Legislation Needed Now to Save Lives of Pedestrians and Bicyclists!

2023 is a terrible year to be a bicyclist in Philadelphia. So far, 10 persons have been killed while riding their bicycle on city streets, the greatest number ever recorded.  The latest is Kevin Saint Clair who was killed while turning from Wise Mill Road onto Henry Avenue.  Henry Avenue is one of Philadelphia’s dangerous roads that is among 12% of the City’s streets where 80% of persons killed in traffic crashes occur.

Ten people died on Henry Avenue between 2015 and 2020.  It should have fewer lanes to reduce speeding and allow more room for parking protected bike lanes.   But even if PennDOT reduced travel lanes on Henry Avenue , it couldn’t add parking protected bike lanes because state law prohibits them on State Roads.  The Bicycle Coalition asked for protected bike lanes on Henry Avenue in 2020, but PennDOT refused.

Henry Avenue should have automated speed enforcement because of frequent speeding on this 4 lane arterial roadway.  But, the City and PennDOT can't put automated enforcement on that road because it is prohibited by State law.

There are two pieces of legislation in Harrisburg that would allow automated speed enforcement and parking protected bike lanes.  Please send a message to your state senator to ask that they prioritize passing two bills in 2023 to protect the lives of vulnerable road users like Kevin Saint Clair.