The Bicycle Coalition of Greater Philadelphia marked the closing of the South Street Bridge on Monday with one last ride.  Apparently they hadn’t already popped enough tires and bent enough rims in the bridge’s many potholes and jagged metal grates.  As the Coalition’s blog proudly notes, the “last vehicle to cross the South Street Bridge was a bicycle.”

In fact, it was this one:

BCGP Advocacy Director John Boyle from Philly Bike Coalition Flickr, Creative Commons

I regret not being able to make it to the early morning ride because I’m sure the old red Schwinn would have loved one last shot across this historic span.  For now, I’ll have to be content to brave the glorified drag racing strip of the Walnut Street Bridge.  The bike lane essentially makes moving targets out of cyclists as they risk their lives with the hopes that drivers will respect that patch of blue “yield” paint that crosses over the turning lane of cars heading to I-76 at 30th Street station.

If I do survive the two years, I should have a great bicycle and pedestrian friendly South Street bridge to take me into West Philly.  (Assuming the revised plans don’t “accidentally” get switched for the more car-oriented, glorified exit ramp that was originally envisioned.)

More photos of the South Street Bridge closure are available in this Flickr set by the Bicycle Coalition.