Despite the two stop signs, vehicles routinely blow through the intersection of Baltimore Avenue and Springfield Avenue.

A cyclist was reportedly seriously injured last night when she collided with a car at the corner of Baltimore Avenue and Springfield Avenue, a notorious intersection that includes heavy pedestrian and bike traffic and where cars often don’t stop.

The accident happened at about 11 p.m. and the cyclist was wearing a helmet and her bike had lights, one witness said. The cyclist appeared to be unconscious when the ambulance arrived. A witness also said that a pedestrian stopped the car that hit the cyclist.

A reader, Kelly, who lives on Baltimore wrote to us about the accident and included a warning to pedestrians to stay alert near the intersection. We are trying to get more information on the woman’s condition.

Kelly writes:

“In the last month 3 separate bicyclists have been hit at this intersection. I don’t know the young person that was hit and I hope she is okay but it was not a pretty site. Thankfully a pedestrian saw her get hit and stopped the car. My partner and I were home and heard the accident happen and while she called 911 I ran out to see if I could help. Needless to say this intersection is horrible and I make it a point to never cross there unless absolutely necessary. Basically I would love the message to get out to those crossing at that intersection to please be aware of the cars that neither look, slow down, or care if you are walking/biking and if you can avoid crossing there do it. It would be amazing if we could do away with the intersection all together making those cars turn on 45th at the light and making them slow down, stop, and consider the others that occupy the roads/crosswalks.”

A new bike corral was installed this week in front of Mariposa Food Co-op, near the intersection of 49th St. and Baltimore Ave, accommodating a dozen or more bikes. (Photo courtesy Bicycle Coalition).

The legendary bicycle store at 4311 Lancaster Avenue is reopening under new ownership and inviting folks to their Grand Reopening Extravaganza, titled Dances with Wolves, this Saturday, July 28, from 2 p.m. to 2 a.m.Wolff Cycles store was recently purchased by West Philly’s Firehouse Bicycles (50th & Baltimore) and renamed to Wolf Cycles (with 50% less F). The shop has been in operation since the 1930’s.

The grand reopening celebration is free and open to the public. It will feature workshops, a bike ride, catered food and beer and an outdoor movie screening. Also there will be music by live DJ’s and raffle all day. Costumes are encouraged. Here are more details:

11 a.m. – Doors open

2 p.m. – Riding Basics Class hosted by the Bicycle Coalition, for riders 16+
For those who feel nervous navigating Philly’s aggressive drivers and trolley tracks.

3:30 p.m. – West Fairmount Park Public Art Ride
Check out public art and enjoy your wheels. For all ages, but under 18 must be accompanied by a guardian. The ride is approximately 5 miles. Helmets required.

5:30 p.m. – Legal Rights Workshop hosted by the National Lawyers Guild
Learn your rights and responsibilities as a bicyclist involved in a crash.

7 p.m. – Catered Food and Keg of Beer
Food will be provided, but if you want beer, you’ll have to buy a pint glass (only $5).

8:30 p.m. – Outdoor Screening of the movie “RAD”
If weather allows. RAD tells a fantastic fable of an unflappable BMX biker fighting the factory rider to win on the Helltrack.

For more information go to: www.firehousebicycles.com, email firehousebicycles@gmail.com or call 215 222 2171.

You know that bike that has been locked to street sign near your house for what seems like years? The City wants to know about it.

On July 23 the City is planning a “clean sweep” of abandoned bikes.

Here’s a notice from the Mayor’s Office of Transportation and Utilities:

The Mayor’s Office of Transportation and Utilities (MOTU) and the Philadelphia Streets Department need your help to identify all of the abandoned bikes in the city in preparation for an Abandoned Bike Clean-Up project.  On July 23^rd,the Streets department will be conducting a clean sweep of abandoned bicycles. 

Removing abandoned bicycles from city streets helps bicyclists by making bicycle parking easier to find and it helps non-bicyclists by clearing-out scarce sidewalk space.  Abandoned bikes are those that have missing or damaged parts, are in un-useable condition, and have been locked in the same location for one month or more.  These bikes will be tagged with notification for removal by the city one week before the scheduled removal.  All of the bicycles that are removed during the sweep will be donated to local charities for refurbishment.

You can report an abandoned bike by calling the City’s 311 hotline. You will need to know the location of the bicycle, what the bike is locked to and any distinguishing features including color, broken or missing parts or any “unique identifiers.”

West Philly bicyclists and everyone else who cares about biking in our area are invited to make their voice heard at two public meetings/open houses organized by the Philadelphia City Planning Commission. The first meeting is tomorrow, Oct. 11, from 6:00 to 8:00 p.m. at Myers Recreation Center (5803 Kingsessing Ave.); the second one is Wednesday, Oct. 12., from 6:00 to 8:00 p.m. at Penn’s Fisher Fine Arts Library (220 S. 34th Street, 4th floor).

At the meetings, there will be an opportunity to learn about the City’s plans for biking and walking in West Philly. Also, it’s a good chance to let the City know what residents think about the plan, to ask questions and share your concerns. Click on the flyer for more details.

One of the area’s best-known bicycle shops will open a location at the former Strikes Bowling Lounge (and an original Urban Outfitters store) at 4040 Locust St. later this summer.

Keswick Cycle will reportedly open the 4,000-square-foot store in late August, just as students start to return to the area en masse. The store, which will include bike and clothing sales and maintenance, will likely be the largest bike shop in West Philly.

The store will also include a studio to help elite riders and triathletes get fitted for bikes.

Keswick Cycle has been a neighborhood fixture in the Montgomery County suburb of Glenside since the 1930s and also operates a store in Cherry Hill, N.J.