Philadelphia’s streets are death traps for cyclists. City government must act after last week’s tragedies
For too long, Philadelphia has neglected to protect its citizens from avoidable traffic-related injuries and death.
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On July 17, Barbara Friedes, our beloved friend, colleague, chief resident, and future pediatric oncologist, was killed while riding her bike on Spruce Street during daylight hours. She rode in the designated bike lane, wearing a helmet. She was struck by a speeding vehicle that drove through the plastic dividers, hit her and threw her from her bike. This led to the injuries that ended her life.
Minutes after she was hit, another vehicle crossed a bike lane on Allegheny Avenue, striking and killing a pedestrian. The same day, a young woman was hit by a car while crossing the street in Germantown, and remains in critical condition.
The media calls these tragedies “accidents,” yet they are wholly preventable. For too long, the city government has neglected to protect its citizens from avoidable traffic-related injuries and death, and that must change now.
Traffic safety is a major public health issue. In Philadelphia, traffic- and bike-related injuries and deaths have become all-too-common, occurring at three times the rate of New York City, with five children being struck by cars every week. At our pediatric hospital in Philadelphia, we see these children in our emergency departments, traumatized and injured, and think to ourselves — “this could’ve been much worse,” and “this should have never happened in the first place.”
Children under 17 years old account for 37% of all cyclists and have more than four times the rate of bicycle-related deaths as compared to adults. In fact, over 10 years, 2 million children nationwide were treated in emergency rooms for bike-related injuries.
Pediatricians play a critical role in preventing and treating bike- and traffic-related injuries. In our primary care offices, we counsel our patients on wearing helmets, using bike lanes, and riding with an adult. We treat acute injuries. We provide long-term medical care for children and families affected by devastating neurological outcomes and lifelong trauma.
We all deserve to survive our journeys home.
Yet, pediatricians can only do so much to prevent traffic-related injury and death without policies that safeguard and protect our children and families.
Our city government is failing to invest in safer streets. Despite Mayor Cherelle Parker’s executive order re-committing Philadelphia to Vision Zero — an evidence-based strategy to eliminate traffic fatalities — her proposed budget cut funding for the program by 40%. And in spite of overwhelming scientific and public support, the Washington Avenue Repaving & Improvement Project which would have improved safety was blocked by City Councilpersonman Kenyatta Johnson in 2022.
The safety of all Philadelphia’s cyclists, pedestrians, and motorists requires authentic investment in policies and infrastructure that protects them. Parker’s statement on July 18 lacked any substantive commitment to change. We call on her, at the bare minimum, to restore funding for Vision Zero to its prior budget level.
» READ MORE: I’m tired of feeling unsafe as a pedestrian, and waiting for the city to act | Opinion
We advocate for building “Complete Streets” in Philadelphia — streets designed with drivers, pedestrians, and cyclists in mind — which reduce fatal and severe injury traffic collisions by 34%. Moreover, lives can be saved by installing permanent concrete barriers to protect bike lanes, speed bumps, and by enforcing no-parking zones in bike lanes.
Our community is grieving and heartbroken over the loss of an extraordinary doctor who touched the lives of countless children and families. She was a beautiful soul who gave so much to so many. We call on the Mayor and City Council to honor her life, and the lives of our patients and families we tirelessly care for, by investing in safe streets for Philadelphians.
We all deserve to survive our journeys home.
Kelly McNult and Olivia Legan are Philadelphia-based pediatricians, colleagues, and co-residents of Barbara Friedes. They are daily bike and pedestrian commuters who enjoy recreational cycling and are passionate about advocating for the safety and well-being of children and families in Philadelphia and beyond.