Chestnut St access to Schuylkill Banks Ramp

Accessing the Schuylkill River Trail, eastbound on Chestnut St.

Twenty inches of snow has freed our streets of cars and created a sledding slope in front of my house.  A common challenge of shoveling brings my neighbors out for friendly conversation.   I like my neighbors.

This afternoon, we drove down North Broad Street, which really looked nice covered in snow.  People were walking in Broad Streeet.  Cars were driving under the speed limit.  It felt relaxing.  Is this what life would be like with far fewer cars?  We were driving to a birthday party in Penn Valley.

After most people had left the party, I talked with my wife’s cousin Andrew about his bike commute to U Penn from Penn Valley (Bala Cynwyd).  He commented on part of his bicycle commute from 34th and Chestnut.

As he bikes east along Chestnut, he enjoys the bike lane on the right side of the street.  Then he’s faced with crossing traffic to eventually get to the ramp leading down to the trail.  Andrew commented that he feels the safest way to get to the ramp is to cross the street and travel on the sidewalk to the ramp.  This adds a few minutes to his trip.

Andrew wondered what I would do?  Personally, I would just move to the left non-turning traffic lane and act as traffic.  A lot of cyclists aren’t comfortable with this though.   What would you do?