While true that parking meters are not intended for bicycles, it is also true that there are nowhere near enough bicycle racks or stands. I ride on the road, in the correct direction, giving signals before I move around vehicles in the bike lane (illegally), with a helmet, at the risk of injury due to careless or hostile drivers(most drivers are considerate but it only takes one of the inconsiderate), because I believe it is better for me (the exercise ) and for my community (less pollution, less noise, one fewer speeding car, less use of fossil fuels, less competition for parking) - and now I'm supposed to put another car on the road because I cannot lock my bike up many places that I need to go for work. While everyone is delighting in telling horror stories about those "horrid" cyclists, there are plenty of us who are thoughtful and responsible. Why all of a sudden are we pariahs? Instead of making it harder for cyclists, the city should be making it safer and easier, so no cyclist feels they have to choose between living and riding on the sidewalk. Allowing cyclists to lock bikes onto ubiquitous parking meters seems a small enough accomodation until the city is prepared to put bike racks on each block.
----- Original Message ----- From: <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> To: ""Claudia Crane"" <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> Cc: <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> Sent: Thursday, June 12, 2003 7:22 PM Subject: Re: [UC] Bicycle Coalition president's letter to Penn Police re bicycle confiscation > I think that the critical point is being missed by Parker Snowe. Bikers are not being prevented from parking on the sidewalk. Rather, they are being penalized for their mis-use of parking meters, which are city property with a specific, designated use. > > As noted in previous discussions, utility poles aren't billboards for political or commercial advertisements, and parking meters aren't bike racks. > > > > From: Snowe, Parker > > Sent: Wednesday, June 11, 2003 > > 11:27 AM > > To: [EMAIL PROTECTED] > > Cc: [EMAIL PROTECTED]; John > > Madera (E-mail); BCGP Board E-list > > Subject: Bicycles Being > > Confiscated > > Importance: High > > > > > > > > Chief Rambo - I was pleased to see the > > electronic sign in front of the Penn Bookstore reminding motorists to stay out > > of the bike lanes and encouraging them to share the road with bikes. You > > can imagine my surprise when I pulled up to Huntsman Hall to > > discover notices posted on parking meters informing > > cyclists that their locks may be cut and bikes confiscated if they lock to > > a parking meter on public sidewalks. After consulting with John Madera of > > DVRPC, it is clear that this is certainly not part of the Share-the-Road > > campaign. > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > In fact, according to Pennsylvania code, it is illegal: > > > > > > > > > > > > > > Title 75 of the Pennsylvania Consolidated Statutes > > Chapter 35 - SPECIAL VEHICLES AND PEDESTRIANS > > Subchapter A - Operation of Pedalcycles (Bicycles) > > > > > > > > > > > > > > Section 3509. Parking. > > (a) Sidewalks. > > > > > > > > > > > > > > (1) A person may park a pedalcycle on a sidewalk > > unless prohibited or restricted by an official > > traffic-control device. (IE Streets Dept or PennDOT depending on who > > maintains the street, not UPENN) > > > > (2) A pedalcycle parked on a sidewalk shall not impede the normal and > > reasonable movement of pedestrian or other traffic. > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > Please provide an explanation for this > > action, which seems to contravene Penn's commitment to > > improve traffic > > conditions through encouragement of cycling. > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > Parker Snowe > > > > > > > > Parker Snowe, President > > Bicycle Coalition of > > Greater Philadelphia > > 252 S. 11th Street, First > > Floor > > Philadelphia, PA 19107-6735 > > Tel: (610) 565-4542 (h) > > Tel: (215) 898-5012 (w) > > Fax: (215) 573-3783 > > E-mail: > > [EMAIL PROTECTED] > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > ---- > You are receiving this because you are subscribed to the > list named "UnivCity." To unsubscribe or for archive information, see > <http://www.purple.com/list.html>. > ---- You are receiving this because you are subscribed to the list named "UnivCity." To unsubscribe or for archive information, see <http://www.purple.com/list.html>.
