I'm Tired

I’m tired. Tired of the state of cycling advocacy in Philadelphia.

I’m tired of individuals and advocacy groups trying to take credit for the work of 
others.

When individuals started holding memorial rides and placing ghost bikes 
for cyclists who have been killed while riding. Only to have the Bicycle 
Coalition of Greater Philadelphia ask them to step aside so they 
can do it. Or when the BCGP tried to claim it played some sort of crucial
role in the lawsuit against the Marriott and ParkingOps and its resolution.

I’m tired of the Bicycle Coalition wasting its time on the trolls and troglodytes that

infest the media and the internet. The BCGP have wasted far to much time on

Stu Bykofsky, making lopsided deals that only benefit Mr. Bykofsky. But the true

insult to the cycling community was when the BCGP devoted an entire podcast to

the Twitter troll @ZeroVisionPhila. Giving him the chance to voice his unfounded

theories.

There are many individuals in Philadelphia who are making positive change

when it comes to infrastructure. Instead of featuring people like that, the BCGP

chose to engage in sophomoric hijinks.

I am tired of people in the media and on social media who promulgate the concept of a war on cars. Especially when it come to Philadelphia’s

grumpy old man, Stu Bykofsky.

Who has spent close to ten years promoting the myth that bike lanes create traffic

and that all cyclists break the law by running red lights and stop signs. Some

claim that this is merely an act and Stu is a great guy. My response to this is,

Stu Bykofsky is anti-bike and a narcissist. Who engages in extreme statements

like calling cyclists “pedalphiles” in order to manipulate people into giving him 
what he does not deserve, credibility.

I’m tired of the groups who form on social media who want to play a role in cycling

advocacy. Yet stand by and do nothing more than talk, with very little action.

Some of the worst moments occur when they discuss if a public action should

be taken. If you have to ask the question, you already know the answer.

I’m tired of people who think that if we inform and educate the general public

they will somehow accept cyclists as legitimate street users. It’s time to stop

asking the public politely and time to take public action on regular and consistent basis.

I’m tired.

Mirror, mirror, on the wall

Fairfield Inn at 261 S. 13th has been using the bicycle lane on 13th St

as part of its valet parking after construction in the area allowed it to

reopen. Unfortunately this practice forced cyclists into the streets on a

regular basis. Whatever discussions that occurred with the Fairfield

and ParkOps valet were fruitless and calling them out on public media

was pointless.

But then there came a paradigm shift in the form of Stuart Leon,

Bicycle Attorney. In the form of a court order requiring Fairfield Inn and

ParkOps valet to stay out of the bike lane. There were those who felt

the following pictures were bad optics. Handing a court order to a hourly

employee. Court orders should be served to company management,

but also to those employees who are most likely to be implement it.

You know what is bad optics? Cyclists getting injured or killed because of

blocked bike lanes. Especially in light of this;

Do you know does not work? Public shaming through social media

and in person protests. They depend on on a sense of responsibility on

the part business owners and if they have none nothing will change.

It won’t matter how many tickets customers or suppliers get or

how professionally anyone advocates for change. Unless there is a

direct impact to a company's profit margin, nothing will change.

What has to change are toothless statements on the part of the

Bicycle Coalition of Greater Philadelphia and its representatives.

For far too many years we have seen attempts by the BCGP to educate

and work the system from the inside. The results of which have led to

greater difficulty in getting new bike lanes installed, faded bike lanes

repainted, and safety issues unaddressed.

That change will come in the form of court orders, when and where

they can be applied. I hope that what Stuart Leon achieved becomes the first of many.

If I Die Before I Wake

Just recently yet another cyclist has been killed at an intersection by a truck

making a right turn, or as it is more commonly known as, a right hook.

This can happen due any number of factors, driver not signaling for their turns,

failing to check their mirrors, and cyclists being in the trucks blindspot.

A local reporter posted a 15 second video clip showing the crushed and

mangled bicycle of the most recent victim being pulled out from under

the wheels of the truck. Some people felt that this was a violent image

and offensive to the friends and family. There was no body, blood, or

viscera in the video, just a mangled bike.

To those who believe this was violent and offensive imagery, let me

tell you what should be considered violent and offensive. Violent is

getting crushed under the wheels of a truck, knowing there is

nothing you can do. Offensive is when a family member has to

go to the morgue to identify their loved one's body or having to

post a Go Fund Me to cover the costs of the funeral.

I am in the process of instructing my friends and family that if I am killed

while riding my bike they should make what happened as political as

possible. Including a statement to the press with my mangled bike front and center for everyone to see. I don’t want a ghost bike, I want a

New Orleans style funeral procession through the streets with a

casket being towed by a bicycle.

All too often cycling advocates and individual cyclist in Philadelphia

have tried to work with the city to make positive changes only to rebuffed

by City Council. Or subject to city employees who spend more time

trying to create projects that resemble Potemkin villages, instead of

improvements with actual substance.

Personally I believe that anyone getting a non-commercial or

commercial license should have to watch a video with mangled bikes

and brief bios of the people who were killed on them. Along with an

actual bike ride or a training situation like this

It’s time to stop worrying about hurt feelings and to time focus on

cyclists not getting killed.

Philadelphia Social Rides - 2018

With spring and the return of warm temperatures not that far off, people

will be dusting off their bicycles from there long winters hibernation.

For those of you looking for rides that are shorter, leisurely, and about

socializing this is the current list of social rides in Philadelphia.

Social rides in Philadelphia are often 10 to 15 miles long, with no drops,

often involve a final destination where you can eat, drink and

make new friends. Some of the rides listed are monthly,

while others are seasonal/annual.

Monthly

Philly Full Moon Bike Ride  https://www.facebook.com/groups/156618137847919/

The Philly Full Moon Ride has been going strong since 2013. Each ride is

held on the full moon of every month, 12 months a year. This ride departs

from the Art Museum stairs and is a night ride.

Philly Bike Party - https://www.facebook.com/philliebikeparte/

This is the second iteration of the Philly Bike Party. The organizers have

been very consistent about holding monthly rides and usually work with

some kind of theme. Most of the rides depart from the Art Museum stairs

with occasional departures from The Porch at 30th St. Station and

Love Park. It is a night ride.

Taco Tuesday Ride PHL - https://www.facebook.com/tacoridephl/

Taco Tuesday is the newest ride to Philadelphia. A group of cyclists

attempted to revive the Midnight Pretzel Ride only to find that the

bakery had changed its hours. So they created the Taco Tuesday ride.

Held monthly the Taco Tuesday Ride goes to various restaurants to

eat tacos. This ride departs from the Art Museum stairs and is a night ride.

Night Cycle Philadelphia - https://www.facebook.com/phillybikeride/

A night ride that departs from the Philadelphia Museum of Art and final

stop at a local bar.

PMA Bike Ride - https://www.facebook.com/pmabikeride/  

The PMA Bike Ride delivers pizza to those in need who may be

living on the streets.

Annual

Cycle Scene PHL - https://www.facebook.com/groups/cyclescenephl/

Cycle Scene PHL has brought many of the local rides together

to create a singular resource. It is also where you can find mass

rides planned by Alexandria Schnieder. Past rides organized by

Ms. Schnieder have included; The PopeRide, RideDNC, and

Cycle en Color. All of these rides have drawn over 1000 cyclists per ride.

Philly Tweed Ride - https://www.facebook.com/phillytweedride/

Attracting an average of 100 participants, the Philly Tweed Ride is a time

machine back to 1900’s in England. Tweed and vintage bikes abound,

along with modern takes on a period look. A ride through Philadelphia

with a stop for a picnic and post ride drinks and awards that include,

best dressed, best mustache, and best bike. Held in the fall,

this is a leisurely ride.

Philly Seersucker Vintage Ride & Social - https://www.facebook.com/PhillyDandQ/

The Seersucker Social is a springtime ride with a 1920’s American vibe.

Just like the Tweed Ride this a very well dressed crowd wearing vintage

and vintage looking clothing.

Change is hard, excuses are easy.

On Saturday, March 17 the Bicycle Coalition of Greater Philadelphia held a
Vision Zero Conference and I did not attend. I chose not to sit through yet
another conference listening to experts and activists talk about what should
be and could be. Or worse yet, politicians making empty promises or
excuses for why they have failed to take any action.

I was truly angry and frustrated with this paraphrased statement attributed to
Philadelphia Mayor Jim Kenney.

Change is hard, making excuses is easy and Mayor Kenney has really good one above.
When Kenney ran for the office he made two commitments that I was very impressed by,
“Stolen Sidewalks” and 30 miles of protected bike lanes.

In Philadelphia when buildings are being constructed or renovated the sidewalks are
often blocked off to pedestrian traffic with no safe alternative. For decades in
New York City this issue has been dealt with the creation of “sheds” scaffolding
running the length of the sidewalk with a roof on it to prevent construction debris
from falling on pedestrians. As part of Kenney’s campaign he committed to ending the
practice of stolen sidewalks. Two years later nothing has changed.

Kenney’s other campaign commitment was to build 30 miles of protected bike
lanes during his four year term. So far we only have two miles, along with multiple
attempts to install unprotected bike lanes shut down due to Councilmanic claims of
“neighborhood concerns”. Kenney’s announcement of two five block long protected
bike lanes along JFK Blvd. and Market St. should have been greeted with derisive
response of “this is the best you have to offer after two years??!!”

It does not matter how many posts on social media Mayor Kenney reads, his apology
for not making change as fast has have we wanted was misleading. Mayor Kenney
has deliberately withheld several million dollars in grants to improve bike lane safety,
claiming the money does not exist. He should be apologizing for deliberately refusing
to make changes, making him complicit.