Row of CitiBike bike share program bicycles
An article in the Inquirer this morning (see below) reminds us of the opportunity the city and the tourist bureau are passing up to attract business.
Mayor Rick Gray was the chief advocate of bringing streets cars back to down town Lancaster, an idea that came … and then mercifully went. The word ‘dumb’ would not even do justice to such folly, especially since Red Rose has been driving a rubber tire faux streetcar around downtown for years which remains virtually empty.
But now here comes a really good idea to promote tourism and at nominal cost, if any, for the city. Many people would arrive in Lancaster for the day or the weekend if they could rent a City Bike at the train station and tour the city, suburbs and exurbia.
Have doubts? Stand on the railroad platform and note people who bring collapsible bikes with them. The relatively level city and otherwise rolling countryside make the Lancaster area an attraction for bikers.
Fifty bikes between the Amtrak Station and the Central Market are all that we would need to get going.
Perhaps Randy Patterson, city planning head, could organize such an effort. So far everything else that he and the mayor have undertaken have come a croppers, or are yet to prove out.
Here’s the article about Philadelphia:
Bikes make a city better
PHILADELPHIA INQUIRER EDITORIAL: The launch of Philadelphia’s long-awaited bike-share program couldn’t have come at a better time, with the city finally breaking free from an icily confining winter to enjoy spring.
Indego has logged more than 25,000 bike rides since April 23. More than 3,600 riders have bought monthly passes, including some who apparently either have never ridden a bike or haven’t in a long time. As they struggle to keep their bicycles balanced, or abandon the streets for sidewalks, one can’t help but think more novice bikers should be wearing helmets.
Indego does strongly encourage safety and even has cautionary tips written on the handlebars of its cerulean-colored bikes. Over the summer, expect to see bike-share representatives at community fairs and block parties. There also are plans for safety rodeos, where children’s bikes will be checked and hesitant adults will be given gentle instruction on how to get back in the saddle… (more)
I am a big advocate of bicycling, but bringing bikes to Lancaster City is a terrible idea. It would be virtually criminal to suggest that riding a bike in Lancaster City is safe.
The roads are in deplorable condition. The drivers are usually distracted or driving with a suspended license. The streets are narrow and have traffic signals on nearly every corner. One way streets randomly and unpredictably turn become two way streets.
Even the safety patrols on bicycles around F & M and LGH ride almost exclusively on the sidewalks.
Unfortunately the opportunity to turn Lancaster bike friendly passed years ago.
Bike-share programs are a great idea, and they should be easy. Several cities in Europe have such programs.
For some reason Portland’s bike-share program has been a bust from the start, they’ve been trying for the past few years, it’s cost quite a bit, and there has been no progress.
Portland is one of the top bicycle cities in the US, there are several private businesses around town that rent bicycles, so a lot of people find it odd that the city’s bike-share program hasn’t gotten off the ground.