Cyclists Made a Human Wall on the Bike Lane Where a Woman Was Killed
Roughly 100 people protected the Spruce Street bike lane with their own bodies on Tuesday morning.
Photo courtesy of Katie Dillon Low
On Wednesday morning, roughly 100 cyclists formed a human wall along the Spruce Street bike lane.
Their display comes exactly one day after a 24-year-old woman was struck and killed by a trash truck while using the bike lane near 11th Street. Police say the cyclist was traveling westbound when the truck attempted to turn right onto 11th from Spruce, and the duo collided.
The tragedy on Tuesday has prompted a renewed push for bike lanes along Spruce and Pine streets, the city’s two most-biked streets. The human bike lane on Wednesday was “a visual representation” of that effort, per Randy LoBasso, the communications manager for the Bicycle Coalition of Greater Philadelphia.
Cycling advocates stood outside the bike lane in a two-block stretch from 11th Street to 13th Street on Tuesday morning. LoBasso said he was “pleasantly surprised” by the amount of people who showed up, including bikers – like a local family who came out to support the cause – and those who formed the wall.
“The general feeling was one of super positivity,” LoBasso said. “There were people were ringing their bells, clapping and cheering for the cyclists going by, people came with signs and people promoting Vision Zero. It was really great to see.”
The coalition will also host a vigil at 5 p.m. on Wednesday night at 11th and Spruce. LoBasso said the organization expects at least four speakers at the event, including its executive director, Sarah Clarke Stuart.
“We want as many people as possible to come out [to the vigil], because as great as the positivity was this morning, a life was taken because of inaction on the part of the city,” LoBasso said. “It’s important that we all recognize that and make that extremely public for everyone to see.”
Dozens of cyclists create a human chain to protect the bike lane on Spruce St. between 11th and 12th. This is where a woman on her bike was killed after being hit by a trash truck yesterday morning. @KYWNewsradio pic.twitter.com/Dr0V9kgbBv
— Tim Jimenez (@TimJRadio) November 29, 2017
Take note: motorists still getting by, children riding stress free along human-protected bike lane. pic.twitter.com/Q5RpyQWrcz
— Randy LoBasso (@RandyLoBasso) November 29, 2017
Protesters form a human barrier along Spruce St bike lane @WHYYNews @PlanPhilly pic.twitter.com/dyZh43WjyP
— Emma Lee (@EmmaLeePhoto) November 29, 2017
https://twitter.com/RTRustBelt/status/935867639557128192
Human bike lane protesting city inaction on #VisionZeroPHL after a young woman died yesterday. Vigil tonight: https://t.co/ozwHNsPfXk pic.twitter.com/NOJovWAXg2
— 5th Square (@5thSq) November 29, 2017
