110833841
To the Editor:
Louis (Lezzoni) has completely misrepresented the bike riders in South Philly (“Bicycles on pavements,” April 24).
If I was like Louis, I would regard all car drivers the same as those who have no regard for bikes on the street, who drive by too fast, too close, yelling obscenities as they pass, and I would really be grumpy, like Louis. So I understand how the grumpy man’s mind works and don’t want to go there. All car drivers are not crazy, neither are all bike riders selfish and inconsiderate.
The reality of biking in this city, especially in South Philly, is that there is no safe place for bike riders to travel. The roads are extremely dangerous and narrow and bikes are not welcome. Car drivers are often hostile, and when a bus or work truck, van or other wide vehicle is on the road, which in South Philly is all the time, there is no room for a bike. In other words, we are often forced off the road to safety — the sidewalk. There is no other place to ride at times.
Another very dangerous situation one must try to avoid is car exhaust, which in certain situations is overwhelming. The exhaust pipes are nine out of 10 times located on the passenger side of the cars, pointed directly at the bike lane area. This causes the exhaust to blast in one’s face as they are biking. No one’s fault, but carbon monoxide is very harmful to breathe.
In my neck of the woods, around Seventh and Tasker streets, people often ride on the sidewalks. Everyone is very courteous, apologies from both parties, riding slow, yielding to women with carriages, etc. We are very understanding and civil. Other parts of Philly are much more hostile. In Society Hill, I was once blasted for walking my bike on the sidewalk on a cobblestone street.
Regarding the bike lanes Louis speaks of, well there is only one or two in the neighborhood. So unless you are traveling on Washington Avenue or north through Point Breeze, on 22nd Street, you are out of luck.
I was just in the Netherlands, where the bike culture is dominant, and bikes lanes are safely placed separate from the car lanes. Upon my return, attempting to travel in this city on a bike, two things were made clear. It is extremely dangerous, and one does feel like a criminal as one is forced into very awkward situations, being neither safe nor welcome in the streets as a bike rider.
So, yes, Louis, it is in fact safer to ride on the sidewalks at times and yes, it’s no joke, we are extremely vulnerable (delicate, as you say) as I explained to the woman who clipped my handlebar with her rearview mirror last month. My human body will be crushed if I fall. I will die or be broken like my coworker who got her leg crushed by a bus in March.
Thanks for listening.
South Philadelphia
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