Cyclists protest lack of bike lanes in Center City

About 20 angry bicyclists rallied at the Washington Square Park at 6th and Walnut streets yesterday to protest the lack of bike lanes in Philadelphia. Escorted by two Philadelphia Police trucks, the bicyclists -- all members of the Bikers Action Movement -- pedaled down various Center City streets to "obstruct traffic," BAM member and event organizer Fred Kittleman said yesterday. In a flyer advertising the demonstration, Kittleman states that the demonstration is organized to protest the city's plan to "kill plans for a bike lane" on Delaware Avenue. "Demand sane methods of transportation; not idiotic government and corporate sponsored auto-eroticism," the flyer states. A BAM member, who asked to be identified as "Albo," said he was protesting because the city is making a mistake by not putting bike lanes on Delaware Avenue. Deputy Mayor of Transportation Denise Goren said although no bike lanes will be constructed on Delaware Avenue, a 14 ft.-wide pedestrian and biking lane has been designated for the "waterfront area" at Columbus Avenue. She added, however, that "historically, the needs of bicyclists have not been met." Goren blamed this on the "myriad of very narrow streets" in Philadelphia. "Skinny streets are no excuse for lack of bike lanes," Albo said. He added that he is also protesting against motorists who have "doored" him -- opening their car doors when he rode by in order to knock him down. Many of the other protesters said they have been "doored" as well. Julie, a protester who would not disclose her last name, said, "I had someone grab my butt once" from an open car window. "Bikes and cars just don't mix -- they are fundamentally different," she said. Ken Blackwell, a courier, said elderly motorists and pedestrians are his biggest enemies. He said one elderly man harassed him for an entire week last year when he was riding home from work on the Benjamin Franklin Parkway. In order to yell harassing comments from his window to Blackwell, the man would "drive so slow all of the other cars were driving around him," Blackwell said. Matty Boy, a BAM member who participated in the last BAM demonstration in November 1993, said he was "thrown off his bike" at the last protest and was "attacked" by a police officer. He added that he now suffers nerve damage in his right arm because the handcuffs placed on his wrists were "too tight." Philadelphia Civil Affairs Sergeant Ron Wilson, who arrested Boy in November, denied attacking him. He said he threw Boy off his bike because Boy refused to stop when ordered.