The tyranny of consensus endangers lives

illustration by Kathleen White Muting the Feedback by Geoff Kees Thompson If you live near Washington Avenue in South Philadelphia, or traverse it on a regular basis, you’ve probably felt that this wide arterial corridor, a former rail yard, leaves something to be desired. Washington Avenue is a space given over to heavy car traffic,

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3 mins read

Fast Track: 13th Street bike lane to become a permanent resident

  Image via the Bicycle Coalition of Greater Philadelphia Good news, cyclists, the 13th Street bike lane is here to stay! The pilot period is coming to an end, and the Mayor’s Office of Transportation and Utilities (MOTU) has decided to install a permanent lane within the next few weeks. The lane will stretch from

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1 min read

Never Too Late to Learn

In a city as bike-crazy as Philadelphia, even occasional riders take for granted that everyone knows how to ride a bike. But just as there are many people who never suited up for swim lessons, there are many adults—myself included—who never wobbled their way off training wheels. If you never felt the urge to learn,

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1 min read

NBW Goes to Washington

Last summer marked the first ever Ride of Dreams, a 240-mile bike ride from West Philadelphia to the state capital in Harrisburg and back to raise funds for Neighborhood Bike Works (NBW), the Philly-based nonprofit that teaches urban youth the benefits and joy of cycling. This year, NBW will ride from Pennsylvania to Pennsylvania Avenue;

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1 min read

Pedal Pushers: Female cyclists are the key to Philly’s bicycular future. Here’s why—and how to get the spoke-averse in the saddle.

Philadelphia needs to get more women on bicycles, and not just because we look so fine in Lycra.
The biology term “indicator species” is often used to describe female cyclists in urban areas. If the environment is suitable, a 2009 article in Scientific American argues, then the population will flourish. Though it sounds kinda clinical, it’s

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5 mins read

Green Living: Pedestrian and Bicycle Plan: Phase II

Input from Philadelphia citizens—through completed surveys and community meetings—played a major role in developing Phase I of Philadelphia’s Pedestrian and Bicycle Plan (released in October). The plan detailed recommendations and strategies for creating a more pedestrian and bike-friendly Philadelphia.

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1 min read