Bicyclist killed on Baltimore Ave and 58th St

PHILADELPHIA – On Thursday May 8, a person on a bicycle was struck and killed by a dump truck at Baltimore Ave and 58th St in Southwest Philly.

The 50 year-old man was right-hooked by a turning truck while riding in an unprotected bike lane. This bike lane lane marking is dashed, inviting drivers to merge into the bike lane when turning. Baltimore Ave is a state road and this dangerous "conflict" bike lane (Google Maps) was designed by PennDOT, despite the fact that Baltimore Ave is on the High Injury Network.

Paint-only bike lanes are unsafe, particularly on high-traffic roads, in door zones, and when they signal to drivers that they can enter the lane.

A safer solution for Baltimore Ave that could have prevented this tragedy is proposed in the Trolley Modernization Project, which protects the bike lane with floating medians at trolley stops.

Between 2019 through 2023, U.S. Route 13 (which includes Baltimore Ave) saw 123 fatal and serious injury crashes and 258 total crashes involving pedestrians; however, slated safety projects are yet to commence:

• City Council passed legislation authorizing the placement of a red light camera at this intersection in 2022. Installation has been delayed by lack of funding.
• SEPTA's Trolley Modernization Project has not started work on the upgraded stops for Baltimore Ave (construction planned 2027-2030). The project's future could be threatened by severe transit funding cuts.

We are calling on City Council, our State Reps and Senators, and the Parker Administration to ensure crucial safety projects are not delayed and that PennDOT is held to a higher standard of safe design for vulnerable users in our city.

Our thoughts remain with those affected by traffic violence and their loved ones.