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 temporary “no parking” sign near 49th and Larchwood.

Here’s the good news: Crews will be filming part of an episode of a new NBC drama in West Philly tomorrow. Kind of cool. The bad news is that if you live within a few blocks of 49th and Larchwood, there’s a good chance that you will need to find a new place to park until Friday. And if you live a few more blocks away, your favorite spot might be gone by the time you read this.

The filming of Do No Harm, a modern-day “Dr. Jekyll and Mr. Hyde” focusing on a neurosurgeon with a secret, starts filming on Thursday morning. But a ban on parking on streets near 49th and Larchwood begins this evening (Wednesday) at 6 p.m. and ends Friday morning at 1 a.m.

The streets reportedly run from 47th to 50th and Larchwood to as far south as Catharine. Neighbors on the impacted blocks (about seven blocks in all) should have received a flyer notifying them of the parking prohibitions (a reader named Renee tipped us off to this whole thing) and it looks like the streets have been posted. The production company has the proper permits from the City.

If you have any questions about the filming, call the production company’s local office at 215-977-2897 (see the flyer below).

In case you are wondering, Do No Harm premiers on Jan. 31, 2013 after the finale of 30 Rock.

The flyer sent to residents. Thanks to reader Renee.

In preparation for the 19th annual Philadelphia Marathon, city officials have issued a traffic and parking advisory for many parts of the city. Delays are expected and motorists are advised to avoid these areas. Some portions of West Philly will be affected too.

Some of the major areas impacted include:

– The inner lanes of the Benjamin Franklin Parkway on Friday, November 16 through Sunday, November 18.
– Citywide along the 26.2-mile route of the Philadelphia Marathon on Sunday, November 18

The following streets will be closed at 6:45 a.m. on Sunday, Nov. 18, and will reopen, as runners pass through the race course. All race routes will remain closed until 4 p.m.

– 21st Street, from Spring Garden to Arch streets
– 22nd Street, from Spring Garden to Arch streets
– Benjamin Franklin Parkway, from 22nd to 16th streets
– Arch Street between 16th to 4th streets
– 4th Street Arch to Vine streets
– Race Street, from 4th Street to Columbus Boulevard
– Columbus Boulevard (Southbound lanes), Vine Street to Washington Avenue
– Southbound off-ramp, from I-95 at Washington Avenue
– Washington Avenue, from Columbus Boulevard to Front Street
– Front Street, from Washington Avenue to South Street
– South Street, Front to 6th streets
– 6th Street, Bainbridge to Market streets
– Chestnut Street, 6th to 34th streets
– 34th Street, Chestnut Street to Girard Avenue
– Lansdowne Drive, Girard Avenue to South Concourse Drive
– South Concourse Drive, Lansdowne Drive to West Memorial Hall Drive
– West Memorial Hall Drive, South Concourse to Avenue of the Republic
– Avenue of the Republic, West Memorial Hall Drive to Centennial Circle
– Old Lansdowne Drive to the Sweetbriar Loop
– Black Road
– Martin Luther King Drive
– Kelly Drive
– The Falls Bridge
– Ridge Avenue, Schoolhouse Lane to Manayunk Avenue
– Main Street, Ridge Avenue to Green Lane.

Update: Here’s a link to a map showing the streets closed during the marathon.

Source: Philly Police Blog

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.”

Phase 1 of the Route 34 Track Renewal Project began this morning. Buses will replace the trolleys all the way from the 40th Street Portal to the end of the line at 61st Street until the completion of the project on September 1, 2012. Phase 1 will last until July 7 and will include the reconstruction of the tracks between 40th and 42nd streets. During this phase, the entire two-block area on Baltimore Avenue will be closed.

The “13th and Market” on the bus (see photo) is a little confusing. The bus will take you to the 40th Street Portal where you can catch trolley the rest of the way.

Phase 2, 3 and 4 are scheduled to take place between July 1 and September 1 and will involve track reconstruction and Baltimore Avenue closings between 49th and 52nd streets, 54th and 55th streets, and the intersection of 58th and Baltimore. All traffic, including buses, will be detoured around the construction sites and side streets in the construction area will be closed to through traffic. For more information and the schedule for each phase, go here.

If you have questions, please call SEPTA Customer Service at (215) 580-7800.

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.