Philly Steps up Safety for Commuters who Bike to Work

Gas prices are expected to climb to nearly $5 a gallon by summer. The surge in price per barrel oil and the fair spring weather after such an extreme winter have some commuters considering changing their rides. Instead of hitting gridlock in gas guzzlers, cash in on the environmental and economical option of biking to work.

If you live and work in the Center City section of town, then you may be swayed to switch. The addition of the safe routes in the north-south corridors are going to be created by establishing bike lanes linking Spring Garden and South Streets. The six-foot wide lanes will make it easier and safer for cycling commuters to access the subway and travel around town.

Two critical gaps in the city's impressive network of bike paths are currently under construction. The extension of the Schuylkill River bike trail will link Falls Bridge with Ridge Avenue. Mayor Nutter hopes that by making the streets safe for cycling it will help make them safer for foot and vehicle traffic as well.

Biking to work carries its fair share of responsibilities. Operating a bike is considered operating a vehicle and there are laws attached to them that everyone is expected to follow. People who don’t follow the rules will be fined $10 unless their actions are unsafe and result in a steeper fine. Some of the city’s rules seem like common sense; others you may not realize are applicable. They include but are not limited to:

• Follow signs and lights like an automobile


• Ride on the right, as close to the curb as possible


• Use a permanent seat


• No extra riders


• If there’s a bike line available you have to use it


• Lamps and reflectors are required for sunset to sunup cycling


• Brakes are required on all bikes


• Parking on the sidewalks in a way that allows people to pass is ok, riding on the sidewalk is not


• Find the full list here

Biking is a great way to get where you’re going and it doesn’t take long for you to notice the changes in your physique and fuel tank. Check back next week for tips everybody biking to work needs to know unless you don’t mind showing up to work with a skunk streak up the back of your work shirt.


By Heather Fairchild - Heather is a multimedia developer with experience in web, film, photography and animation as well as traditional fine arts like painting and sculpting. In addition to writing for PhillyJobsBlog.com, she is co-founder of design and promotion company, BlackChip Solutions with fellow Beyond.com blogger, Staci Dennis. Heather’s spare time consists of making puppets, teaching Sunday School, building Legos and doing science experiments with her children.