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Two councilmen introduced legislation last month to crack down on reckless bike riding that was meant to start a conversation about sharing space on the roads and sidewalks.
"There have been a number of tensions among pedestrians, bicyclists and motorists," Brian Abernathy, legislative director for 1st District Councilman Frank DiCicco, said. "While the majority of bicyclists are responsible and pay attention to pedestrians and traffic laws, there’s a handful that don’t."
Oct. 8, a cyclist on a mountain bike struck Tom Archie, of the 1600 block of South Camac Street, as he crossed between two parked cars on the 1700 block of East Passyunk Avenue, Officer Christine O’Brien of the Police Public Affairs said. The man was transported to Thomas Jefferson University Hospital with head trauma. The 78-year-old was pronounced dead three hours later.
A week later at 6:30 p.m., Andrew Steed, 39, was run over at 16th and Locust streets by a man riding a white mountain bike, Santo Monteclavo, vice president of the Citizens Crime Commission, said. Steed, of Overbrook, suffered massive head trauma and was in a coma for nine days before he died from his injuries at Jeff. The offender — described as being in his early 20s, 140 pounds and wearing a white hoody with red spots — remains at large, but police believe the person is local.
As a result of these deaths, Councilman-at-Large Jim Kenney introduced two bills Nov. 19 — and both sought to increase the fine for biking on the sidewalk. One would fine those without bike brakes, which is against the law in the city, while the other would confiscate bikes without brakes. Kenney’s bills aim to raise the sidewalk fine to up to $300, while a bike without brakes could cost $1,000 or forfeiture.
Meanwhile, DiCicco introduced a bill to create bike registration that would result in fines for those without a license plate. Both bills were referred to the Committee on Streets and Services, which DiCicco chairs.
"Obviously from the reaction we have gotten so far, there is a lot of pent-up anger on both sides of the issue," Abernathy said.
A hearing has not been scheduled, but will occur after the New Year, he said.
"I hope people would be realistic and not let their heads explode … Let’s have a civil discussion about it," Kenney added.
Currently, bicyclists are subject to the same regulations as drivers, according to the city’s vehicle code. Bikers must obey traffic signs and signals unless the rider dismounts and then becomes a pedestrian. A cyclist cannot ride on the sidewalk unless posted signs state otherwise, or they are under the age of 12. Sidewalk-riding is prohibited for all ages in business districts. Bikes without breaks also are illegal, as is riding with headphones. All of these are punishable with a $3 fine with the exception of wearing headphones, which could run from $50 to $100, according to the city’s code, whereas sidewalk-riding was raised to $50, according to a bill signed by Mayor Michael Nutter in June.
However, just because these laws are written does not mean they are enforced, Bicycle Coalition of Greater Philadelphia Advocacy Director John Boyle said.
"I think we also have a high standard of compliance, but we don’t think bicyclists should have to apply to a higher standard," Boyle said, comparing a vehicle’s $119 ticket for running a red light to a potential $300 fine for riding on the sidewalk.
The coalition, which hopes to meet with Council early next year, opposes the bills citing everyone bends the road’s rules to fit their needs and bikers are being wrongly targeted. Since the higher fine seems inappropriate when the law currently isn’t imposed, the coalition is looking to increase enforcement, education and engineering to make the roads safer for bicyclists.
"A lot of times bicyclists are violating traffic laws because they feel they’re under siege," Boyle said.
Yousef F., of 10th and Ritner streets, feels the City just wants more money.
"I know it’s illegal to ride your bike on the sidewalk," he said as he chained his wheels up at Broad and Ritner streets, "but sometimes you have to."
As for braking, some without hand brakes have alternate methods. By pedaling backwards on a fixed-gear bike, the momentum stops, unlike a free-wheel bike with hand brakes that would glide until the rider pushes the brake, Boyle, who would like the law to include this method as an acceptable form of braking, said.
"It’s definitely a learned skill, but I think most people operating fixed-gear — you have to have a certain competency level," he said, noting some fixed-gears have hand brakes and, if not, they could be added.
Kenney doesn’t buy the effectiveness of that method.
"I find that hard to believe," he said. "There should be brakes on the bicycle as there are brakes on a car."
These bills are just a starting point to get residents’ attention to begin a discussion about sharing space, Kenney said.
"This us-versus-them mentality is not my agenda," he said. "Some of the bicycle people have this chip on their shoulder that someone is out to get them."
DiCicco’s bill requires registration for bikes when the height from the ground to the seat in its highest position is more than 25 inches. The Philadelphia Police Department will be responsible for the registrations, which will cost $20 and an additional $10 if the license plate needs to be replaced. The law will go into effect six months after its passage and could result in a $50 fine for riders caught without the tag.
Stephanie Farrell understands the reasoning behind the plates and thinks it might be beneficial.
"I actually know of a couple crimes that happened on bikes and they got away with it because they couldn’t be identified," the resident of 15th and Porter streets said of friends who were mugged.
In the past, cities have repealed similar laws and none of the Top 10 largest cities have an active registration process, Boyle said. The coalition would favor a well-organized system to trace bike thefts, but it is against registration via license plates.
"To use it to try to pinpoint people with license plates — it’s impractical," he said.
Abernathy disagrees, adding it has been successful in some cities. The intention of the bill is to provide education for the expected behavior on the road and a means to track down a cyclist who does not abide by the rules of that behavior, he said.
"We’re not trying to be anti-cycling," Abernathy said. "We’re not trying to take bikes off the road. That’s contrary to what we believe in."
In fact, DiCicco supports the bike lane at Pine and Spruce streets that has resulted in angry calls from residents against it, Abernathy said.
"It’s an awkward proposal and it’s not perfect, but we have to start somewhere," he said of the potential laws.
