Dear Friend of Traffic Safety:

In an effort to increase safety for both bicyclists and pedestrians, members of the University City community will join with the Delaware Valley Regional Planning Commission (DVRPC) to launch a "Share the Road" campaign next week to encourage safe bicycling and driving in University City.

As part of the campaign, police will begin making educational stops of both bicyclists illegally riding on the sidewalk, and motorists illegally driving over or crowding bike lanes. The educational stops will continue through Feb. 1, 2003, when motorists and bicyclists will begin receiving citations for illegal behavior.

A kick-off to this campaign will be held in conjunction with a press conference at 10 a.m. Friday, Dec. 6, at the corner of 36th and Walnut Streets (in case of inclement weather, the event will move to the lobby of the Penn Bookstore).

Speakers will include University of Pennsylvania Police Chief Thomas Rambo, PennDOT District Administrator Andrew Warren, as well as representatives from DVRPC, Drexel University, the Bicycle Coalition of Greater Philadelphia, Neighborhood Bike Works and the Hospital of the University of Pennsylvania. Demonstrations of pedestrian/bicycle/motorist incidents will take place and Bike Line representatives will provide safety and equipment tips.

As a stakeholder in the University City community and as a supporter of traffic safety in this region, we encourage you to attend this event. Your participation and support of this initiative are vital to its success. For additional information about the Share the Road campaign, please contact John Madera, DVRPC Senior Transportation Planner.

We hope to see you there.

Sincerely yours,

John J. Coscia
Executive Director