If Philadelphia expects to increase its “mode share” (the percentage of commuters who bike three days a week to work) from 2.1 percent to 6 percent by 2020, which is a goal it set for itself in its 2012 Pedestrian/Bicycle Plan, then building bicycle infrastructure that makes more people safer while riding is an imperative.

You don’t have to look too much further than Market Street and JFK Boulevard to recognize that these two streets (which have more lanes than I-95) would be perfect for protected bike lanes. They are overly wide and a traffic study found that they can be narrowed without impacting motor vehicle traffic flow.

The Bicycle Coalition of Greater Philadelphia recently proposed that car-protected bike lanes (in which when the bike lane is next to the curb, and a row of parked cars buffers between people on bikes and motors vehicles) would make sense on those streets. Center City District and the Mayor’s Office of Transportation and Utilities support an eastbound protected lane on Market, and a westbound lane on the south side of JFK Boulevard.

Other Philadelphia streets could also accommodate protected bike lanes. Sixth District City Councilman Bobby Henon is interested in seeing a protected bike lane installed in his district and is exploring the concept of one on State Road with the Streets Department. Among many other roads throughout Philadelphia that have the width and capacity for a protected bike lane are Roosevelt Boulevard, Erie Avenue, and 33rd Street and Chestnut Street in West Philly.

But, getting these types of lanes installed requires the approval of City Council—a power the legislative body gave itself in 2012, and thus far, no ordinances have been introduced. In fact, Council has, in one case, rejected the Planning Commission and Streets Department recommendation for a bike lane that didn’t even require legislation: a five-foot standard painted striped bike lane on 22nd Street, resulting in disconnected bicycle network and a street that is more dangerous for bicyclists than necessary.

We need more council members to step up for their bicycle-riding constituents and that is what Councilman Bobby Henon is now doing. More councilmembers should follow his lead and pro-actively work with the Streets Department to find appropriate streets for these high quality bike lanes.

The longer Philadelphia goes without protected bike lanes, the longer all road users are at risk. It is imperative that Council does what is right to promote the public health and economy of Philadelphia by allowing protected bike lanes to become part of the fabric of our city’s streetscape.