On Sunday, a group of cyclists rode through Philadelphia to raise awareness about bike safety and honor the memory of those who have been killed in car crashes. More than 100 bicyclists took part in the commemorative ride, including Sidney Ozer, who lost his 17-year-old son, Samuel, in a traffic accident on Father’s Day last year.
According to the city’s Office of Complete Streets, more than 110 people have been killed in traffic fatalities this year, including 10 cyclists. This is despite Philadelphia’s status as a Vision Zero city, which aims to eliminate all traffic deaths.
Laura Fredricks, co-founder of Families for Safe Streets of Greater Philadelphia and an organizer of the ride, said that advocates are calling for more bike lanes on city streets where there is a row of parked cars separating bicyclists from moving traffic. However, these types of bike lanes are not legal on state-owned roads.
The group also wants to see the Speed Camera Pilot Program on Roosevelt Boulevard extended because it is set to expire next month. With Thanksgiving coming up and an empty seat at the dinner table where Samuel would have sat, Ozer is vowing to continue fighting for safer streets in his son’s honor.