The Wake Up Yoga studio in West Philly (4916 Baltimore Ave.) is bringing back its Mommy & Me class beginning Wednesday, Nov. 2. This is a yoga class for new mothers who are welcome to bring their babies as they rebuild their strength and stamina. Mommy & Me includes some poses that can be practiced with the baby. The class will be taught by instructor Felicia Graham and will be offered on Wednesdays, 11:15 a.m. – 12:45 p.m.. Each class is $16 and you don’t have to register. Just drop in and enjoy. If you have questions please contact the studio at 215-235-1228.

From November 10 until December 23 there will be an opportunity for beginners to learn some yoga basics, as the studio is offering a six-week Brand New Beginners series. The series consists of eight classes with the focus on breath and movement. This series will be taught by Monica Kriso and meet on Thursday evenings, 7:45 p.m. – 9:15 p.m. (no meeting on Thanksgiving). The cost for the series is $81 and pre-registration is required. To learn more about it and to register please go here.

A not-so-subtle reminder this morning in front of the CVS at 43rd and Locust. Here are some bike locking tips from the Bicycle Coalition of Greater Philadelphia.

Design consultants and city officials unveiled plans last night for long-term bike and pedestrian improvements that could include upgrades to the intersection of 50th and Baltimore and more bike lanes on West Philly streets.

The preliminary plan, which is the second phase of an overall evaluation and improvement of Philadelphia’s bike and pedestrian infrastructure, recommends bike lanes for Chestnut Street from 34th Street to the Cobbs Creek Parkway, a separated bike lane on Belmont Avenue and the conversion of Pine Street to a “bike friendly” street from 39th to 57th.

Some recommendations are minor and include the painting of streets, while other are very ambitious, including the possibility of installing “cycletracks” – a bike-only lane sandwiched between the sidewalk and the street on major thoroughfares like Walnut Street.

“One of the downsides is that it would take more of the parking off the streets,” said Dan Goodman, a senior planner at Toole Design Group, the firm assembling the plan.

The plan’s recommendations are based on field research conducted over the past year on streets throughout West Philadelphia. Data collectors examined pedestrian and bike traffic from Greys Ferry to City Avenue and from the Schuylkill River to Cobbs Creek Parkway. Their tentative plans, including maps, will soon be available here.

Last night’s meeting was the second in West Philadelphia this week. Both are part of the community input phase of the project. Later this fall and winter, Toole Design Group will review community recommendations and come up with a final plan to submit to the city. Phase one of the plan, conducted in 2009 and 2010, saw vast improvements to bike and pedestrian facilities in Center City, including 200 miles of new bike lanes and “bike friendly” streets.

But just because recommendations are in the plan does not mean they will be carried out. As with most improvements in Philadelphia, politics will play a big role – at least for the major improvements such as new bike lanes that could affect traffic flows and parking.

Small improvements, though, are usually included in the city’s paving plans. Steve Buckley, the city’s deputy commissioner of transportation, was at last night’s meeting to answer questions about whether many of the proposed improvements will ever see the light of day.

“Do we think every single piece will be implemented? We can’t guarantee that,” he said. “Right now we are looking for low-cost improvements that can be done with paint.”

One problem is that the city has far less paving projects scheduled than it has in the recent past because those funds have been designated for other projects like installing accessibility ramps at street corners to meet federal guidelines.

One low-cost recommendation at the meeting was repainting some of the existing bike lane borders to make clear to drivers that they are for cyclists. Buckley agreed.

“We have not committed enough money to those kinds of refreshers,” he said.

He recommended reporting fading lines to the Streets Department.

Possible improvements to the block of Baltimore Avenue include a mid-block crosswalk for pedestrian traffic crossing over to Cedar Park.

Toole Design is still accepting comments from residents for a couple of more weeks. Contact them here.
 

Dogs and dog lovers gathered yesterday in Clark Park for the annual “Bark in the Park.” There were contests for everything from tallest dog to curliest tail to fastest runner. A good time was had by all. See the photos below.

Studio 34 (4522 Baltimore Ave.) is presenting a new yoga class series for children ages 4-12 beginning Oct. 17. Led by instructor Lily Cavanagh the six-week series will feature breathing exercises, games, poses and relaxation. Younger kids will also be introduced to communication skills in a fun-filled environment. Older kids will learn how to maintain balance in both their minds and bodies and how to boost their self-esteem through engaging in group and partner activities.

Classes are once a week, on Mondays, 3:45-4:30 (ages 4-6) and 4:45-5:30 (ages 7-12). The six-week series costs $60 and there will be a free trial class on Monday, Oct. 10. For more information and to enroll go here.

We just got word that youth soccer at Clark Park is cancelled this week. Recent rains have left too much water in the Bowl. Soccer will resume next Saturday if things dry out a little.