Title
Authorizing the Committee on Streets and Services to hold hearings to assess the results of the Streets Department's dedicated bike lane pilot program on Spruce and Pine Streets in Center City.
Body
WHEREAS, Bicycling provides citizens with a quick and efficient mode of transportation that does not worsen existing traffic congestion by adding cars to the road or creating additional demand for scarce parking spaces; and
WHEREAS, Bicycling has increased in popularity in recent years as both a mode of transportation and as a recreational activity. The Bicycle Coalition of Greater Philadelphia estimates that more than 75,000 bicycle trips are made in Philadelphia each day, with the number of daily bicycle trips more than doubling between 2005 and 2008 in certain locations; and
WHEREAS, Bicycling is a sustainable mode of transportation that produces no toxic emissions and virtually no negative impact on the environment; and
WHEREAS, Bicycling is a good source of exercise that enhances the health and physical fitness of riders; and
WHEREAS, Other major cities have successfully installed many miles of dedicated bicycle lanes, with active plans for more to be installed. New York City, for example, has more than 400 miles of existing bicycle lanes with plans for 1,800 miles by 2014. As a result of its extensive bicycle infrastructure, the inhabitants of Amsterdam use bicycles more often than cars as a means of transportation; and
WHEREAS, Philadelphia has installed bicycle lanes on streets throughout the city in recent years, yet many streets in Center City and other neighborhoods continue to be dangerous and inhospitable to bicyclists; and
WHEREAS, Bicycling in Philadelphia is often unsafe under current traffic conditions, with many streets lacking dedicated lanes to separate bicycles from vehicular traffic, forcing bikers to share lanes with cars, buses, and trucks; and
WHEREAS, Th...
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