Thousands sign petitions for bike lane barriers in Philly

Council President Communications Director Vincent Thompson said Johnson supports legislation to get $1 million in additional funding for Vision Zero, but the earliest the legislation could be introduced would be September, when the City Council returns to session.

“The council president has been going to bike rallies just in the last couple of weeks and talking to cyclists,” Thompson said. “He rides his bike alone. He rides his bike when he goes on vacation, so he understands the importance of safety.”

In addition to permanent protection for every bike lane, the petition calls for substantial bicycle safety improvements. Key demands of the petitions include the following:

• Fully protect the bike lanes at Spruce and Pine Streets and Allegheny Avenue and other protected bike lanes in Philadelphia with permanent concrete barriers
• End the old practice of allowing parking on bike lanes on weekends
• Replace all “No Parking” signs with “No Stopping” signs along protected bike lanes