Letters: Biking a smug, counterproductive fad

KYLE GRADINGER of the Bicycle Coalition of Greater Philadelphia takes a shot at convincing others about cyclists, but he fails miserably.

I have no evidence of his organization communicating anything to anyone about conducting themselves sensibly in the streets. What form does his "urging" of cyclists, motorists and pedestrians take? A leaflet, a pamphlet, a radio broadcast, a billboard? He cites surveys favoring cycling, but I've never any. He also cites traffic studies that play to environmental idealism but fall short on the realities of Philly's narrow streets.

The only cyclists I've seen in Philly who know how to ride are young male messengers, and they have never needed special lanes. All these other special, disruptive accommodations are being made for amateurs. As a matter of fact, as kids, we rode all over Philly, even to the airport, and never needed special handling - only common sense and an attitude more attuned to self-preservation than weighed down with a sense of entitlement.

Philly certainly has more than its share of stupid drivers, but they are far, far outnumbered by stupid cyclists and pedestrians, to say nothing of the city administration itself, which has never seen fit to enter the modern era with enough synchronized traffic lights, and more lights with left-turn arrows.

Just yesterday, heading to Center City, I was in slow traffic on MLK Drive because some woman was biking in the car lane at 15 mph. All the cars had to slow and dangerously change lanes because of one idiot.

Cycling is a fad riding the coattails of the environmental movement. Cycling simply is not suited for every city and town. In Philly, it's not being implemented intelligently. For those who insist otherwise, just try insisting that all police ride bikes.

Len Mfuasi, Philadelphia