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DIFFerence makers
Vol. 67 NO. 30 n JULY 24 , 2014
@southphillyreview
Sharrow-ing the road
n The South Philly Review is seeking nominations from its loyal readers for the 2014 class of Difference Makers to be profiled this fall. Visit southphillyreview. com.
This long-term goals rendering includes storm gardens, raised crosswalks and traffic-calming elements that will make the path an ideal commute for local cyclists. Rendering Provided by C o m m u n i t y D e s i g n C o l l a b o r at i v e
n Pizza vendors and tasters reunited July 17 at Penns Landing Caterers for the annual summer bash. See page 29.
Signage and road markings will turn 13th and 15th streets into a Broad Street bicycle corridor.
sPorTs
n By Bill Chenevert R e v i e w S ta f f W r i t e r
S n An East Passyunk Crossing school graduate is hoping to fulfill his pro hoops dream. See page 31.
outh Philadelphia cyclists have even more to celebrate. With a grant from the Delaware Valley Regional Planning Commission of $250,000 through the Transportation Alternative Program, the Bicycle Coalition of Greater Philadelphia (BCGP) plans to implement sharrows and signage on 13th and 15th streets from South Street to Oregon Avenue. Green chevrons, signs proclaiming that bicycles are “allowed use of full lane,” and added parking lanes are part of
the BCGP’s short-term goals for making Philadelphia a world-class cycling city. Parking won’t be taken away. The chevrons and corresponding signage will simply communicate to drivers that the location is a street where cycling is encouraged and protected, and if the need for speed is so great, they should use other streets. “Studies show that behavior improves when sharrows exist, and it does improve both cyclist and motorist behavior. We don’t want bikes on Broad [Street],” Susan Dannenberg, a policy fellow for BCGP, said frankly, adding that there are too many dangerous behaviors happening on side-
BenePhilly beating poverty
walks and that the volume of traffic makes it an unsafe cycling corridor. The 13th and 15th street project aims to create a safer Broad Street bike corridor by pulling cyclists one block away for much safer and protected cycling routes. “Look! There’s a really nice place to ride just one block away” is something Dannenberg hopes riders will exclaim when South Broad Street signage points them to the new and improved roadways. “Certainly anyone would detour one block if See SharrowS page 10 >>
Six Benefits Access Centers will guide a quarter of Philadelphians toward stability.
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