EDITORIAL OPINION

By Timothy Cwiek

Phialdelphia Daily News, September 27, 1991
 

Timothy Cwiek is a freelance writer and part-time bicycle messenger for American Expediting.
 

The recent death of a Center City bicycle messenger was painful for his family, friends and members of the cycling community.

But while media reports of David "Drew" Ditzen's death stressed the need for greater care on the part of cyclists, my question was: What about motorists?

Yes, I agree there are reckless cyclists out there, and we've all heard the horror stories about careening couriers terrorizing pedestrians. But a 10-ton truck will do a lot more damage than a 40-pound bike, as we saw so tragically recently.

Cars, trucks and buses on our Center City streets pose a much greater danger than any cyclist could. Bicyclists should be treated with patience and respect, but sadly that is often not the case. We know that biking does not cause air or noise pollution. Bike riding does not force creation of ugly parking lots or a dependence on non-renewable fossil fuel. In short, with all modesty, I feel that motorists should practically bow in deference to a cyclist, slow down and treat them with the utmost appreciation.

City officials seem to treat us with benign neglect, as an irritant they hope with just go away. As a part-time bicycle messenger, I can't tell you how many times I've been hassled by honking horns when I'm doing nothing wrong!

I have a right to be on the road, according to state law, but there's no arguing with a two-ton car. Motorists yell, "Get that toy off the road," and pedestrians tell you to get off the sidewalk, understandably.

If I could have a bicycling wish list, these items would be high on the list:

* The next mayor should establish a city advisory board on bicycling. Philadelphia has no governmental body to formulate a comprehensive bicycling policy in the city. Yet our town is as flat as a pancake and has great potential for the cyclist. Other cities, such as Seattle and Washington, D.C. have such a city agency.

* Create bike lanes on key streets in Center City. If there was a bike lane on 8th Street, for instance, Drew Ditzen probably would be alive today. I'm not saying every street should have a bike lane. But if Lombard Street, for example, had a bike lane, I gladly would use it to ride out to West Philly, even if it meant going a few blocks out of my way.

* Open Chestnut Street to bicycles. Cars are allowed on the street in the evening, but bikes remain prohibited, even messengers making deliveries. This irrational ban causes some cyclists to use Sansom Street to travel east, a hazard for everyone.

* Remove all bicycle-unfriendly signs. For instance, in the river drives, remove the "No Bicycles" signs and replace them with "Bicycles Allowed" signs (except during certain rush hours).

* Force all motorists to ride a bike to work at least once in their lives. Maybe then they would see what it's like and not be so quick to shake their fist or yell obscenities at a bicyclist. Let them try swerving around glass and debris, menacing potholes or opened car doors before they judge a cyclist.

* Repeal the right-turn-on-red law. This merely gives motorists more encouragement to ride roughshod on the streets. Many motorists barely stop at red lights before turning, almost killing bikers or pedestrians crossing a street.

Ironically, as I rode around town with my black armband the day after Drew Ditzen's death, I felt that motorists were treating me with more respect, keeping their distance and giving me space to do my job.

How sad to realize that soon everything will be forgotten, it will be business as usual and once again our lives will be on the line.