On Sunday, a group of cyclists rode through Philadelphia to raise awareness about bike safety and pay tribute to cyclists killed in car crashes. More than 100 bicyclists hit the streets, including Sidney Ozer, who lost his 17-year-old son, Samuel, on Father’s Day 2020 when he was struck and killed by an automobile on Henry Avenue.
Philadelphia is a Vision Zero city, which means it aims to achieve zero traffic deaths. However, the numbers are going in the wrong direction as more than 110 people have been killed in traffic fatalities this year, including 10 cyclists. Laura Fredricks, co-founder of Families for Safe Streets of Greater Philadelphia and organizer of the commemorative bike ride, believes that advocates want to see more bike lanes where there’s a row of parked cars separating the bicyclists from moving traffic. While this type of bike lane is legal on city streets, it’s not legal on state-owned roads.
Fredricks also wants to see the Speed Camera Pilot Program on Roosevelt Boulevard extended because it’s set to expire next month. With Thanksgiving coming up, there will be an empty seat at the dinner table where Samuel would have sat. Ozer is vowing to celebrate his son’s life and continue the fight for safer streets in his honor.
