Above from L to R: Charles R. Carmalt, AICP, Pedestrian & Bicycle Coordinator, Sarah Stuart, Bicycle Coalition of Greater Phila., James Sullivan, Sullivan Partners, and Warren Bloom, VSP Foundation Activist. Bloom is trying to take a big initiative like bicycle lane connector for commuters and casual riders living in West, North, and Central Philly areas.
On Thursday, July 16th, Sarah Clark Stuart, Bicycle Coalition of Greater Philadelphia, Charles R. Carmalt, AICP Pedestrian and Bicycle Coordinator, Mayors Office of Transportation, and Warren Bloom, VSP Foundation came out to look at 40th Street between Lancaster and Girard Avenues. As a member of the West Philadelphia community, Bloom and I are very interested to know if the Mayor’s Office of Transportation and Streets Department could take measures to make 40th Street a safer, more bicycle-friendly street that would connect the 40th Street neighborhood to Fairmount Park.
In particular, Sarah Stuart of the Bicycle Coalition of Greater Philadelphia has assisted Warren Bloom and myself concerning the Philadelphia Streets Department possible effort to install bicycle lanes, or other bicycle facilities (such as markings on the street) that would reinforce that 40th street is a bicycle-friendly street.
The Bicycle Coalition of Greater Philadelphia is well known for its effort to have all Philadelphians join them in making the Philly region a better place to live and work. The Bicycle Coalition of Greater Philadelphia has been instrumental in the growing number of 220 plus miles to date of bike lanes in Philly and its environs. It has also made possible the installation of many bike racks in and around Philly. It is also very important to note that the Bicycle Coalition of Greater Philadelphia serves all types of cyclist. These include commuters, casual riders, and cycling enthusiasts in Bucks, Chester, Delaware, Montgomery and Philadelphia Counties as well as South Jersey and Delaware. These riders benefit from its transportation and education efforts. And this is just one reason why Bloom, a grassroots activist, truly desires the people who live in sections of University City and East Parkside to benefit from bike lanes in Philadelphia.
“Bicycling can be a major leap of support on energy legislation issues and even perhaps job development in West and North Philly neighborhoods,” says Bloom about the N. 40th Street lane between Lancaster Avenue and East Parkside. Bloom plans to ask members and neighborhood coalition grassroots groups to help him make phone calls, write letters and even send e-mails to legislators and administrators who can make a positive bike change for constituents. Most recently Bloom has gotten support from James Sullivan of Sullivan Partners Resource Center and Outsource Services at www.sullivanspartners.com to make an effective effort to represent the will of the people. Together they are seeking support for interested pedestrians and bicyclists.
Charles R. Carmalt observes that sidewalks need repair so that people walking to and from destinations can avoid unnecessary incidents. Everyone should consider what kind of measures the City could take to make the streets safer for pedestrians and bicyclists. Bloom, Stuart and Carmalt all agree thus far that 40th Street holds great promise to become a strong connector street between Lancaster Avenue and West Park and the Please Touch Museum in Fairmount Park. And the N. 40th Street Bridge seems to be a great connector for West, North and Central Philly travelers who want quick and safer travel by bicycle.
In the meantime, Bloom is advocating street and sidewalk improvements to make it easier for local organizations and groups to organize. It’s very difficult for any community group to invite other groups to meetings and events when sidewalks are unsafe and streets are not fixed professionally for safe corridor travel. “People should be able to get out to meetings without having to worry about getting tripped up on unused trolley tracks in the streets or buckled sidewalks as they travel for recreation or business ventures,” says Bloom. Bloom is pushing for bicycling as a friendly form of transportation.
You can support the Bicycle Coalition of Greater Philadelphia by joining its support for more livable, sustainable communities through the use of bicycles for active living. For more information about the Bicycle Coalition visit bicyclecoalition.org.
