Bikelash Halts 22nd Street Bike Lane in Philadelphia

As Inga Saffron reports for the The Philadelphia Inquirer, Councilmember William K. Greenlee, an at-large representative living in Fairmount, is stopping the current undertaking to stripe the street. According to Saffron, Greenlee is the first councilmember to invoke "the powers of a 2012 bill giving legislators final say over new segments of the bike network. That bill was Greenlee's baby."

Philadelphia has seen an increase in bicycle commuting since 2006, from 11,000 residents commuting by bike to work at least three days a week to 14,000 people in 2014. This seven-block segment would be a missing link within the city's bike network, creating the only northbound bike lane on the west side of City Center. Indeed, most residents in the neighborhood want less automobile capacity, despite Greenlee's concern that the bike lane will cause serious backups.

In addition, further along Spring Street, there already exists a dedicated bike lane. Other intersections of the city that have become major bike corridors saw the number of accidents fall by 30 percent. By clearly delineating space, all road users know their boundaries and use the street in a safer, less erratic manner. With no markings on 22nd Street, the seven-block road remains a free-for-all.