Philly News: Bicycle Safety at the Forefront After Young Biker Fatally Struck by Driver

Just weeks ago, a 30-year-old bicyclist was fatally struck by an intoxicated driver near Center City. Despite observing traffic laws, like staying in the bike lane and wearing a helmet, the victim sustained deadly injuries in the collision. Only one cyclist has been killed by a motorist this year, but there have been 16 other traffic-related deaths and hundreds of preventable injuries on Philadelphia’s streets, making safety a significant issue.

Philadelphia first signed Vision Zero, an executive order with the primary goal of eliminating traffic fatalities by 2030, into effect in 2016. Though recommitting the city to Vision Zero, Mayor Parker has moved the goal to 2050. In the meantime, the city has pledged to install traffic safety improvements on every mile of the High Injury Network in the years between now and 2030. The High Injury Network comprises 12% of the city’s streets that account for 80% of all serious and deadly crashes.

Philadelphia’s Traffic Victims: Statistics

The Bicycle Coalition of Greater Philadelphia (BCGP) is a local non-profit that aims to empower youths and adults by working to ensure that every bicycle ride is safe through various outreach, advocacy, and education programs. The coalition compiled last year’s data on traffic deaths and found:

• 126 total traffic-related fatalities
• 57 pedestrians were killed in traffic incidents
• 10 bicyclists lost their lives
• There were 43 hit-and-runs

According to the BCGP, there were 16 traffic fatalities in the first quarter of 2024. The 30-year-old cyclist marks one more. In the first quarter there were also 10 pedestrian death and 7 hit-and-runs. While this is the lowest recorded number of traffic fatalities in the first quarter of the year since 2019, every single one of these tragedies never should have occurred. As the coalition notes, vulnerable road users like cyclists and pedestrians face disproportionately high risks of being involved in deadly crashes on the city’s streets.

Safety Tips for All Road Users

The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) has several useful safety tips for cyclists and drivers alike. Several of the recommendations are applicable to pedestrians, as well. Refer to the administration’s tips below:

• Cyclists should wear a helmet for every bike ride – and ensure that it is the proper fit. Replace helmets every 3 to 5 years, after being involved in a crash, or if the helmet is damaged
• Make sure that you are riding an appropriately sized bike that is in good working condition (brakes, gears, seat, etc.)
• Wear protective gear like a helmet, bright clothing (during the day) and reflective clothing, a white front light, red rear light and reflectors on your bike at night or during periods of diminished visibility
• Plan your route beforehand. Map a route with less traffic and lower speeds whenever possible
• Roadway users should always avoid distractions, like texting or talking on the phone, listening to music, or anything else that takes your eyes away from the road
• Cyclists and drivers should practice defensive driving, obey street signs, signals, and road markings, and keep a watchful eye out for hazards that may be ahead like potholes, grates, and train tracks
• Drive vehicles and maneuver bicycles predictably, making it easier for other roadway users to anticipate what will occur and better avoid a crash
• Drivers should yield to cyclists in the same manner as you do other motorists. If you are turning right on red, you should look to your right to avoid colliding with a bicycle approaching from the right rear. Come to a full stop and look left-right-left and behind before making your turn
• Give cyclists sufficient room and do not pass them too closely

To check out more of the NHTSA’s tips, visit: https://www.nhtsa.gov/road-safety/bicycle-safety.

Were You Injured Bike Riding?

Last month’s tragedy serves as a sobering reminder of how life can change in the blink of an eye. Even minor accidents between cyclists and cars can result in serious physical harm to riders, including:

• Traumatic brain injuries, or TBIs
• Head and skull injuries, including broken bones in the face and jaw, concussions, contusions, and facial disfigurement
• Broken bones in other parts of the body
• Internal injuries such as internal bleeding, hernia, pancreatic trauma, ruptured spleen, and more
• Soft tissue injuries to the muscles, tendons, nerves, and other soft tissues
• Road rash
• Bruises and lacerations

At Galfand Berger, our attorneys have decades of experience representing victims of roadway accidents, like bicyclists. If you or a loved one sustained injury and you have questions about filing a claim, we can help. To learn more, contact a representative online now.

Philadelphia Personal Injury Lawyers at Galfand Berger, LLP, Representing Injured Victims Since 1947

If you have questions about filing a claim for injuries you sustained, contact the Philadelphia personal injury attorneys at Galfand Berger LLP today. Call us at 800-222-USWA (8792) or fill out our online form for a free consultation. Located in Philadelphia, Bethlehem, Lancaster, and Reading, we serve clients throughout New Jersey and Pennsylvania, including Allentown and Harrisburg.