We are heartbroken to hear that Jason Lohr passed away from his injuries last weekend. Jason was the third bicyclist killed in Philadelphia this year and was hit just two days after Dominique Jones was killed while riding his bike in Strawberry Mansion.
According to initial reports, on November 20th Jason was riding northbound on Frankford Avenue in Kensington when a driver going southbound on Frankford Avenue made a left turn on East Hagert Street and hit Jason in the intersection. Jason was taken to Temple hospital and listed in critical condition. The driver stayed at the scene and is said to be cooperating with the investigation.
Frankford Avenue is a state road which, despite being a popular commercial corridor, does not have any protected bike facilities. The intersection of Frankford Ave and Hagert St also does not have any traffic control devices like a traffic light or stop sign.
From what we’ve learned about Jason, he was deeply invested in the Kensington and Fishtown neighborhoods. He was involved early on with Standard Tap and was a long-time bartender at Atlantis: the Lost Bar. (Atlantis is located at the northwest corner of the intersection where Jason was hit.) His brother Dan posted on reddit that Jason loved cycling, music, art, and most of all his friends. He echoed the importance of safety for all riders:
“For anyone who walks or rides these streets, please:
- Assume every car you encounter can not see you (especially if you’re wearing dark clothes, it’s dark outside or raining).
- Use a head light and tail light and/or reflective gear.
- Always wear a helmet.”
Our heart breaks for Jason’s family and friends during this time. If anyone you know has been involved in a crash or lost someone in a crash and is looking for community, please reach out to Families for Safe Streets Greater Philadelphia by emailing nicole@bicyclecoalition.org.
Families for Safe Streets Greater Philadelphia (FSSGP) is comprised of victims of traffic violence and families whose loved ones have been killed or severely injured by aggressive, reckless, or careless driving, behaviors enabled by dangerous street design. FSSGP represents the full range of greater Philadelphia’s rich diversity and collectively demands an end to traffic violence.
Standard Tap has organized a GoFundMe for Jason and his family which you can find here.