Bicycling Q&A
Bicycling Q&A
with Max Rosen-Long
Education Fellow, Bicycle Coalition of Greater Philadelphia
What advice would you give to someone who’s thinking of commuting to work via bicycle for the first time?
Wear a helmet that’s properly fitted, and check your bike’s tires, breaks, chain and wheels to make sure everything is working. After that, possibly the most important part of commuting to work is to pick a good route. Selecting a route with low traffic, bike lanes, or wide lanes, can make your ride safer and more relaxing. Try Google’s new Biking Direction option, or ask friends and colleagues for advice. And follow all the laws of the road, especially by riding in the street, in the same direction as traffic, and stopping at all signs and signals.
Try your commute on a nice day, or practice the trip on a weekend so you feel comfortable with it. Wear comfortable clothes and change into your work clothes in the bathroom at work. And make sure roll up your right pant leg so it doesn’t get stuck in the chain. If you’re worried about getting sweaty, just take your time and enjoy the ride! Lastly, find out if you can store your bike in your building or office, and no matter what, get a good lock and learn how to use it correctly.
You can read more commuting tips at BikePHL.org, our blog for Philly bikers. Or better yet, request a Bicycle Ambassador to come give an Urban Riding class at your workplace or community!
What are some of your favorite bike rides in Philadelphia?
You can take the Schuylkill River Trail from Locust Street all the way to Valley Forge and beyond. If you split off the trail and ride through Wissahickon Park, it feels like you’re deep in the wilderness, even though you’re right outside the city. Or take the Schuylkill Trail as far as Green Lane if you continue North on the Perkiomen Trail. In fact, there are tons of easily accessible trails in our area, such as the Pennypack Trail in Northeast Philly and Cobbs Creek Park in the Southwest.
Of course, a leisurely weekend ride through the Italian Market and South Philly is always gorgeous, or West Philly in the Spring or Fall. Not to mention the great views from the Ben Franklin Bridge Walkway and over at the Camden Waterfront. To learn about these rides and more, the Bicycle Coalition produces a regional trail map that can be found at our website or from a Bicycle Ambassador.
Learning to ride a bike is a rite of passage for every kid. What advice do you have for parents in the City teaching their child to ride?
The latest strategies for teaching a child to ride is, instead of training wheels, start your child off on a bike without pedals (you can take them off, or buy a special one). By using the bike like a scooter, children can learn to balance and maneuver without fear of falling over. Find a calm area without cars, like a park or trail. Lastly, make sure your child is wearing a helmet (it’s the law), and if you are riding with your kids, please be a good role model for them and wear a helmet, as well.
We hear horror stories about bicyclists getting hit by cars and pedestrians getting hit by bicyclists. How can we do a better job of looking out for one another on the streets and sidewalks?
Know your rights and responsibilities, whether you’re a pedestrian, bicyclist, or motorist. Many bicyclists don’t know that a bike is a legal vehicle. This means that bicyclists have the same rights as a motor vehicle, such as taking the lane if it’s not safe to ride to the right. But it also means we are required to follow all the laws of the road, such as riding with traffic, stopping at all signs and signals, riding on the road, and walking your bike on the sidewalk.
It is essential to be aware of your surroundings for cyclists, pedestrians, and motorists. It’s easy for everyone to get distracted by texting or headphones. We encourage bicyclists to be visible and predictable, so other road users can see they are there and know what they’re going to do next. For bikers, this means using lights at night, keeping a straight line in the lane, and using hand signals to show when you’re turning.
One of the best parts about biking is you can make our roads more civil just by taking your time and enjoying the ride!
How can I get a bike rack in front of my home, office, or business?
If you want to install your own bike rack in Philadelphia: 1) Decide on which kind of bike rack fits your needs and where you want it to be located. The Bike Coalition has prepared a Bike Rack Fact Sheet to help, which can be found on our website. 2) If it’s on the sidewalk, you need to apply for a permit from the Streets Department Right of Way Unit. You will not need a permit if the bike rack will be located on private property. 3) Once you purchased your rack and obtained the permit, contact Neighborhood Bike Works, or any contractor, for help with installation.
What initiatives is the Bicycle Coalition currently working on that we can look forward to hearing more about in the future?
A lot! In March, we were awarded $600,000 in stimulus money to expand our Safe Routes Philly Youth Education Program. In the next two years, the Bicycle Coalition will teach pedestrian safety to 2nd graders and bicycle safety to 5th graders in all 176 Public Elementary Schools in Philadelphia. And while that’s starting up, our current Safe Routes Philly instructor has been teaching our bike safety curriculum to 5th graders all over the city.
The Bicycle Ambassadors just hit the streets for the first time this week, and can be found all over the city this summer, encouraging all Philadelphians to bike more often and more safely. Anyone can request the Ambassadors for free to teach an Urban Riding Basics class or table at an event, so email .(JavaScript must be enabled to view this email address) if you’re interested!
The Bicycle Coalition has lots of great events this summer as well! On June 20th, our Bike Freedom Valley Ride will celebrate the Schuylkill River Trail as the premier transportation and recreation greenway connecting neighborhoods across the Delaware Valley! We are also looking forward to Bike Philly on September 12th, our annual family-friendly ride through closed-off Philadelphia streets. Sign up for yourself and your family on our website, bicyclecoalition.org
On the Advocacy side, you can look forward to seeing the $23 million in stimulus money awarded to the region put into action on the Schuylkill trail in Southwest Philly and Camden. The Philadelphia Bicycle-Pedestrian plan will be released this summer, and will determine where the city will paint new bike lanes over the next ten years. We will be ramping up our “Take Back the Drive” Campaign to make MLK Drive a safer, park road.
