

Held in the fall around November, the Philadelphia Tweed Ride is the dressiest social ride in town. Attracting 100 riders on average the Philadelphia Tweed Ride dress code asks its participants to dress in clothing from 1900 to 1920 England. The attire ranges from vintage clothing to vintage inspired, with bikes to match. Winding its way through Philadelphia this ride becomes a parade of its own. Complete with a stop for a picnic,  post ride drinks and awards the Philadelphia Tweed Ride is the ride of the social season.

Bilenky Junkyard Cross http://tinyurl.com/nxb8cma

The Bilenky Junkyard Cross closes out the social riding cycling season. Held in December in the junkyard abutting Bilenky Cycle Works, the Bilenky Junkyard Cross has one of the most unique courses around. Utilizing  items found in the junkyard you can expect to climb over cars, weave through auto parts and tires, and splash through puddles of unknown fluids. Each year the merry elves at Bilenky Cycle Works add their own course modifications. Pits made from sofa cushions or leaves and seesaws.

Review - Spoke Magazine

Much has been made of the timing of Urban Velo ceasing publication and Spoke Magazine (http://tinyurl.com/lrt6gg3) starting publication in Philadelphia. The question has to be asked; will Spoke Magazine provide the same quality as Urban Velo? Having had the chance to read their Premiere Issue I would say that the answer is, yes.

There were two articles that really stood out for me. The first “The Citizen’s Guide to Philadelphia Bike Laws” was a wonderful tongue in cheek explanation of the various bicycle laws on the books in the state of Pennsylvania. How many times have you seen a cycling advocacy group quote a cycling regulation and then explain it in such a way that it still does not make sense? Not in this article. With each regulation listed there was a translated reply that explained things in clear English, often with a sense of humor.

The second , “How Many Governments Does it Take to Build a Bike Lane”. We’ve all seen triumphal announcements when shiny new bike lanes are installed. This article explores how and where the money for a bike lane comes from. At the Federal, State, and local government levels. If you really want to see what it takes to build a bike lane then this is the article for you.

The writers and editors of Spoke Magazine created a collection of well written and topical articles. That were interesting, informative, and diverse. Without getting bogged down in jargon or the  minutia of cycling subcultures that become a turnoff for average readers. I look forward to future publications of Spoke Magazine and hope there will be many to come.

Like us on Facebook
http://tinyurl.com/kmpe8yk