New BCGP Website!

Looks pretty sweet guys! As I've said so many times before, the bicycle coalition in Philadelphia is forever on top of all issues surrounding cyclists in the metro region. Front and center on the new home page is a photo of a critical mass ride down the parkway to city hall, surely one of the most romantic and proud vantagepoints, saddle-wise. Side bar content includes bicycle related civic action, local news and regional events. Added to this, a full menu of buttons to help the average cyclist find maps, report a dangerous road condition or incident, find a nearby shop or volunteer with the coalition itself.



Like many of the more successful bicycle coalitions in the United States, this new website makes helpful tools accessible for all types of cyclists, whether they be commuters, messengers or recreationalists. Most importantly, an effective website provides the basis for a flourishing cycling community to follow. Philly IS an awesome bike city. But sometimes it's hard for newcomers or new riders to see it that way because of the pervasive and aggressive driving culture there. By centralizing relevant information into one website about how to get used to riding in a city, specifically Philadelphia, the coalition has made great progress toward increasing the number of bicycles on the road. I don't know if you noticed, but this summer saw a marked increase in the number of pedals spinning in Philadelphia. I know my favorite bike shop couldn't keep steeds in stock.

Shifting it Up a Notch

For a long time I've wondered exactly when people in cities (slash everywhere) would get fed up with driving. When their bellies would hit the dashboard from sitting in traffic so many hours a day while sipping their frappucinos and they'd abandon their cars on the street and finally shake free of the vehicular shackles of the automobile. Heavy orchestral music in a crescendo, as they all march off into the horizon, shedding with each step their hideous American masks of gluttony and self obsession.

Sigh.

However subtler, the climbing gas prices have had some of this effect. People are ditching SUV's, while they still can and lo and behold! Hummers may actually go OFF the market. It may be as close to an apocalypse as we'll ever get.

Photo courtesy PennsylvaniaForChange.Blogspot.com

Philadelphia has finally appointed a Bicycling Ambassador Coordinator, behind most other modern cities. Her name is Breen Goodwin and she comes from that great cyclist haven of the west, Portland. Personally, I think this bodes well. Sometimes (only sometimes) Philly could use a little more Portland, and most often when it involves our bicycles.

And the Daily News ran a little strip about safety tips for newbie commuters in our city. It's really pretty good for the Daily news and I think very funny. See if you can spot Curtis of Via Bicycle...



I've also found myself riding behind GrownUp-Little Kid tandems sometimes in traffic and sometimes in Fairmount Park. Both instances are equally awwwww inducing, though I saw one in the bike lane on the Walnut Street bridge at rush hour in February and that pretty much beat all. I didn't get a picture back then, as photography en route is tricky, but the frequent appearance of them around town lately has made this snapshot possible. The heroism of them lies in their advertising quality of biking as a safe and normal activity to motorists and teaches kids how to be brave and safe at biking in cities. Both things we're going to need more of as these times of pricey petrol persist.

Sunday Dog Driver

Yes that's a dog on that bike. He's nestled inside that padded milk crate and wearing a helmet. a very. small. helmet. If you blink your big human eyes you could miss him because he is miniature.





I can't really explain how much like a stalker I felt like, snapping picture after zoomed in picture of this pooch wearing his stupid tiny helmet, but it was just so incredible and joy inducing I wanted to make sure I'd be able to share the feeling with you. And in case you have your own little guy to protect and serve, you can find such safety devices here. Now I know many people ride around with Spot inside their bags. I'm not too sure how good that is. And I'm equally uncertain that this so-called helmet would protect Fido's head should you take a tumble on a trolley track. But regardless of your position on carrying Dog along for the ride, I'm pretty sure this is better than any pet accessory on the market, pooper scooper included.