Think Bike Philadelphia

Submitted by Stephen Panasci on Thu, 06/14/2012 - 12:45pm

ThinkBike Workshops – A Dutch Experts Consider Ideas to Make Philadelphia’s Streets Safer for Every Traveller

(Philadelphia, PA) — The Royal Netherlands Embassy in cooperation with Philadelphia’s Mayor’s Office of Transportation and Utilities, Temple University, Bicycle Coalition of Greater Philadelphia, Philadelphia Streets Department and the Dutch Cycling Embassy, will host a 2-day event – the ThinkBike Workshops – on Monday, June 18th and Tuesday, June 19th.

The ThinkBike Workshops have previously been held in Chicago, Toronto, San Francisco, Washington, DC and Miami. Over the course of two days Dutch traffic safety and cycling experts, Philadelphia area transportation planners, and engineers to discuss and develop ideas for how Philadelphia streets can become more bike-friendly and safer for every road user.

According to the latest census figures, no fewer than 10,000 residents ride a bike to work. From Pennypack Park to South Philadelphia, thousands of additional bike trips are taken each day to visit family and friends, to commute to work, for recreation or to just get around town. Philadelphia already has the highest percentage of residents who bike to work of any American big city. In areas of South Philadelphia, North Philadelphia, West Philadelphia and Center City, more than five percent of all work trips occur on a bike. With gas prices on the rise more Philadelphians will choose to bicycle. However, these increases in bicycling tend to result in more complaints about cyclist behavior and, on the other hand, increasing demands for bicycle lanes, bicycle parking and neighborhood traffic calming improvements.

The public is invited to learn more about Dutch cycling infrastructure and best policy practices. The opening session, which is open to the public, takes place on Monday, June 18th: from 9 AM to 10:30 at Temple University School of Architecture (Architecture Building, Temple University, 2001 N 13th Street, 1st Floor)

Following the opening session, two teams, consisting of Philadelphia and Dutch transportation specialists, will survey the area around Temple University, Penn Square and JFK/Market Street by bike and foot to consider discuss how streets, intersections and whole neighborhoods can be improved for traveller safety and bike use. The following day, the teams will present their recommendations at the closing session. Other topics of discussion at the workshops will include bike safety, commuting by bike, biking to school, bike parking, bikes and public transport, law enforcement, etc.

The general public, including local cyclists and other interested residents, are invited to attend the closing session of these workshops, on Tuesday, June 19th from 5 PM to 6:30 at Temple University’s Beury Hall Auditorium, located at the SE Corner of Norris and 13th Street, Philadelphia PA.

The Netherlands is a country committed to sustainability, where nearly 30 percent of trips up to 5 miles in distance are made by bike. A strong bike policy is integral to Dutch sustainability measures. “There are 1.1 bicycles per person in the Netherlands, resulting in less traffic, less pollution and a healthier population,” said Renée Jones-Bos. “The bicycle is the most popular form of transportation for the 16 million people who live in the Netherlands,” added the Ambassador.

Through a multi-city initiative, Dutch experts and companies are increasing bicycle use in the U.S. and Canada. Toronto was the first Canadian city to host such an event, while Chicago was the first U.S. city to host a bike workshop, followed by Washington, DC, Miami, San Francisco and Los Angeles.