SEPTA buses are usually carrying over 40 people, compared to a car's measly one. That's at least 40 less cars on your streets. I ride SEPTA buses every day and sometimes in order for the bus to move, it has to ignore the light, otherwise cars will NEVER give the bus a break. I think you should try riding on a bus to get the other side of the picture. Bus riders endure massive back-ups because buses cannot maneuver through traffic like cars can, and cars are causing the traffic.

The traffic on Ridge has two red lights that operate regularly to allow pedestrians to cross at the crosswalk and allow buses to pull out onto the street from the transfer center. That is the chance for the bus to move, not when the light is green and traffic is moving. If any other motorist were to pull such a move they would be ticketed for a moving violation, incur points on their license, and pay a higher insurance premium. There is no excuse for breaking the law, no matter how many passengers are on a bus. Traffic laws exist to ensure the safety of all motorists. I narrowly avoided a major accident last year when a bus pulled out in front of me against the light and my only course of action was to swerve into oncoming traffic to avoid it. Fortunately there were no cars coming the other way. Up until 2 years ago I commuted by bus daily, so I understand the pros and cons of riding on a bus, which is completely irrelevant to this discussion.

I understand your reply, but I do feel it is indeed relevant. I would support you if you were instead advocating or suggesting a better system to ensure it's not dangerous. In this case, you appear to just want to the buses to obey a light signal that does not work. I've stood at the transfer center (at veerrryyyy long stretches waiting for a late bus) and it would be a massive back-up if the buses did not pull out against the light. And, the light goes on for much longer than necessary for any pedestrian to get across, so time is wasted while no buses are pulling out & everyone is just stopped. They need to look at that entire area, and deal with the *car* congestion and the absolute insane drivers that are going way too fast for that area, not the bus congestion and the fact that buses pull out against the light. If I am remembering correctly, right on red is legal there and done by all the cars as well - it's just noticeable when buses do it because it forces cars to slow down or stop. No doubt there are a lot of septa drivers that need a lesson in driver etiquette and even safety and I do understand that it is an unsafe area in absolutely every way possible (drivers, pedestrians, etc), but I'm sick of no one looking to the issue of the car congestion, and simply complaining about buses.

Service request submitted. (mb)

I get it Dan. I welcome the changes. This stretch of road has been the red-headed stepchild of the kelly drive path for years. We've enjoyed the open utility trenches, PWD trenches that never get marked or filled in. I've personally most enjoyed the minefield of a parking lot where people try their best to run me down.

This isn't about the construction. It's about common courtesy toward people. I've ridden around the lincoln drive path construction, the kitchens lane repaving, the PWD when they blocked the path for 2 weeks last year, as well as the reconstruction of the roadway around the transportation center. There's *never* any notice given which allows people to proactively plan a safe route.

This particular case gave negative one day's notice. I understand I can pay to join a club which will tell me the things a simple route sign would tell me. Please tell your brethren at the bike coalition that penndot blocked the very path on ridge that people are supposed to use.

The Bike Coalition has a blog that describes the various bike related projects that are going on in the greater Philadelphia area. They had a posting on Feb 24 describing the closure and the proposed detour. You do not have to be a coalition member to read the blog. More info here:

http://blog.bicyclecoalition.org/2011/02/srt-path-from-falls-bridge-to-ridge.html

I'm sure the Bike Coalition would appreciate your feedback so that future efforts to inform the public are more effective. They have had volunteers handing out flyers detailing the closure several days near the the East Falls Bridge. Volunteers will be there between 4 and 5:30 this Thursday.

Thanks for the info. Added the blog to my newsreader. Took that "detour" today, I was mistaken, there are many more highway on and off-ramps than I'd thought. Never saw those signs at the transit center and nothing was posted at Forbidden Drive near where I enter. There's one stretch of the roadway w/ no shoulder, someone's gonna get hit there :-(

Your efforts aside, PennDOT did absolutely *nothing* on the trail to notify users. The Parks Department failed as well.

Philly311 called me with this explanation : 4:33pm

Hi, this is Charlie. Denny with the streets department. I'm returning your call. Concerning 311 then region. Main Street and the 5 second red light for a regional. That is by design.

MAybe it has something to do with the Restaurant Depot? I know personally that pulling out of there to go left on Ridge is tricky.

A Service Request has been entered under ticket #584045 for 4-way stop signs to be installed at this location. This request has been forwarded to the Philadelphia Streets Department, Traffic Engineering Division. (spt)

This will not fix the problem. " 4-way stop signs to be installed at this location"

Ticket #584045 already submitted to Streets Dept. (mb)

In Aug. 2008, a front page Phila. Inquirer article about a blind Temple law grad mentioned that he couldn’t get to the Wissy SEPTA station from East Falls due to the overgrown sidewalk. At that time, the sidewalk was totally impassable. The Mayor’s office did nothing, SEPTA did nothing, neighborhood groups did nothing. (Obviously, no one reads the Inky and/or no one cares.). Finally a volunteer from the Bicycle Coalition cut the vegetation back and uncovered the sidewalk.

So, for some, it is a big deal in the winter. Maybe the city or SEPTA could step up and fix this.

That's great that a neighbor did it on their own Chuck.
If it happens again at least they can take credit here.

Good point Chuck -- and a nice reference to the Inquirer article. I'll try to bring up this issue at the next Wissahickon Civil Assoc. meeting. That article will give it some background.

created a 311 ticket so this doesn't slip through the cracks

as of @5:30 pm on Tuesday 05/29 service to these lights was restored

as of @8:20 am this morning I found the lights on flash, again. see video.

2012/10/01: lights completely out at this intersection, no police in sight. this is a 5th PPD district concern.