Mayor Nutter and Philadelphia Parks & Recreation Open City’s Only Bike Rental Service In Fairmount Park

Philadelphia, June 12, 2012 – Mayor Michael A. Nutter, Philadelphia Parks & Recreation and the Fairmount Park Conservancy hosted a grand opening ceremony for Wheel Fun Rentals, the only bike rental service in the city’s park system. Wheel Fun Rentals, America’s premier recreation rental company, is working with Philadelphia Parks & Recreation to offer a unique variety of cycles, including locally based Fuji hybrid two-wheels, surrey bikes, tandem bikes, deuce coupe bikes and Segways. Residents and visitors can access Wheel Fun Rentals in three locations throughout the Fairmount Park system: Lloyd Hall on Boathouse Row, Love Park and the Bathey House/Trolley Car Café in East Falls.

“Philadelphia loves our cyclists and we want to encourage as many as possible – novice or expert – to come and experience the amenities we offer to the cycling community,” said Mayor Nutter. “In addition to installing more than three hundred and fifty new bike racks across the city and continuing to add bike lanes to our streets, we are excited to welcome Wheel Fun Rentals to the Fairmount Park system. Cycling is a great way to run errands, tour the city or just recreate in the park; all of which help add a little physical activity into busy schedules. I encourage every Philadelphian to take advantage of the rental possibilities offered by Wheel Fun.”

Proceeds from Wheel Fun Rentals benefit Philadelphia’s parks. Through concession fees, Philadelphia Parks & Recreation anticipates that the service will bring in $50,000 annually that will go toward park and trail renovations and projects along the Schuylkill River Trail and Kelly drive as well as other projects led by Philadelphia Parks & Recreation and the Fairmount Park Conservancy.

“This partnership with Wheel Fun Rentals and the Fairmount Park Conservancy will provide Philadelphians and visitors with a variety of fun and unique ways to experience our beautiful park system,” said Deputy Mayor for Environmental and Community Resources, Michael DiBerardinis. “The partnership has also created an additional revenue stream, which will be used to maintain our park system”

Wheel Fun Rentals is providing nearly a dozen jobs to local residents and summer jobs for students, tying into the Mayor’s Fun Safe Philly Summer initiative. The company is employing teens from the Neighborhood Bike Works program, a local nonprofit that aims to increase opportunities for urban youth in underserved neighborhoods in greater Philadelphia by offering educational, recreational, and career-building opportunities through bicycling. The teens will be able to apply what they learn through the Neighborhood Bike Works program in their jobs at Wheel Fun Rentals. Wheel Fun Rentals also employs students with the Philadelphia City Rowing program.

“Wheel Fun Rentals is very excited about the opportunity to bring our unique brand of family fun to Philadelphia visitors of all ages,” said Mark Soto, Wheel Fun Rentals Director of Operations. “We specialize in providing affordable outdoor recreation that brings people and families together. We also look to be an active part of the local community through our alliances with such organizations as Neighborhood Bike Works and Big Brothers/Big Sisters of Southeastern Pennsylvania.”

Wheel Fun Rentals is open seven days a week. Summer hours (June-Labor Day) are 9 a.m. to sunset. In the fall (Labor Day-October), Wheel Fun Rentals will be open Saturday, Sunday and holidays from 10 a.m. to sunset. Wheel Fun Rentals inventory and pricing includes:
Cruiser Bikes: $10/hour $25/half day $32/day
City Bikes: $12/hour $30/half day $38/day
Tandems – Multi Speed: $15/hour $40/half day $50/day
Kids Bikes: $6/hour $15/half day $20/day
Trail-a-Bikes: $6/hour $15/half day $20/day
Kid Trailer: $10/hour $25/half day $32/day
Single Surrey: $20/hour
Double Surrey: $30/hour
Deuce Coupe: $20/hour
Pricing for Segway tours can be found here: http://philadelphia.segwaytoursbywheelfun.com/

Residents and visitors can enjoy self-guided bike tours of Old City Philadelphia and Fairmount Park. The self-guided bike tours include a route map, points of interest, historical information, helmet and lock. The Old City Tour is 11.5 miles round trip and will take bikers past numerous museums, lavish gardens and intricate architecture and many landmarks including the Philadelphia Museum of Art, The U.S. Mint., Independence State Park, Penn’s Landing and The Betsy Ross House. The Fairmount Park Tour is 11.5 miles round trip and will take bikers past Lemon Hill Mansion, the Philadelphia Zoo, the Please Touch Museum and more.

With more than 100 rental outlets across the United States, Wheel Fun Rentals has been offering clean, healthy family fun and affordable outdoor recreation to nearly 1.5 million customers annually for more than 20 years. Philadelphia is the company’s first foray into the Northeast. Wheel Fun Rentals is the only recreational cycling opportunity in Philadelphia’s park system. For more information about Wheel Fun Rentals, please visit http://www.wheelfunrentals.com/listlocations/176.

Mayor Nutter, Elected Officials Kickoff Next Phase of Development for Manayunk Bridge

Philadelphia, October 20, 2011 – Mayor Michael A. Nutter, Montgomery County Commissioners Jim Matthews and Joe Hoeffel, and Lower Merion Commissioners Elizabeth S. Rogan and Brian Gordon met for a ceremonial “Handshake Across the River” on the Manayunk Bridge to officially launch a project that will link the communities via a recreational trail across the Schuylkill River. The Manayunk Bridge will use a bike and pedestrian trial to connect the Ivy Ridge Trail in Philadelphia with the Cynwyd Heritage Trail in Lower Merion.

“The Manayunk Bridge serves as a bright example of regional partners and community groups collaborating to achieve something great,” said Mayor Nutter. “I am excited for this project because it strengthens the connection between Philadelphia and Montgomery counties, encourages exercise and recreation, and enables all residents to enjoy the beautiful landscape that we share.”

When finished, a walking and bicycling trail across the iconic Manayunk Bridge will connect Lower Merion Township’s recently completed Cynwyd Heritage Trail with Dupont and High Streets in Manayunk. From there, it’s just a short walk to the shops and restaurants of historic downtown Manayunk.

“When the Mayor first talked about establishing the Metropolitan Caucus, we were looking for ways to partner with our neighbors and this project was one of the first to come up,” Chairman Matthews said. “I’m thrilled to see it finally get underway. It will be an absolutely gorgeous gateway between our communities.”

“Today we shake hands in a ceremonial fashion, but it symbolizes how the Township, Montgomery County and the City of Philadelphia have collaborated to fulfill a vision that, as individual entities, we couldn’t have accomplished,” Board President Rogan said.

This landmark project is only possible through a truly cooperative effort. In addition to the City, County and Township, partners include SEPTA, the Delaware Valley Regional Planning Commission, Manayunk Development Corporation, the William Penn Foundation, the Bicycle Coalition of Greater Philadelphia, and the Pennsylvania Department of Transportation.

“SEPTA is pleased to be involved in a partnership that can create a new use for an old, transit and iconic asset within the region,” said Joseph M. Casey, General Manager of SEPTA, which owns the bridge.

Future phases will extend the trail to the Ivy Ridge Station and beyond, eventually connecting to the Schuylkill River Trail at Shawmont Avenue.

About the Metropolitan Caucus
The Metropolitan Caucus is composed of a group of elected leaders from Bucks, Chester, Delaware, Montgomery, and Philadelphia counties. Established in March of 2009, the Metropolitan Caucus focuses on issues of common interest among the five counties.

Rina Cutler Named 2011 Public Works Leader of the Year by American City and County Magazine

Philadelphia, September 15, 2011 – Deputy Mayor for Transportation and Public Utilities Rina Cutler has been named the 2011 Public Works Leader of the Year by Penton’s American City and County Magazine. This award is given annually to those who demonstrate outstanding leadership in public works. Deputy Mayor Cutler has been instrumental in the completion of the South Street Bridge, the expansion of Philadelphia’s green infrastructure, the addition of bike lanes, and the increase in recycling rates, according to the magazine’s release.

“I could not be more proud of Deputy Mayor Rina Cutler,” said Mayor Michael A. Nutter. “The City is lucky to have such a knowledgeable, visionary and passionate individual leading Philadelphia’s transportation, infrastructure and greening efforts. Deputy Mayor Cutler understands how to get things done. She has helped transform Philadelphia into a more beautiful city while reducing costs and improving efficiency in her departments.”

Deputy Mayor Cutler added, “I am honored to be recognized as the Public Works Leader of the year by American City and County Magazine. The work we are doing to make Philadelphia a more livable, sustainable and economically dynamic city would not be possible without the leadership of Mayor Nutter, our Streets and Water commissioners, our Airport CEO and the tireless work of thousands of City employees. We have done some amazing work in the last several years including the South Street Bridge, a strong focus on green infrastructure, expanding the bike lane network, launching an airport capacity enhancement program and a spectacular gateway mural at the Philadelphia International Airport. We will continue to work hard at being innovative and meeting the needs of Philadelphians.”

Deputy Mayor Cutler was appointed to the job by Mayor Michael Nutter in March, 2008. She is responsible for the coordination and oversight of all transportation functions in the City of Philadelphia. In addition, Ms. Cutler oversees the operations of a variety of City agencies including the Streets Department, the Philadelphia Water Department, the Philadelphia International Airport, and the City’s interests with a variety of transportation agencies including SEPTA, the Philadelphia Parking Authority, the Delaware Valley Regional Planning Commission and the Philadelphia Regional Port Authority.

Prior to returning to Philadelphia, Ms. Cutler was the Deputy Secretary for Administration at PennDOT since 2003. In addition, Ms. Cutler served for almost 2 years as the Acting District Executive at PennDOT for the 5 county Philadelphia region. Her prior experience includes Transportation Commissioner for the City of Boston, the Director of Parking and Traffic for the City of San Francisco and the Executive Director of the Philadelphia Parking Authority.

The subscribers of American City & County submit nominations for the Public Works Leader of the Year Award. The magazine’s editorial staff selects the award’s recipient each year.

American City & County has been the voice of state and local governments since 1909. The magazine serves a nationwide audience of city, county and state officials who are charged with developing and implementing local government policy, programs, and projects. American City & County is published monthly by Penton. For more information about the magazine, visit http://www.americancityandcounty.com

Mayor Nutter Breaks Ground on Fairmount Bikeway Improvement Project

Philadelphia, March 14, 2011- Mayor Michael A. Nutter announced the groundbreaking of the Fairmount Bikeway Improvement Project. Improvements to the Fairmount Bikeway trail, which connects Kelly Drive to the lower Wissahickon and the Schuylkill River Trail to Valley Forge, are expected to be completed by June, 2011.

“Thousands of recreation enthusiasts and commuters use Philadelphia’s trails every day and we want to continue to encourage their healthy lifestyle habits,” said Mayor Nutter. “These improvements are especially important, as the City continues to think innovatively about reducing our carbon footprint. We thank all of our partners for their support of this project.”

Improvements will include a widening of the existing recreation path to improve access along the Schuylkill Trail, upgrades to the existing parking area and safety enhancements that will separate pedestrians and bicyclists from automobile traffic that accesses the parking lot. The $1.1 million project is being funded with a $500,000 grant from the Department of Conservation and Natural Resources, a $400,000 Federal Highway Transportation Enhancement Grant that was provided from PennDOT and $200,000 in funding from the William Penn Foundation, provided through the Schuylkill River Greenway Association.

“The Fairmount Bikeway from Falls Bridge to Ridge Avenue is a key link in both Fairmount Park’s multi-use recreational trail system and the larger Schuylkill River Trail, which will ultimately connect Philadelphia to Pottsville in Schuylkill County via a multi-use trail extending the entire length of the river—a distance of approximately 130 miles,” said Parks & Recreation Commissioner Michael DiBerardinis.

Philadelphia Awarded $17M in Recovery Funds to Fill Critical Gaps in Bike Trail Network

Funding Part of Bi-State Application that Will also Fund Trails in Camden, NJ

Philadelphia, February 17, 2010 –

The regional application for $36 million was submitted by the City with Delaware County, Montgomery County, Chester County, Schuylkill County, the Pennsylvania Department of Conservation and Natural Resources and Coopers Ferry Development Cooperation (Camden County, New Jersey). Camden County will receive $5.8 million through the program. At this time projects in the other counties have not been funded.

Mayor Nutter applauded the work of the team that prepared the application, “This program stands out nationally for its multi-state, multi-jurisdiction approach to meet the active transportation needs of our region. The recovery is not over yet and this project will create jobs for engineers, designers, and construction workers.” The Mayor remains committed to the completion of a regional trail network, “I pledged that the City will support Delaware County, Montgomery County, Chester County and Schuylkill County as they pursue state and federal funding to complete the regional trial network.”

Rina Cutler, Deputy Mayor for Transportation and Utilities noted the far reaching transportation and health impacts of the project, “This award allows us to fill-in critical gaps in the City’s bike trail network. When these gaps are filled I expect it to be easier than ever before to commute by bike or enjoy a bike ride with family and friends. A more complete bike trail network makes it easier to have an active lifestyle, which can address some of our biggest health challenges including obesity, diabetes, depression and heart disease.”

“This bike and pedestrian path project is welcoming news not only for the economic impact it will have for Camden, Philadelphia, and the surrounding region, but also for the positive effect it will have on our environment,” Mayor Dana L. Redd said. “The approval of this project is yet another example that emphasizes Camden’s revitalization efforts are moving forward. I look forward to continue working with U.S. Senators Bob Menendez and Frank Lautenberg and our entire congressional delegation and President Obama’s administration to take full advantage of exciting opportunities that will help transform Camden and the surrounding area into a prosperous economic region.”

“Camden County is very excited about this $5.8 million federal grant that supports our greenways initiative to connect Camden County with downtown Philadelphia through active transportation—walking and biking,” said Camden County Freeholder Jeffrey Nash. “By the completion of this greenways path in 2012, residents will be able to walk or bike from Cooper River Park through Camden and across the Ben Franklin Bridge into Philadelphia.”.

The Bicycle Coalition of Greater Philadelphia and the Pennsylvania Environmental Council helped prepare the application.

“This grant is a giant leap forward in connecting Philadelphia’s urban center, outlying neighborhoods and suburban communities via a sustainable and active transportation system,” said Sarah Clark Stuart, Campaign Director at the Bicycle Coalition of Greater Philadelphia. “We couldn’t be more thrilled that the Obama Administration recognized Philadelphia for laying the foundation of a truly connected multi-modal transportation system between 1970 and 2010. This funding allows us to take that system to the next level so that it can be enjoyed and used by larger and more diverse sector of the region’s population.”

Patrick Starr, Senior Vice President of PEC said job access and recreational opportunities are vital to the revitalization of communities, “Filling in the regional trail gaps in Philadelphia and Camden as the hubs of the system along the Delaware and Schuylkill Rivers is a game changer.”

“This is an investment in providing a better, greener future for our kids,” said Spencer Finch, Director of Sustainable Communities for the Pennsylvania Environmental Council. “Take a look at Philadelphia’s existing trails and riverfronts and you’ll see families and friends having a great time biking, fishing, and commuting to work. These new trails will extend those opportunities to even more people in the region.”

Mayor Michael A. Nutter announced today that the City of Philadelphia received $17.2 million in American Recovery and Reinvestment Act funds to fill critical gaps in the City’s bicycle and pedestrian trail network. The dollars were awarded to the City through the U.S. Department of Transportation’s (DOT) highly competitive Transportation Investment Generating Economic Recovery (TIGER) Discretionary Grants Program. The grant program was designed to spur a national competition for innovative, multi-modal and multi-jurisdictional transportation projects that promise significant economic and environmental benefits to an entire metropolitan area, region or the nation. DOT received $56.5 billion dollars worth of applications, for just $1.5 billion in grants.

East-West Bike Corridor

Recently there has been some major progress towards opening an east-west bike corridor through the city. The Street Department in partnership with the Bicycle Coalition recently announced that Pine Street and Spruce Street will have one lane converted into a dedicated bike lane.  While this has been talked about for some time, the City is planning on beginning construction as soon as August. 

Once the lanes are dedicated the City will have a trial period of approximately nine months to see how the change affects traffic patterns and whether it proves popular among bike riders.

Greenworks Philadelphia strongly supports the east-west bike route and hopes that the city’s cyclists get out and show their support by riding on Spruce and Pine.