Bicycle safety advocates hold rally at Philadelphia City Hall in wake of CHOP doctor's death
Dr. Barbara Friedes was killed at 18th and Spruce streets on July 17.
PHILADELPHIA (WPVI) -- Bicycle advocates rallied for better safety measures on Thursday afternoon following the death of a Children's Hospital of Philadelphia doctor last month.
Advocates delivered nearly 10,000 signatures and comments to Mayor Cherelle Parker and Council President Kenyatta Johnson as they called on city officials to install protected bike lanes.
Cyclists say that protection includes concrete and parked vehicles as barriers to separate them from moving traffic.
"End this nightmare by installing concrete protection on city bike lanes. Philadelphians deserve nothing less," said Sam Reson with Philly Bike Action.
Chris Gale, who is the executive director of the Bike Coalition of Greater Philadelphia, wants city leaders to look at this as a traffic violence issue and not just an infrastructure issue.
And he says nothing highlights that issue more than the death Dr. Barbara Friedes. She was killed at 18th and Spruce streets on July 17 in Center City.
She was hit by a driver who was allegedly both drunk and speeding while she was riding in a bike lane.
Michael Vahey, 68, was charged with homicide by vehicle, involuntary manslaughter, driving under the influence, reckless driving, and related offenses.
As Vahey remains in custody, Friedes' friends are determined to make a change.
"How do we make safer streets not only for cyclists but also for pedestrians?" asked Kelly McNult, a friend and coworker of Friedes.
Some advocates say the city cut more than $1 million from Vision Zero, a program designed to end traffic-related deaths.
The city says this is not the case, adding that $1.25 million was reallocated to the Speed Cushion & Traffic Calming Program, which is said to be a major part of Vision Zero's projects.
That's in addition to the $1 million for Vision Zero and plans to add more speed cameras along Broad Street.
Gale says that tragedy and others have mobilized those in the cyclist community to demand the city prioritize their safety, which he says will undoubtedly extend to pedestrians.
"When we look at the night where Dr. Friedes was killed, Chris Cabreras was also hit and killed and he was just standing on a corner. It's not just cyclists. It's pedestrians," added Gale.
We spoke to Vincent Thompson, a representative for President Johnson, who says Johnson supports an additional million dollars in funding for Vision Zero.
The Office of Transportation and Infrastructure Systems (OTIS) says it is looking forward to reviewing the petitions delivered Thursday as it will help guide the city to find an action plan to improve safety for all.
"Since day one, the Parker Administration has stressed its vision of creating a safer, cleaner, and greener Philadelphia. Fostering safety in all forms - including traffic safety - is something Mayor Paker cares about strongly and has advocated for since her days in the State Legislature and City Council," said the managing director's office in a statement.
OTIS says it's in the planning stages for solutions to traffic safety along the Spruce/Pine Streets' corridor, including a mix of curbside policy changes for the near-term and physical infrastructure upgrades, which would take time to design and build.
"In June, to help prevent the need for residents and delivery vehicles to stop in bike lanes, the City installed new loading zones on each block of the Spruce/Pine Streets' corridor west of Broad Street," the managing director's office said.
Conversations with advocates and the city will continue.
McNult says this is about protecting some of the city's youngest residents.
"Speaking as a pediatrician, we see children who are hit come into our emergency department, who have been struck by cars with life-threatening injuries. Not only do they have to go through the physical trauma and pain, there's also the mental trauma that stays with them," she explained.
