Attendees call for better infrastructure to protect pedestrians and cyclists all across the city
PHILADELPHIA- Close to a thousand of community members, advocates, family members of traffic victims, and elected officials came together Sunday morning to pay their respects to Dr. Barbara Friedes and Christopher Cabrera who were killed Wednesday evening in two horrific crashes. The group also came together to remember the over 60 people who were killed and the countless others injured by traffic crashes in Philadelphia so far this year.
On Wednesday July 17th, there were three serious crashes, the first killing Christopher Cabrera who was standing on the sidewalk in Kensington waiting to cross the street, the second killing Dr. Barbara Friedes while biking in the Spruce St. bike lane, and the third critically injuring another person in Germantown. While the name of the critically injured pedestrian is not known, there are many unnamed traffic victims who have been killed and seriously injured this year, they all deserve attention and priority from our community and City leaders.
“Not only are these tragic deaths unacceptable, they were PREVENTABLE,” said Chris Gale, Executive Director of the Bicycle Coalition of Greater Philadelphia. “Concrete barriers for the bike lanes on both Spruce and Allegheny would have offered protection from these reckless drivers, and the Bicycle Coalition, Philly Bike Action, 5th Square and others have repeatedly pressed the City to install such permanent safety infrastructure.”
“Despite the City’s commitment to “Vision Zero,” which seeks zero traffic deaths in Philadelphia by 2050, the Mayor and City Council missed an opportunity to act when they reduced funding for the Vision Zero Complete Streets budget this year,” said Caleb Holtmeyer, co-founder of Philly Bike Action. “That funding must be restored and increased in next year’s budget.”
“These crashes are a grim reminder of how our streets give priority to the convenience of motorists over the safety of people biking and walking, the most vulnerable road users. This citywide problem is a product of inaction and purposeful deprioritization of people over cars,” said 5th Square Chair, Steph Davis. “We need our city government to respond with real change and real investment in roadway safety. We want everyone to be safe whether they are riding a bike lane in Rittenhouse, standing on a corner in Kensington, or crossing a street in Germantown.”
The city of Philadelphia experienced a record number of bicyclists deaths in 2023 with 10 people killed throughout the city. Unfortunately, there are a large number of crashes that have happened in unprotected bike lanes. Billy McWilliams (16) was killed in a unprotected bike lane on Woodhaven Rd., Mario D’Adamo (37) was killed in a unprotected bike lane in FDR Park, Josuha Feggins (32) was killed in a unprotected bike lane on Grays ferry avenue, and Woodsen Jones (55) was killed in a unprotected bike lane on Lehigh Ave. Those are just some of the people who lost their lives last year.
Sunday’s vigil focused on the hundreds of Philadelphians who have been killed in every section of the city that deserve more from our decision makers. The group called for PA State Legislators to pass HB 1283 and legalize parking protected bike lanes on state roads and for Philadelphia City Council to fund Vision Zero, eliminate bike lane parking permits, change signage from “no parking” to “no stopping” on all bike lanes, and to finally make bike lanes protected with permanent, non-flexible materials.
The groups are circulating a petition calling on the City to better protect cyclists all over the city and will be delivering the petitions to City Hall on Thursday, August 15th.