BREAKING: Kenney Announces Protected Bike Lanes on JFK, Market

Mayor Jim Kenney made news at the 2018 Vision Zero Philadelphia Conference on Saturday morning, when he announced a new bike lane pilot project through major Center City streets.

Beginning this spring, JFK Boulevard and Market Street, in Center City, will be getting long-anticipated protected bike lanes Between 15th Street and 20th Street.

The Bicycle Coalition of Greater Philadelphia has long advocated for these bike lanes, noting they will not only help cyclists commute to their jobs, school, or wherever they need to go in Center City, but will also help calm traffic.

Market Street in Center City is along Philadelphia’s high-injury network, and has long needed calming. The protected bike lane will help make the street safer by slowing down motor vehicles and shortening pedestrian crossing distances across Market and JFK.

Last year, transportation advocate Peter Javsicas was killed by an out-of-control driver while walking on JFK Blvd. In response, the Bicycle Coalition and the Vision Zero Alliance set up a memorial walk and protest, calling for greater traffic calming measures on JFK Boulevard.

The Bicycle Coalition has been advocating for these lanes for a long time. We’ve put out surveys, spoken to pedestrians and drivers, led protests, met with politicians and other officials, and written about it, over and over again. JFK and Market are part of the Bicycle Coalition’s Hub and Spoke campaign, too.

So, we are very happy to hear our advocacy work has led to this. The JFK-Market bike lanes will create an easier, safer way for bicyclists, pedestrians, and drivers to get through Philadelphia.