Happy Cycling

Some Philly cyclists/filmmakers made a video to the Boards of Canada tune, "Happy Cycling". It's nostalgic for me, because it's one of my favorite rides in Philly -- a real destination in itself. The Ben Franklin Bridge connects historic Philadelphia and Camden, New Jersey. As you may remember from history class, this is where Washington crossed the Delaware River. As of four years ago, when I lived in Philadelphia, Camden was not a safe place for a woman out biking alone. Why? Because it has been ranked "America's Most Dangerous City" more than once. As tough as I think I am, I always rode to the end of the bridge and then turned right back around, just before I got to the Riverfront State Prison. Nothing says Welcome to New Jersey quite like a prison. Sometimes I would ride into Camden with a group of fellow cyclists. Even then, there wasn't much to see in Camden, unfortunately. The City of Camden thinks the way to revitalize itself is with "its four main attractions, the USS New Jersey; the Susquehanna Bank Center; Campbell's Field; and the Adventure Aquarium", rather than creating amenities that Camden residents can afford. According to census data from 2000, the median income for Camden residents was $9,815.