There’s no stopping the mayor’s dubious claims

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.