On April 16, PEC will participate in Ignite Philly, a bi-annual event at which presenters are invited to inspire audience members by giving a brief, high-energy presentation on a project intended to have a positive impact on the city. This year’s event will be held at Johnny Brenda’s on North Frankford Avenue from 6-10 p.m.
The event organizers describe the event as, “part of a worldwide network that entertains and educates people in short five-minute bursts…and is our way to highlight great ideas coming to life here in Philadelphia.”
Tony Spagnoli—my fellow Trails & Recreation Program Manager—and I will be presenting on the Spring Garden Street Greenway, PEC’s proposed project that will create a separated cycle track down the median of Spring Garden Street in Philadelphia.
Sticking to the Ignite Philly format, we will be on stage for five minutes, presenting a total of 20 slides at a clip of 15 seconds each in the hopes that our message will leave the audience talking about our project long after they leave the venue.
The Greenway will connect two major regional trails, close a gap in the East Coast Greenway, and provide a safe place for cyclists to ride on the street with the heaviest bicycle traffic in Philadelphia. The Spring Garden Street Greenway has had tremendous community support over the course of its development, while its design was significantly influenced by community input at design charrettes around the corridor. Since the concept was released in 2012, a dedicated group of volunteers have continued to spread the word about the project’s potential.
In September 2014, PEC hosted a Pop-Up Greenway with the support of our volunteers that attracted nearly 1,000 people to Spring Garden Street for a day of music, food trucks, and community tours. The Pop-up Greenway was highlighted in 15 important media outlets, in an attempt to make the Greenway concept more well known.
Ignite Philly is another opportunity to inspire Philadelphians to support a project that will improve the bicycle and pedestrian experience in the city and support Philadelphia’s distinction as one of the best bicycle cities in the country. PEC is dedicated to building bicycle infrastructure that is attractive to all Pennsylvanians interested in getting out and exploring our environment, no matter what their skill level.
“The fundamental takeaway from Ignite Philly is that the ability to change the world is more real than ever,” noted Brian James Kirk, Business Director and cofounder of Technical.ly, a local technology news network.
We agree, and are excited to continue our mission of creating bike infrastructure for everyone by participating in this great event.