A Wednesday press release from the Mayor’s office touted two bills that would enhance public safety and quality of life.
One was renaming Taney Street, which has no effect on public safety or quality of life. This is like the mayor’s dubious claim that the 76ers Arena would improve Chinatown.
In another sellout “improvement,” she lauded the recent no-stopping-in-bike-lanes bill that was blazed through City Council. I had my say about it here.
“It is our responsibility to raise awareness about the dangers of vehicles obstructing bike lanes, creating dangerous conflicts forcing cyclists into vehicle lanes, increasing the risk of crashes, and compromising safety for all road users,” said Mayor Cherelle L. Parker.
Here’s my challenge: Madame Mayor, find one report of a crash or injury caused by a car legally stopped in a bike lane. I could not find one, and I’m pretty sure if there were one, it would have been mentioned by the Bicycle Coalition of Greater Philadelphia.
Instead, the Coalition mentioned two unfortunate bicycle deaths on Spruce that were not caused by stops in the bike lane. Its argument was totally irrelevant to the facts, but it loves waving the bodies of dead bicyclists.
“City Council and I hope and believe the No-Stopping in Bike Lanes legislation will improve safety for pedestrians, cyclists, and motorists as Philadelphia’s diverse transportation system requires safer streets for all users,” the mayor said.
Hopes and beliefs aside, it actually does nothing to improve safety, and bikes are used only by 2.1% of commuters. The other 97.9% prefer other elements of our “diverse transportation system.” I wonder when our esteemed leaders will stop buying Coalition baloney that bikes play a vital role in transportation. They do not. Mostly, they just hurt Septa at the fare box.
The common sense solution to the problem is already in effect: When a cyclist approaches a stopped car in the bike lane, he either a) goes up on the sidewalk, b) waits for traffic to pass, or c) carefully goes around the car, as depicted in this Inquirer photograph. It ain’t rocket science.
Was there ever any doubt she’d back the arena? In Philly, you only get elected mayor by spreading your legs for the unions and doing whatever the IBEW, plumbers, et al tell you to do. What’s more important, her re-election, or the lives and livelihoods of a relatively few people? She could not get one vote in Chinatown and still win by a landslide. But run without union money and votes? Fugeddabouddit!
Stu, you’ve lived here long enough to know that isn’t selling out, it’s just politics as usual. I wouldn’t be surprised to learn that she actually HATES the concept of a Market East Arena. Yes, that would make her a hypocrite, but isn’t hypocrisy a prerequisite for anyone looking to run for office?
I was willing to give her the benefit of doubt, until she removed. Given her union backing, her move is not surprise, but the same number of union jobs would exist if built in the Navy Yard, or even, yes, Camden. MANY blue collar union guys live outside the city.
The Democrat shift to the far left caused me to vow that I will never vote for a Democrat until they regain their senses and act like the “loyal opposition” they used to be. At the same time, I recognize that Philadelphia will never vote for anyone but a Democrat, so I really had high hopes that Parker would be a good mayor. She said all the right things and seemed sincere.
But her backing of the arena and bike lane rules tell me that she doesn’t have a clue about proper land use or the way cities work.
There is NO REASON for the arena to be in Center City. None at all, and I say this as someone who has been involved in land use for 30 years. Locating it somewhere else (Franklin Mills or the Navy Yard, for example) would still create the same jobs without leading to the chaos, congestion and potential destruction of Chinatown that will happen at the present location.
And as someone who lived in Center City for 12 years, I can see the consequences of prohibiting someone from delivering a sofa or disabled person to their home. It’s another example of tyranny of the minority and it’s getting completely out of control.
Before the Phillies got the Bank, they wanted Center City, near Broad and Vine, and failed. Too bad this will not also fail.
Per Democrats, I only vote for the sane ones.
The overwhelming number of idiots who live in the City elected her. Now let them live with the consequences. The Left will not be happy until they run your life from cradle to grave.
The Center City idiots rejected the MOST Left candidate, Helen Gym.
Yes, but didn’t they support ‘Let ’em Loose Larry’ Krasner?
They did. That is the result of a 7-1 registration edge. So we must beat Larry in the primary and the last Democratic opponent never got a full head of steam.
I tbink you underestimate the paranoia of the suburban sixers fans ( and due to cost of tickets , the majority of their ticket buyers ) . Most suburbanites are absolutely scared of philly crime even in years like this year when it s at close to a 60 yr low . The beauty of the stadium proposal is that you can get off the train at Jefferson and go up an escalator and go directly into the arena without ever having to step foot on a so called dangerous city street . Given the choice of hopping on the train at Haverford station and 3 stops later beign at the Jefferson and driving in and walking from the arena 5 blocks to a parking lot after the game, late at night, 100% of suburban ticket buyers are going to use the train . Just my opinion but i dont think chinatown will be negatively affected at all . They tried really hard to make retail work there but whenever I go to the movie theater there I just see empty stores expect for the Nike store
Another factual and informative article, Stu. Thank you.