The City is constructing a protected bicycle lane on a portion of South Street in the coming year. Protected bicycle lanes will be an upgrade from the existing paint buffered bicycle lanes. Protected bicycle lanes create a safe space for people of all ages to bicycle, eliminate loading and parking in the bicycle lane, and clearly separate bicycle space from vehicle space.

Here’s what you should know:

The project will run along South Street close to the South Street Bridge.

The project will install flexible delineator posts on the painted buffer on South Street from 21st Street to 27th Street at the base of the bridge. It will also include 27th Street from Lombard to South. As part of this effort, the existing paint buffered lanes in this area will be restriped as well.

This will help improve traffic safety in a busy location.

The South Street Bridge actually has the most pedestrian and bicycle traffic of any bridge in Pennsylvania. According to the most recent counts in 2015, the South Street Bridge had nearly 1,000 people on bicycle per day in each direction. South and 27th streets are the major routes to and from the South Street Bridge.

This plan was developed with significant input from the community.

The City worked with local residents, neighborhood groups, and Councilman Kenyatta Johnson’s office on this project. The plan is supported by the South of South Neighbors Association, Center City Residents Association, and South Street West Business Association.

The community outreach effort also included a well-attended community meeting this past July, attended by more than 200 people, including neighbors. The City will continue working with these groups, Councilman Johnson’s office, and SEPTA on final design, further outreach and scheduling for the project.

Let’s keep changing our transportation systems for the better.