Candy Cranks

Unfortunately the news from philly is less than positive. Here’s a brief update on the last couple of months of laws, events, etc (via Metro):

June: Mayor Nutter signed an executive order giving equal treatment to bikes on the road.

September: One of two traffic lanes on Spruce and Pine streets in Center City were designated for bicyclists.

October: Two Philadelphia residents died after cyclists hit them: 78-year-old Tom Archie in South Philadelphia and 40-year-old Andre Steed.

Nov. 19: Councilmen Frank DiCicco and Jim Kenney introduced legislation that would increase penalties for sidewalk riding, riding with headphones, riding bikes without a brake, and would mandate registration and bicycle license plates.

Nov. 21: Philadelphia Police announced a bicycle enforcement campaign focused on ticketing cyclists who break existing code, including running stop signs and red lights.

As of two weeks ago a mutual friend had already been ticketed $150 and given points on his license for riding through a red light.

Then the worst thing possible happened. A prominent bike messenger in the community suffered a horrendous hit-and-run. Her name is Rachel Fletcher and she is currently recovering from facial fractures, and a broken jaw.

Rachel Fletcher, a 30-year-old experienced and well-known Center City courier, was struck at 23rd and Locusts Streets early Thanksgiving morning and remained at Hahnemann Hospital until Saturday after surgery to repair her face and jaw.

Despite the severity of the crash, police did not take a report until 12 hours later Thursday, which some in the bicycling community said yesterday is part of a culture in Philadelphia that treats cyclists as less important on streets than cars. A sergeant at the Ninth District declined to comment on the incident last night, citing an ongoing investigation. (via Metro)

shortly after the accident

before

after

I am outraged that a human is capable of running a cyclist off the road and then leaving her there.

There will be a rally for Rachel tonight at LOVE park at 5:30 pm. If you’re in the city please stop by and show your support.

More on this at Road Rage at Philly Newspaper