Comments
[deleted] t1_j6lpee8 wrote
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DeltaNerd t1_j6nxsf0 wrote
Flex on them!
FrankGrimesApartment t1_j6opjvc wrote
Those help shield parked cars from traffic. They are very handy!
MightyMudBone t1_j6lvam4 wrote
Looking on google maps, it seems like there is a bike lane. But at this intersection, a turning lane appears and the road briefly goes from "one lane with a bike lane" to "two lanes, no bike lane," and then back to one lane with a bike lane.
Infrastructure aside, what kind of garbage design is this? I live in West Philly, and when you come over the South Street bridge into Penn's campus, the bike lane gets crossed over by the turning lane. It's dicey every time. I hate it. They put a lot of paint on the road to try to make it obvious. But it is not safe.
MedicInDisquise t1_j6mclqn wrote
This is sadly the norm for bike lanes here. The bike lane on Oxford going up to Cottman is the same exact way; bike lane magically turns into a turning lane, and there is no bike lane across the intersection.
[deleted] t1_j6me3ky wrote
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TheNightmareOfHair t1_j6ne7z5 wrote
So much of this here. "It's a left-hand bike lane... now it's a right-hand bike lane... now it's just a regular lane for cars! Psych!" I was going south on 15th yesterday and when I hit Spring Garden I thought, "Oh cool! A bike lane!" (Left-hand side.) Crossed traffic to get over to the left only to find that it lasted for two blocks and then at Callowhill I had to not only cross back over to the right (for safety -- no bike lane), but I also had to avoid getting hit by the cars coming down the Vine St Expressway off-ramp. Total bait & switch.
DonQOnIce t1_j6nn81h wrote
Ah, I love the Spring Garden bridge from West to CC where your right hand bike lane suddenly becomes a left hand bike lane at the final light.
[deleted] t1_j6mt4f4 wrote
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hdhcnsnd OP t1_j6ktd0z wrote
This is completely unacceptable.
We talk plenty in this sub about traditional crime/violence (homicide, assault, robbery, etc), however, you are most likely (by far) to be killed or injured by a vehicle than anything else in this city. Chances are the driver will flee and face no charges to top it off.
Traffic cameras, traffic calming, elevated crosswalks, protected bike lanes, front license plates, the police actually pursuing moving violations at all. Bollards, bollards and more bollards. This is a problem that we know how to solve, City Hall, OTIS and the state at large just choose not to.
Glystopher t1_j6kv4ei wrote
Yep I was hit on the gd fucking sidewalk and broke both legs, and my parked ebike was destroyed. Fuck this noise, when I resume biking I’m wearing a GoPro which I will also mount on my van dash for when I encounter idiots there as well
a-german-muffin t1_j6kwdmj wrote
GoPro’s the way to go. I run one on my helmet and another to the rear (either on my seat post or trailer), and drivers behave much better when they know they’re on cam.
enn_sixty_four t1_j6l4e8g wrote
How convenient is all that? Do ya just grab two go pros every time you go to your bike and mount them each time? Is it being recorded on the device or cloud data or something? (Never used a GoPro I have no idea how any of that works)
Glystopher t1_j6l4u31 wrote
I’ll figure it out. Can’t leave the camera anywhere anyhow, it’s gotta come in or get stolen. I think they have onboard storage, and computer storage is cheap if I want to keep videos, or just erase them if nothing noteworthy happened
Laserdollarz t1_j6le9o5 wrote
You can get ebike "dashcams". You can run them off a 12v power supply, or you can hardwire them with a step-down voltage converter.
After that, I recommend a motion detecting alarm system. If I arm it and jiggle the bike, it gives a loud "I know you're there" beep. 5 seconds of jiggling and it lets loose 113db of "leave me alone" klaxon.
Then, insurance. You can insure your bike for whatever you value it at.
Now that you've got all that covered, all you need worry about is everyone operating a vehicle. Ugh.
Glystopher t1_j6nen9c wrote
Got details on your setup?
Laserdollarz t1_j6nfag5 wrote
I don't have cameras but I have a stepdown powering a motorcycle headlight.
This is my alarm: https://www.amazon.com/gp/aw/d/B094XPGJRC?psc=1&ref=ppx_pop_mob_b_asin_title
I have full coverage insurance for theft/damage/vandalism through Velosurance. They'll cover it if I have it on my bike rack and get rear ended, they'll cover it if I crash it off a cliff. They'll cover it if someone sneaks over and cuts all my wires. Peace of mind for a big purchase/beloved toy.
Glystopher t1_j6o5nm3 wrote
Yep I had an Ariel rider grizzly but didn’t want to pay velosurance, isn’t it expensive??? I have an injury lawyer working on my case and my renters might help
Laserdollarz t1_j6o6bdr wrote
I think I paid a little over $200 for a year of coverage for a $2000 bike, with added medical and property insurance. $400 deductible. Bike theft is really really bad in Denver and I'm kind of planning on it getting stolen eventually, unfortunately
[deleted] t1_j6me88q wrote
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a-german-muffin t1_j6mf2x9 wrote
It’s not bad, but yeah, takes maybe an extra 45 seconds to slap on the cameras (my rear one drops into a frame that’s already on the bike/trailer, other one slides into a helmet mount) — you can set them so they start shooting video just by hitting the shutter, no need to even power them on.
Mine just write to the onboard storage (microSDs), but I have the option of streaming live if I want (although my commute’s usually not that interesting). Battery life is good enough that I can do my full commute (about 20 minutes one way and 15-20 back) without needing to recharge at work.
cpndff93 t1_j6kwq28 wrote
Its worth reiterating - these are problems we know how to solve!!!
Friendly_Fire t1_j6kvg0l wrote
With the dramatic advancement of PEVs in the last 5-10 years, e-bikes and similar devices are viable car replacements for most people and could be a massive win for dense cities like Philly. We could several problems at once if the city seriously invested in bike infrastructure. Including significantly reducing traffic for car drivers!
meateatr t1_j6m1a94 wrote
I wish center city was PEVs and bikes only, no cars.
EnemyOfEloquence t1_j6nmf5l wrote
I'm looking at getting a nice ebike (another one) as my next big purchase. I just want safe places to park it, you know? I know I have to lock it good with a motorcycle lock but I want to be able to not worry about it constantly.
Glystopher t1_j6o5v9i wrote
Just take inside. Mine was 108lbs and I could get it up the stoop steps one step at a time.
EnemyOfEloquence t1_j6o70bm wrote
I meant for going out in the city. I live in Manayunk. I'd want to park it somewhere and hang out in center city
Glystopher t1_j6o85km wrote
Oh I just use a moped sized chain lock, 15 pounds altogether , heavy sucker. Helped put traction on the front motor because I would wrap it towards the front of the tube. Miss that bike Ariel rider grizzly . RIP along with my now titanium filled lower legs
EnemyOfEloquence t1_j6ofbjb wrote
Damn that's the exact bike I was looking at. What happened??
Glystopher t1_j6owxwj wrote
October 15th, 4pm. I pulled up outside the Wawa at 38th and spruce, locked the bike to the big upside down U (now completely gone except bent shards) on the spruce side of that corner wawa. Headed toward the door. All hell breaks loose, I hear a scream, screeching tires and commotion and I look and here is this car barreling diagonally through the intersection heading towards the corner. It knocked over a light pole as I watched (I thought it would stop it..) so then I panicked and ran back down the sidewalk past my bike and got tripped up by it and twisted and I felt my legs go like toothpicks. My bike was in pieces (according to my roommate who got there later after I went to the hospital) it had been knocked out of my view of where I was on the ground shouting “what the fuck” dazed as hell I had some head lacerations too but not knocked out. Couldn’t locate my phone either as it was knocked out of my hand. Someone walked off with it and I had to replace that too while in the hospital.
flamehead2k1 t1_j6l3df8 wrote
>We talk plenty in this sub about traditional crime/violence (homicide, assault, robbery, etc), however, you are most likely (by far) to be killed or injured by a vehicle than anything else in this city.
How did you calculate that?
I looked at 2021
Vehicular deaths are 121
https://www.axios.com/local/philadelphia/2022/10/07/philadelphia-traffic-deaths-2021
Homicide was 562
DonQOnIce t1_j6l7ehs wrote
They did say “killed or injured” though. What is the car injury rate for 2021?
flamehead2k1 t1_j6l889g wrote
Injury data is much less reliable than deaths due to a lack of reporting on injuries.
Deaths are a much more reliable statistic because reporting is much higher.
I'm willing to look at data on injuries if you have some but given Homicides are 4x traffic deaths, the injury stats would need to heavily lean to traffic injuries for OP's claim to hold water
soundcoffee t1_j6lf0g3 wrote
I worked for a while at a firm where I had access to PennDOT crash data. Though I don't remember specifics I can say with certainty that for every crash with a death, there are easily tens more with injuries and hundreds more with "suspected injuries" (ie. concussion, whiplash, stuff that an EMT would need to check out to be sure of rather than a bone sticking out). And surprisingly, car/bike and car/pedestrian crashes cause injury way more often than death.
[deleted] t1_j6l6x2q wrote
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flamehead2k1 t1_j6l8smx wrote
>For the record, I'm pissed about all those deaths.
Same. I was a bike commuter before the pandemic and have been threatened by drivers for taking up a full lane and have been "doored"
I'm very much for safer driving, riding, walking but the data I've seen doesn't support the OP'S assertion
PM_me_ab_ur_landlord t1_j6l7b8p wrote
I think one could say in the neighborhoods that most redditors live in (not far northwest, north, northeast, west, or southwest), more vehicular homicides occur than violent homicides
flamehead2k1 t1_j6l8biq wrote
I mean people can say whatever they want but that's not what OP Said
PM_me_ab_ur_landlord t1_j6l98em wrote
Okay yeah I can read too. Just saying this is a problem that’s likely more relevant to most people on this subreddit and that’s it’s still a very relevant statistic. I’m not the one who posted the incorrect comparison.
flamehead2k1 t1_j6l9fow wrote
But you're still saying something with absolutely no evidence to back it up.
Hence "people can say anything "
PM_me_ab_ur_landlord t1_j6latfa wrote
Okay look at page 6 in the vision Zero doc with the map of incidents. Admittedly, the fatalities are a bit randomly distributed throughout the city, but looking at serious injuries and fatalities combined, I’d posit that there are more traffic incidents resulting in fatalities or serious injuries than shootings in the whiter areas of Philly.
Source for traffic injuries/fatalities:
Source for shootings:
spurius_tadius t1_j6mgnwy wrote
Vehicle deaths are mostly innocent people going about their day as pedestrians, cyclists, or motorists.
Homicide victims are, mostly, people "in the game" doing stuff they should not be doing.
As long as you're not regularly getting into arguments at 2AM with impulsive armed 20 year olds on the street, you are far more likely to be killed by a negligent driver.
flamehead2k1 t1_j6mhnte wrote
Homicide in the city has recently pivoted to social media beefs vs the drug game
Edison_Ruggles t1_j6mptna wrote
...and, sorry to hijack the convo but FRONT FUCKING LICENSE PLATES! (may have had no bearing on this, but it does in the big picture).
Badkevin t1_j6llqoy wrote
Blood is on the city’s hand.
[deleted] t1_j6log3t wrote
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hwf0712 t1_j6ly6ss wrote
PLUS traffic violence is random, meanwhile the majority of violent crime in American cities happen in small areas between people who usually know each other.
Also, allowing for cities to become car free reduces crime because it reduces the amount of money you need to survive, expands the range of job getting for poor people, and reduces things like noise and pollution which negatively impact brain development and make children more irritable which leads to more school fights/suspensions (which are predictors of crime).
Also! Less chance of broken households, because less driving means lower chance of death, and less chance of divorce (see financial aspect), which both heighten the chance of an unstable single parent household. Plus less chance of injury means less people with chronic pain, which means less chance of drug addiction which both reduces demand from drug dealers, and means lower chance of parents becoming absent or otherwise emotionally unstable (meaning less chance of a kid getting fucked up)
napsdufroid t1_j6mp4wh wrote
We all know big cities will never be car free, so instead of imagining the impossible, we need to find realistic solutions
NoWarButMyWar t1_j6lg65a wrote
10th st south of Market tonight the entire bike lane was filled with cars all the way down to Chestnut. I was driving and had to let a cyclist who realized there was nowhere to go take the lane. Not a problem for me, but many Philadelphias think they own the fucking road once they’re in a car. All this could’ve been avoided if PPA actually ticketed parking the bike lanes and with bollards.
AbsentEmpire t1_j6n2gd4 wrote
The lack of bolards is on city council not the PPA, but otherwise agree parking in the bike lanes should result in an automatic tow.
banjoleletinman t1_j6kv0up wrote
Yes to all of this!
[deleted] t1_j6m7tk7 wrote
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Miamime t1_j6lcn01 wrote
Well it says the driver in the first accident has not been charged (yet). From the description, it could have been an accident; it sounds like the driver turned in advance of the biker and the biker t-boned the car.
With that being said, I can’t imagine hitting someone and fleeing the scene. So fucked up. I do ride the Indego bikes when the weather is nicer and this city really is scary to ride in. Thankfully I’m in a less trafficked area or I wouldn’t do it.
ConfiaEnElProceso t1_j6ledy9 wrote
Please explain to me how a car making a left with no turn arrow is not in the wrong when it collides with a vehicle/bike/pedestrian crossing the street in the other direction.
Where are you seeing any report that she t-boned the car??? Multiple articles mention the car hitting her https://www.inquirer.com/news/bicyclist-died-struck-car-south-philadelphia-20230114.html
Miamime t1_j6oj3sf wrote
>The female cyclist, identified by police as Taing Sophy, was riding west on Tasker Avenue near Columbus Boulevard when a car driver who was heading east on the street and turning left onto Columbus struck her, according to police.
ConfiaEnElProceso t1_j6okrsy wrote
"car driver... struck her "
Is this hard?
They were both on Tasker, crossing Columbus from opposite directions, when the car turned left onto Columbus and "struck her."
NoWarButMyWar t1_j6lgtwj wrote
Their not charged because the city and state don’t give a fuck when a car hits and kills a cyclist.
lordredsnake t1_j6mt5f8 wrote
What's your point? Crashes aren't called accidents anymore because they're largely avoidable. Accident implies inevitability. The infrastructure needs to be designed so that the conflict between different types of road users doesn't happen in the first place.
WhiskyIsMyYoga t1_j6kycf3 wrote
I’ve bike commuted in San Diego, San Francisco, Boston, Dresden, London, Cardiff, and Philadelphia.
Philly is hands down the most dangerous place I’ve ever ridden a bicycle. The infrastructure is appallingly bad, save for a select few locations which are islands of relative safety amongst the sea of negligently dangerous streets. It doesn’t have to be this bad.
LowPermission9 t1_j6kytno wrote
It’s not wonderful but at least there are bike lanes in many parts of Philly. The minute you cross city borders into the suburbs the bike lanes become nonexistent.
hdhcnsnd OP t1_j6l0ao6 wrote
The majority of bike lanes here are low quality (non-protected, usually in the door zone, occasionally inches from high speed traffic).
If you look at the 1/22 and 1/27 cyclist murders, both took place along streets with bike lanes. Without further details, I would presume both cyclists were riding in the bike lanes when they were killed.
This is the horrifying part. Our infrastructure is a painted line— maybe it makes you feel safe but there’s nothing stopping a car from crossing it. Bike lanes need to be protected or separated from cars or this will continue to happen.
This is pretty standard practice in NYC/SF/DC/Boston and miles ahead in Europe.
LowPermission9 t1_j6lhe9r wrote
You’re absolutely right.
mortgagepants t1_j6mwa5a wrote
harrisburg made a law that in all of pennsylvania, you can't have parking separating bike lines on any state roads. they have to make the lanes in the door zone. (spring garden, broad, etc.)
courageous_liquid t1_j6nrnul wrote
Spring garden is going to be parking protected.
It's also not that harrisburg made a law, it's just that the way our streets are codified requires cars to be parked next to the curb. Parking protected bike lanes are "pilots" that PennDOT grants because they realize it would require a pretty heavy political lift from our insane state legislature to change the code.
mortgagepants t1_j6nsluc wrote
"Parking-separated bike lanes have historically been barred on state-owned roadways because Pennsylvania law requires parked vehicles to be within 12 inches of the curb, or the edge of the pavement." Although this is(was) technically the law for all roads in PA.
not disagreeing with you, just adding some nuance in case anyone else is following along.
courageous_liquid t1_j6nys6u wrote
Correct, thank you. I figured that bill was going to either get killed or poison pilled but never followed up, appreciate the article.
Pennsyltucky never fails to amaze me with their absolute braindead politics.
Booplympics t1_j6lh4qr wrote
> If you look at the 1/22 and 1/27 cyclist murders
Murders?
Hmmm downvotes but nobody explaining how it’s murder. Interesting.
Norman_Door t1_j6lowjn wrote
This tragedy could probably be best classified as a homicide, not a murder.
My guess is that the people downvoting you because they are under the impression that you're trying to imply this is not a "murder" but an "accident."
Booplympics t1_j6lxix5 wrote
It is not murder. It is an accident. It’s also homicide. But homicide does not equal murder. These are indisputable facts.
Unless, of course, OP has proof that these were premeditated acts. In which case no amount of bike infrastructure would have stopped it and it would be weird to use such an unrelated act to push your agenda.
Norman_Door t1_j6mq39o wrote
I agree with you on the murder part. It's the wrong word to use. Too often, however, these deaths are referred to as "accidents" by the media, which downplays the culpability of the driver in the cyclist's death.
LookingForVheissu t1_j6mk354 wrote
Accidents can lead to murder…
ConfiaEnElProceso t1_j6l1o99 wrote
Yeah, the suburbs need better bike infrastructure as well.
But if you think Philly is safer, lanes or not, you are way off.
I live in the city and bike commute to the burbs every day. Yeah, i have to plan my way around crazy 4 lane roads with 35-45 mph speed limits, but the side streets are way, way, way safer than any side street in philly.
LowPermission9 t1_j6lh8bg wrote
This is true about the side streets. Still, the main roads are rough. I live right on Montgomery Ave in a 25mph zone where the minimum most people drive is 35-40. Also it’s 2 lanes each way with no shoulder. Same for Lancaster Ave. tbh, I’d rather bike on Columbus or Washington than here.
the_sun_and_the_moon t1_j6lrg06 wrote
Lancaster should be a single lane in both directions. It’s crazy to even walk those sidewalks in Ardmore with cars buzzing you.
LowPermission9 t1_j6mfg31 wrote
Yes!
ConfiaEnElProceso t1_j6mgrke wrote
That's pretty much where i work. yeah. I avoid them like the plague.
AbsentEmpire t1_j6n40ej wrote
Most of the bike lanes in this city are so bad they might as well not exist in practice.
I find biking in the suburbs to actually be safer most of the time because the streets are so wide cars pass you with enough space.
Drivers are also held to a higher degree of accountability in burbs since the cops there actually enforce traffic laws.
Worst case you can bike on the sidewalks and use them as a properly designed separated bike lane, because no fat ass in the suburbs walks, so they're always empty.
LowPermission9 t1_j6no5j9 wrote
I was about to admonish you for riding on the sidewalk until I got to your rationalization, and then I just laughed.
AbsentEmpire t1_j6noeh9 wrote
Ya, I don't bike on sidewalks in the city, people are actually walking on them.
I actually just don't bike all that much at all anymore, since the lock downs the drivers have gotten even worse and I just don't feel safe biking in the city anymore.
mortgagepants t1_j6mw3ii wrote
that's literally by design. the whole point of the suburbs is they don't want city people coming to them.
LowPermission9 t1_j6nofg3 wrote
Yup! There’s a new mixed use and dense development happening in Newtown Square designed for walkability. You should see the comments of shock and disgust on Nextdoor.
ConfiaEnElProceso t1_j6ldcfu wrote
It's bad. I bike commuted in Brooklyn before NYC started putting in bike lanes and it was still much safer than philly. Charlotte is a horrific suburban hellscape and there are roads you have to avoid, but it was safer overall. I think Medellin, Colombia might be worse. More protected bike paths but the roads and drivers and mopeds are probably worse
Least_Way t1_j6mw12l wrote
Atlanta is so much worse than Philly, worse traffic, worse drivers, somehow even less police enforcement, and way fewer bike lanes.
ten-million t1_j6l616x wrote
If I make it to work on my bike I’ll say, I didn’t die today. Because most days it seems pretty easy to die on Philly streets.
SpecialistSoup198 t1_j6l4xja wrote
Philly is pretty bad but worse I've seen is surprisingly Honolulu. but yea I basically only bike the trails in Philly cause I've seen and heard of too many cyclists getting hit, even when they're in the bike lanes. worst part about Philly is a lot of the drivers who would hit a cyclist would probably drive away
ToughLittleTomato t1_j6l72ca wrote
I have bike commuted in Honolulu, too. It wasn't great.... Philly is certainly up there as one of the worst places to bike. Based on my personal experience, Jersey City and NYC are worse. Jersey City has few bike lanes, the roads are shit, and drivers frequently blow through stops.
America was designed for cars, unfortunately.
DixonWasAliveAgain t1_j6liicc wrote
Philadelphia wasn’t designed for cars - and neither were Jersey City or NYC for that matter. They’ve been badly retrofitted for cars, and it shows. These are all cities built for walking within neighborhoods and public transportation between neighborhoods. Philadelphia’s over-reliance on cars despite the way its actually built is a policy choice that costs us in time, money, and safety every day.
throwawaitnine t1_j6kzwrz wrote
If you ask me, SF is way way worse than Philly, like 100x worse imo. But also that was like 15 years ago, and things have got pretty bad here in Philly.
Laserdollarz t1_j6ldiwh wrote
Here in Denver, the ghost bike memorials for fatal bicycle incidents get hit by cars. Nobody even stops. Shit is scary.
WhiskyIsMyYoga t1_j6mnrr0 wrote
It’s also dependent where in the city you are. I was going back and forth between Burlingame, so the routes were pretty easy and protected.
[deleted] t1_j6ldvv2 wrote
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iProduceCode t1_j6l2frw wrote
I've almost been hit by cars plenty of times in Philly. Even when crossing at a cross walk with the light. People do not understand or care how to drive here, nothing will protect bikers and PEV riders from the morons with (or without) licenses driving in Philly, besides a cement wall. I watched someone drag the stantion from a protected bike lane down the road after driving through the last one to make a left at an already red light.
tyleritis t1_j6nhxh4 wrote
My buddy got knocked down when a garbage truck swung their door open without looking. They came out like they were gonna jump him next if he didn’t just fuck off. His shoulder hasn’t been the same
iProduceCode t1_j6nibxp wrote
Yup. Garbage trucks are scary too.. Either they block the road and cars use the bike lane to go around, or they block the bikelane and cars don't let bikes pass the garbage truck.. There's been plenty of times I've had to stare down a car driving straight towards me in the bike lane, because they couldn't wait 5 seconds before trying to pass a truck blocking the road.
Just about every day in Philly I'm saying to myself "Yep. I'm gonna die here."
Darius_Banner t1_j6nw1il wrote
Should have called 911 and made them wait. The attitude of some of the garbage guys is appalling
ukjclothing t1_j6oot27 wrote
“And made them wait” lol you must not be from here
TechSquidTV t1_j6nqehv wrote
People have no fear of repercussions or law. Is a stop sign really a stop sign if no one is going to give you a ticket?
[deleted] t1_j6ms9zo wrote
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sigma6d t1_j6kua07 wrote
Current Affairs Podcast: Why Are So Many Pedestrians Getting Killed in America? >Angie Schmitt is a transportation writer and planner whose book Right of Way: Race, Class, and the Silent Epidemic of Pedestrian Deaths in America examines the shocking and disturbing growth in pedestrian deaths on the streets of the United States. After declining for 20 years, pedestrian deaths began climbing drastically again around 2010.
>These gruesome tragedies are preventable—in Europe, deaths are declining rather than increasing—and in Angie's book, she discusses all of the factors contributing to the problem. These include:
>The proliferation of big trucks and SUVs with huge blind spots and killer front ends
>Gentrification pushing poor people into the suburbs, where not having a car means having to walk to work across busy six-lane roads and take your life in your hands
>The lack of any serious US national investment in making our roads safe and laws written by the oil industry (for instance, many state constitutions prohibit using gas tax money to build sidewalks)
>A lack of good public transit
>A culture of "blaming the pedestrian" that sees accidents as a result of walkers' foolishness rather than bad planning
>The fact that the victims of these accidents tend to be poor people, old people, and people of color, whose lives are less valued and who navigate worse infrastructure
>Angie's book is filled with important information about an overlooked crisis. It's a serious issue of racial justice and shows the American class divide at its ugliest: rich people in giant trucks mow down poor people of color who have no choice but to dodge traffic. It's a dystopian tragedy, made all the worst by how avoidable it is. Instead of ensuring that everyone could navigate the built environment safely, America has shifted blame onto victims (as we can see in the concept of "jaywalking," which punishes pedestrians for crossing streets even when there are no crosswalks nearby). Angie lays out why we need to care more about this injustice and how we can address it at relatively little expense.
The Silent Epidemic of Pedestrian Deaths in America
Right of Way: Race, Class, and the Silent Epidemic of Pedestrian Deaths in America
Crash Not Accident >Before the labor movement, factory owners would say "it was an accident" when American workers were injured in unsafe conditions.
>Before the movement to combat drunk driving, intoxicated drivers would say "it was an accident" when they crashed their cars.
>Planes don’t have accidents. They crash. Cranes don’t have accidents. They collapse. And as a society, we expect answers and solutions.
>Traffic crashes are fixable problems, caused by dangerous streets and unsafe drivers. They are not accidents. Let’s stop using the word "accident" today.
Biden’s Infrastructure Bill Nixes The Auto Industry Propaganda Term “Car Accident”
sureskinsoldier t1_j6l4xc6 wrote
this is about a ped getting killed NOT a cyclist ! wth
Glystopher t1_j6l5i1d wrote
When you park your bike to walk in somewhere, guess what you are then? Was exactly my sidewalk situation , car destroyed my bike and my legs in one shot, while I was trying to enter a Wawa
[deleted] t1_j6l9fbl wrote
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ladysatirica t1_j6mxjbs wrote
I was hit by a car while biking several years ago. Miraculously I didn’t break anything or die, but had some pretty severe abrasions. Broke some teeth. I was unconscious for 15 minutes on Walnut. Some good people called an ambulance for me. My computer, backpack, helmet, and a bunch of papers I was grading saved my life. I woke up on my back, like an upside down turtle, my helmet broke in half and my earring holes were bleeding because the helmet got ripped off my ears. I was on the ground and someone tried to steal my bike while I was laying there. The police didn’t file the accident report correctly , so I was stuck with a massive medical bill. They refused to give me the police report when I called. When I eventually got it, they said I was a Jane Doe. I couldn’t remember my name at the accident scene - so there’s that, but I could remember my SSN. The ambulance could figure out who I was but not the police. Luckily the person who hit me reached out to their insurance and got it figured out. Anyways…I don’t bike in Philly anymore. I’m terrified by it. I was hit in a turning lane. I had the right of way on a green light and the person who was driving turned into me.
ConfiaEnElProceso t1_j6netkn wrote
I'm sorry. The accident itself is horrible but then the b.s. they put you through is another layer of trauma.
[deleted] t1_j6parf9 wrote
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throwawaitnine t1_j6kp1cz wrote
>All three were hit by drivers who fled the scene, one of whom turned themselves in later that day.
>1/13/23 Taing Sophy, age 66, Tasker & Columbus (active investigation, driver remained at scene) 6ABC
proximity_account t1_j6mrnk3 wrote
I also noticed this. This article is poorly written.
beachape t1_j6kqshs wrote
SEPTA sucks and riding a bicycle is a deathwish. What a shame
nowtayneicangetinto t1_j6l4xt6 wrote
It's why I don't believe this city will become the bike haven we all wished it was. I biked in the city for many years, I stopped once I got hit by a car. I stopped biking about 10 years ago, and I say weekly "I couldn't imagine biking here now".
Our city's driving culture has changed and it's fucking horrid. I've never seen so many crazy ass drivers before, and now there is this openly shared lack of consequence that emboldens people to do crazy driving maneuvers . It's like every week I say "this city's drivers couldn't get any worse" and I'm corrected the following week. It's like a race to the bottom anymore.
kilometr t1_j6l8ie2 wrote
They wouldn’t have to crackdown much. Honestly multiple serious driving infractions should result in impounded vehicles. I don’t think they would have to impound many to get everyone else scared straight.
Glystopher t1_j6l5wua wrote
I’m gonna bike again anyhow because I’m not driving my e150 van around - it’s too big for in city driving. Moving house and camping only.
Glystopher t1_j6l9djh wrote
Also , somewhat unrelated but my van that sits most of the time? Some dh decided to bust out my drivers side window. 7 years I’ve gone without “bad things “ happening to me walking biking and otherwise in philly- is my luck and karma gone now? It feels suspiciously targeted, but that’s unprovable and paranoid…
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Thot_P0cket t1_j6kp5hd wrote
Meanwhile I just watched another group of those dirt bike/ATV assholes go flying down S Broad again.
Reached out to my councilperson last spring to ask what the city was going to do about this problem, and back in May I was told the police had put together a special taskforce to deal with the problem, and that Squilla was pushing for sound-sensors to be installed at intersections (I guess so the city could waste some taxpayer money on something that won't make any difference to anyone.)
Why are the city council, mayor's office, DA, and police department all such an unmitigated clusterfuck in this city?
RJ5R t1_j6l1guc wrote
ATVs almost ran my Dad and I over outside of UPenn hospital while I was escorting him out after undergoing critical colon surgery. These assholes care about no one except themselves. I remember when I said I wouldn't shed a tear if they all got mad maxed, and then got a warning from the mods for inciting violence ....the irony
Glystopher t1_j6l20kp wrote
Hehe, a favorite pastime of mine is downvoting mod posts… not just here, but in every sub.
RJ5R t1_j6l2cci wrote
I was like how the fuck are you gonna give me a warning for inciting violence after these assholes almost murdered 2 generations of a family.
nowtayneicangetinto t1_j6l4dan wrote
Wow that is insane, sorry to hear that
Badkevin t1_j6lm7oy wrote
I heard some bullshit podcast and WHYY that said the ATVs are part of Philly culture and if that black people don’t have ATVs to drive then they will do crime. Absolutely Pathetic. As a minority myself being reduced to “ keep me busy or I’ll do crime” Is humiliating.
CT_Real t1_j6lnil1 wrote
I mean as much as it sucks I think there is some merit in the idea that ATV culture occupies the time of a lot of wayward young men and if you took that away they would probably get into gang banging.
That doesn't make the ATV problem less of one, but is probably true.
Badkevin t1_j6lo3sh wrote
That could be literally anything, sports, running, sewing! Something that doesn’t have to inconvenient absolutely everyone around them.
LordcaptainVictarion t1_j6nhp4p wrote
What was the podcast if you don't mind me asking
AbsentEmpire t1_j6n5lcx wrote
These deaths fall entirely on negligence of City Council members actively blocking OTIS from redesigning the streets because God forbid a driver be inconvenced for even a second. Along with our drunk oaf of a mayor and incompetent and lazy police department who are never held to account for not doing thier jobs.
ConfiaEnElProceso t1_j6nekc2 wrote
Yeah, sorry but i can't let OTIS off the hook that easy. Don't you fucking dare break out the "V#_#&N Z$#&O" banner when putting out this b.s. People have died and will continue to die here. Blood is on their hands.
I get the political aspect and trust me I can't stand the asshats in the cesspool that is city council either. Especially the "progressive" ones who hide behind councilmanic prerogative as if it were a real thing. F#$k them all.
AbsentEmpire t1_j6nifup wrote
OTIS can literally do nothing without district councilman explicitly approving the street design.
Which in practice makes them a total waste of time and tax payer money because of council interference in street engineering designs.
Same goes for multiple city departments, which might as well be scraped because council members block any changes or improvements from happening so as to hold the city back and protect thier elected positions.
ConfiaEnElProceso t1_j6njj84 wrote
I'm not arguing the politics of it.
But OTIS literally allows the city and these politicians to fly the safety flag when, in fact, they are not providing safety. disband them and spend the money on sanitation or speed cameras,
But screw these turds who come out with fanfare promoting a new million dollar safety plan that doesn't make us safe. No, i won't eat your platter of shit, nor will I excuse you for trying to serve it to me.
AbsentEmpire t1_j6nnzea wrote
I understand where you're coming from now, and I agree, we'd be better off without the window dressing of OTIS. All they do currently is give cover for our shitty elected officials to continue doing the same bullshit they've always done with our dangerous street design.
sweaty_penguin_balls t1_j6kz1vf wrote
Got hit by a Tesla while I was in the bike lane not two weeks ago!
nowtayneicangetinto t1_j6l49re wrote
I hope you're okay, that really sucks!
sweaty_penguin_balls t1_j6ncs9a wrote
Thank you! I'm fine, the car did not plow through me so I was able to somewhat bounce off and onto the sidewalk
CT_Real t1_j6lnmtq wrote
Don't post about it on Twitter or you will get spammed by Tesla simps
--jawnday-- t1_j6l45rf wrote
I am saddened but so not surprised.
Drivers in the city are terrible and as someone who would bike in the city, you always had to be defensive because no one really gave a shit about you as a cyclist.
Philly can and should, do better.
Lazerpop t1_j6lb7u5 wrote
Durr hurr hurr why are you riding on the sidewalk
Glystopher t1_j6n2c09 wrote
Exactly! And the damn cars can still get you on the sidewalk!
Badkevin t1_j6lnyl0 wrote
This breaks my heart. Car culture is literally killing our people, in more ways than one.
The amount of idiots I see behind the wheel and on their phone is terrifying.
Cars here park wherever the heck they want. In front of zebra crossings, bike lanes, and freaking sidewalks!?
Geo_Music t1_j6l9rd4 wrote
#zerovision
sneeze-slayer t1_j6nrf24 wrote
Every crosswalk at should be raised. It helps with accessibility issues and slows down speeding drivers. They are repaving many streets, it would be pretty easy to simple raise the crosswalks while they do it.
If the crosswalk isn't at a light or stop sign, they should narrow the lanes and have an "island" in the middle to slow cars and protect pedestrians. example of crossing island as well as site with many pictures
malcolmfairmount t1_j6oj1s9 wrote
Also - once at a stop light in CC a taxi INTENTIONALLY bumped my back bike wheel with his front bumper in an attempt to... get me to move up? But my wheel got stuck under his bumper. Only until I got off my bike and threw my fist down on his hood did he put it into reverse.
I could tell from his reaction he felt this was totally normal/justified - that he could use his 2-ton human-crushing vehicle to brush me aside.
JPPT1974 t1_j6lxv9e wrote
Yeah as really so tragic and sad. Need to fix those bike lanes and make them safe. Prayer and thoughts with the person's family.
malcolmfairmount t1_j6oims0 wrote
I was hit by a car while biking in North Philly years ago. Driver slowed to a stop until (presumably) I started to get up, then sped off.
I continued to my ride to work - where I delivered sandwiches at Jimmy Johns all day and night on that same bike.
P_Duggan_Creative t1_j6nhirs wrote
"Byron Itzep, 42...has been charged with involuntary manslaughter, driving without a license, causing an accident involving death, and causing a fatal accident while having no drivers license."
AnotherChrisHall t1_j6paz2f wrote
No traffic law enforcement = more death. It’s not a complicated discussion.
Since laws aren’t enforced I feel like cyclists should just install barriers without permission.
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Flyersdude17 t1_j6pcto2 wrote
I see cyclists going through red lights and stops signs all the time. They have to abide by all the traffic laws motor vehicles do.
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AbsentEmpire t1_j6n53cl wrote
I see more cars blowing stop signs and red lights than bikes literally everyday.
cashonlyplz t1_j6n5zrq wrote
I ride my $3K e-bike to work everyday, pre-dawn, through a notso nice neighborhood. I'm not waiting for a red light when the roads are completely empty just because cars have to. Rush hour is another thing entirely, but every rule for cars should not apply equally to bicycles. That makes no sense. We don't have an engine block taking away 3 feet of (all-too-often obstructed) vision from intersections.
They are not the same thing, at all. Idaho stops make sense as law, here.
napsdufroid t1_j6nivct wrote
From the Bicycle Coalition of Philadelphia's web site:
Is it OK to ride against traffic?
No, with two exceptions. Bicycles are legal vehicles and, therefore, are required to ride in the same direction as motor vehicles in traffic. Riding against traffic—“contraflow riding,” as it’s called—is only allowed on streets where there is a specific contraflow bike lane, or a two-way bike lane.
Are bicyclists allowed to roll through Stop Signs?
No. All vehicles are required to stop at stop signs. Failure to yield at Stop Signs is potentially dangerous for pedestrians looking to cross the street. So, please stop at Stop signs—and follow all other street signs and markings—including traffic lights, yield signs, and crosswalks.
Can I ride my bike on the sidewalk?
Are you 13 years of age or younger? Then sure, go ahead. Otherwise, you should ride on the street. Riding on the sidewalk is dangerous for pedestrians and drivers won’t expect you in the crosswalk when entering intersections.
Glystopher t1_j6o6ilw wrote
I don’t mind stopping completely on an ebike, looks like I’ll have to get one again… stopping at every stop with no motor? Eh…
napsdufroid t1_j6o81we wrote
So if you blow a light/sign and,God forbid, get hit, you know to blame it on yourself.
cashonlyplz t1_j6ojnwn wrote
Yeah, good thing most people, especially cyclists, look both ways, first.
napsdufroid t1_j6okngd wrote
Yeah, OK
cashonlyplz t1_j6okbpo wrote
- I never rode* against traffic. Never. And I glare at cyclists that do.
- Yeah I know I'm not waiting at a red light at 5:00 a.m. to cross Girard when there is nary a vehicle on the road. It's not going to happen. You better believe I wait at that red light on the way back, when the road is FULL of traffic. I know what the law is. I know we are treated as vehicles. Do (most) automobile drivers know that? Hell no. I'm getting home safely at the end of the day.
Jlaybythebay t1_j6kua9l wrote
How many had a helmet on?
a-german-muffin t1_j6kwjrd wrote
Helmets are designed to protect you falling off your bike (a 2-meter drop at about 15 mph), which is immaterial when you get plastered by an F-150.
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Er3bus13 t1_j6kurgo wrote
While they do help a bicyclist still has a 50% turn to meat paste ratio. Also, your not walking away unscathed like at all. stats
Jlaybythebay t1_j6kxajh wrote
I’m not saying you are walking away, but a helmet can mean the difference between life and death
Er3bus13 t1_j6kydss wrote
You were blaming the victim. It happens on reddit all the time.
Jlaybythebay t1_j6kzfj6 wrote
Not blaming the victim, just trying to educate others that you can protect yourself by wearing a helmet and having a light on your bike.
Er3bus13 t1_j6kzti2 wrote
All good man. Hope your wheels are always on the right side of road. Stay safe.
Sent_From_time t1_j6l36gs wrote
That is a good question. It may seem like they are being cold however, that is how research is done to see every aspect of this sad reality. How many were following traffic laws. I see a lot of bikes roll through red lights and stop signs. I rarely see any signaling. I understand it is a bike and it is not a motor vehicle. However, I’ve witnessed cars having to avoid cyclists not following basic traffic laws. And some with children on the bike. I never want to see anyone get hurt and we can all be better.
Prestigious-Owl-6397 t1_j6lfmnx wrote
This isn't a question that's easily answered. Most intersections and traffic laws were not made with cyclists' safety in mind, nor were they made with any recognition of how bicycles operate. Sometimes these situations lead cyclists to cautiously break the law, and sometimes the law is simply ridiculous. For example, if there's debris in the bike lane and you exit the bike lane to avoid running over debris that can puncture your tires, any drivers behind you who hit you because they weren't paying attention to the bike lane or were speeding won't be held responsible. This sometimes leads cyclists to completely avoid bike lanes known to be full of trash.
That being said, most minorities are judged by the few, and cyclists are no exception. A group of engineers in Denmark studied traffic cameras in multiple cities around the world. They observed 106,000 cyclists, and only 5% broke the law. They actually found a higher percentage of drivers who broke the law. Of that 5%, only 1% recklessly broke the law. The other 4% were incidents like I described above. https://youtu.be/USAeytatNe4
Sent_From_time t1_j6lh6ly wrote
Wait, did you just compare cyclists to minorities that have been oppressed for centuries in this country?
Prestigious-Owl-6397 t1_j6lix7w wrote
Minorities refers to anyone in the minority in this instance. Most people in the US drive cars. Therefore, motorists are the majority. Only about 1% of Americans commute by bike. Therefore, bicyclists are the minority. Anytime you have a clear minority, it's easier for people in the majority category to judge the minority category by a few people. I'm not saying this is right. Of course ethnic minorities faced atrocities that a white cyclist never had to face. They're not comparable, and I wasn't comparing them. I was using minority in the strict sense of the word.
Sent_From_time t1_j6lm74v wrote
Yeah, thats a lot of words that simmer down to “my foot is now officially in my mouth.”
DavidLieberMintz t1_j6lnhnw wrote
The word minority is not synonymous with people of color. It literally means not the majority. Most Americans do not ride bikes, so cyclists are the minority.
Prestigious-Owl-6397 t1_j6mhxc3 wrote
If you insist on being obtuse, this conversation is done.
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napsdufroid t1_j6mqmg2 wrote
> I see a lot of bikes roll through red lights and stop signs. I rarely see any signaling.
Sad how you're getting downvoted for an absolute fact
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Badkevin t1_j6lmgy2 wrote
That’s not really true. That’s driver car brand marketing right there. A driver kills the cyclists and the first question is if the cyclist had a helmet. A driver kills a pedestrian and the first question is what is the pedestrian jaywalking. These kind of questions only makes sense in America. Broaden your horizons bike in different countries and just see how far behind we are
Jlaybythebay t1_j6mn0xo wrote
Let’s look at china. They have made helmets mandatory for e-bikes. Are they also blaming the victims or do they see a problem and are trying to fix it?
https://www.who.int/china/activities/protecting-chinese-e-bike-users-from-road-injuries-and-deaths
Badkevin t1_j6n5ji8 wrote
Helmets are a good idea I’m not disagreeing. But the idea that a helmet, a piece of foam and plastic will somehow protect you for a 1,000 LB metal cage going over 5MPH is insane. The helmets are for short falls only.
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AbsentEmpire t1_j6n3h2k wrote
A helmet isn't going to help you when a speeding 5ton SUV slams into you.
piddling_around t1_j6le6xm wrote
As a bicyclist who consistently wears a helmet, unfortunately the statistics suggest wearing a helmet isn't always helpful. Observational and experimental studies show drivers pass cyclists wearing a helmet closer than they do bicyclists without a helmet. Even worse, drivers are more likely to hit cyclists wearing a helmet. Bicycle helmets are designed to protect against head injury in low-speed crashes. They don't protect against massive bodily trauma or prevent higher force head injuries. So while helmets can reduce head injuries if a fall happens, cyclists are not inherently safer overall just because they chose to wear a helmet. I choose to wear one, but the evidence suggests my helmet may only be altering the nature of the danger of biking instead of reducing it.
Wu-Tang_Killa_Bees t1_j6ods9v wrote
Damn, never heard of this. I'm gonna have to look it up
cashonlyplz t1_j6n6aty wrote
My injuries were to my ribcage. I was wearing a helmet. My head was fine. I still have PT to do to get my balance back to 100%, years later
ConfiaEnElProceso t1_j6l1yfz wrote
This is appalling.
It sure looks like the street he was killed on had an unprotected, painted bike lane. Once again, for those in the back: PAINT IS NOT INFRASTRUCTURE!