New bike lanes downtown

I have a high opinion of riding bikes, but a low opinion of Philadelphia bike riders because they are lawless ruffians. I see bumper stickers and activists bleat about how drivers should be more careful around bikes and I think, "You first."

I understand how this happens. You get on a bike, and you have all this visibility and mobility and you can get away with more than you can in a car. I know. My hypocritical opinion remains unchanged.

Nonetheless, I am pleased to see the city of Philadelphia trying something by installing wide bike lanes on Pine and Spruce. Read the Inquirer story here. Partly because I want to see bike riding in town encouraged, and partly because it's likely to keep bikes farther away from cars. Win. Win.

An enjoyable excerpt from the story:

And, officials note, this is just a pilot program. The paint won't cost anything extra.

"We're not deciding between million-dollar projects," said Hacker, of the regional planning commission. "We're just trying stuff out."

That's the style of civic innovation I want to see from my city officials in these Tough Economic Times(tm).

Map appropriated from Philadelphia Inquirer site.