Work remains on adding bike lanes to campus

Last fall, the Penn community fell victim to a tragic pair of traffic accidents that left two bicyclists dead in a span of just eight days. As a result, both the University and the City of Philadelphia -- reacting to public uproar over a lack of bicycle lanes on campus -- pledged to do something about it. Now, almost exactly a year later, their efforts have produced noticeable changes on some campus streets, but both planners and students say the job is still far from complete. Perhaps the most significant progress was made on Walnut and 33rd streets, both of which were repaved and relined to include bike lanes during the spring and summer. The Walnut Street lanes run through the center of campus from 32nd Street to 38th Street, while the 33rd Street lanes span from Spruce Street to Market Street. In addition, marked bike lanes have been added on Chestnut Street east of 34th Street and on Market Street west of 38th Street. "We've been very successful," University Director of Community Relations Glenn Bryan said. "I've spoken to riders and they feel much more comfortable." But despite the noticeable progress on the north end of campus, many are concerned with the fact that busy Spruce Street is still without bike lanes. Home to the Quadrangle and very close to many off-campus residences, Spruce Street is one of the most heavily trafficked roads by Penn students -- especially by those who use bicycles to commute to classes. "I think it's a fantastic idea," bicycle rider and Engineering sophomore Kate Florenz said of the increasingly biker-friendly campus. "But I'm disappointed they're not on Spruce Street." As a resident of Mayer Hall, Florenz said Spruce is the only street on Penn's campus that she regularly rides on. "I've only been exposed to [bike lanes] once and probably won't ever again unless they put them on Spruce Street," she said. But Bryan, who serves on the University's bicycle safety task force, said that Spruce Street is included in Penn's master bike lane plan. Currently, the road is scheduled to have bike lanes installed next spring. Lanes on 38th Street are expected to follow soon after. One year ago tomorrow, 70-year-old bicyclist Benjamin Tencer -- who was taking classes for seniors from the College of General Studies -- died after being struck by a taxi at 34th and Walnut streets three days earlier. And eight days later, tragedy struck again when Wharton freshman Sung Woo "Michael" Yang was hit head on by a truck at 33rd and Spruce streets. The 18-year-old Korean native died at the scene. University President Judith Rodin appointed a task force immediately following the accidents to improve bicycle safety on campus. The working group collaborated with the Philadelphia Streets Department and the Pennsylvania Department of Transportation to make the necessary changes as soon as possible. While safety is gradually improving for Penn's bicyclists due to the new lanes, Bryan stressed that the most important element in reducing accidents is responsibility on the part of drivers, riders and pedestrians. "The more the bike lanes are used, the more responsible bicycle riders will get," he said, referring to the fact that many riders in the past have used sidewalks or ridden erratically in the roads in order to save time. Bicycle riders, he said, should not have to compete with cars to get around the city. "We need to limit the amount of 'who's stronger than who.'"

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