The Lane Makers

Bicycle Coalition

by Brian Howard

	print	email	reply	rss feed

Published: Sep 23, 2009

Jessica Kourkounis Pedal Pushers: Alex Doty (left) and John Boyle make the Bicycle Coalition go.

New bike lanes, bike polo, various themed bike rides (naked and otherwise) — this was a hell of a year for Philly's pedal-powered populace.

And while the credit should be spread around quite liberally among the many individuals, businesses and organizations who make such issues their business, the hardworking folks at the Bicycle Coalition of Greater Philadelphia — notably executive director Alex Doty and advocacy director John Boyle — have been involved in so many big advances, it's mind-boggling.

There's the initiation of the Bicycle Ambassadors program; the continued success of September's no-cars-allowed Bike Philly ride; City Council's passing of the bicycle parking ordinance on new construction; the conversion of old parking meters into bike parking; and the big coup, a pilot program that's implemented the first-ever river-to-river east-west bike lanes through Center City.

"There's a huge difference," says longtime advocate Boyle when asked about government responsiveness now and when he started. "The biggest is that in the Nutter administration we now have a bicycle/pedestrian coordinator, a lifeline to the city we can interact directly with. It helps to move things forward a lot faster."

On the horizon, should a federal TIGER grant come through, is a bi-state, six-county joint action with the Pa. Environmental Council to patch holes in the regional trail network and create trail construction jobs. Which fits nicely into the long-range plan to unite not just the city but the entire region — y'know, that mythical "Greater Philadelphia" — via bicycle.

Honorable Mention: Planning and Design

Bart Blatstein
His Piazza at Schmidts is the crowning jewel of Northern Liberties. (And suddenly Liberties Walk makes sense.)

Design Philadelphia
Hilary Jay's mammoth celebration of capital-d Design continues to expand, preaching the gospel of good design as good policy far and wide.

PlanPhilly.com
The information hub for all planning-related information in Philadelphia has become an essential resource.

Paul Levy
President of the Center City District oversees development in the city's most consistently thriving section.

City Paper Choice '09
The Pests
The .Doc Worker
The Code Breaker
The Screen Savers
The Fierce
The Negotiator
The Lord of the Ruins
The Oasis
The Ring Master
The Naantrepreneur
The Lion Tamers