Philly Bike Action demands safer infrastructure on Race St after cyclist sent to the ICU

Update 10/02/2026: the City is "meeting internally to determine how to improve safety on Race Street." This page will be updated to reflect new information.

PBA statement on Race St crash

On September 20, Robert "Bawbee" Craskey was riding his bike on Race St when he was hit by a car. while riding his bike on Race St. His injuries include a skull fracture and severe internal bleeding, sending him to the ICU. This crash was preventable. The City can keep residents safe by improving the infrastructure of Race St.

Race St lacks a protected bike lane east of 4th St. Signage on the north sidewalk—technically a "shared-use path"—directs cyclists over a high-speed I-95 ramp. The curvature and downward slope of the on-ramp limit visibility at the pedestrian/bike crossing, putting lives at risk. It should not be this unsafe to access the Delaware River Trail. The presence of the on-ramp is highly dangerous.

Prior to the crash, PBA had met with City officials, elected representatives, and community stakeholders to raise concerns over existing infrastructure and propose a safer configuration. PBA's current asks are:

• Install a protected bike lane on Race St between 4th St and Columbus Blvd
• Close the Race St I-95 ramp to improve safety and reduce congestion

Read PBA's full report: Race St Trail Connector

Neighborhood benefits

Philly Bike Action's proposed configuration of Race St would improve safety for everyone as well as improve daily conditions for Old City residents and businesses:

• Safer conditions for everyone along Race St, including bikes
• Calmer traffic and shorter pedestrian crossing distances across Race St
• Reduced traffic congestion and noise due to the ramp closure
• Boosts to Old City businesses from better pedestrian and bike access
• Direct bike connections with the Delaware River Trail and Franklin Square
• Safer travel between Philadelphia and Camden via the Ben Franklin Bridge
• Complementary improvements to the brand-new Market St bike lanes
• Functional eastbound extension of the new Vine St bike lane

Philly Bike Action members who live in Old City have contributed to this campaign.

Campaign timeline

April 11, 2025. PBA develops internal campaign outline for improvements to the streets in the vicinity of Franklin Square, including Race St.

April 16, 2025. PBA contacts OTIS to request infrastructure improvements on Race St in Old City. PBA presents a concept for a Race St protected bike lane between 2nd St and the Delaware River, avoiding the I-95 on-ramp entirely.

April 19, 2025. PBA walking tour of Old City bike infrastructure includes a stop at Race St. PBA members discuss possible infrastructure improvements, such as extending the Race St bike lane (with protection) to the Delaware River and closing the I-95 on-ramp on Race St.

May 3, 2025. PBA asks OTIS to ask the Delaware Valley Regional Planning Commission (DVRPC) to perform a new traffic count on the 300 block of Race St to enable a future study of a bike lane between 4th St and 2nd St.

August 29, 2025. PBA sends the Delaware River Waterfront Corporation (DRWC) a list of proposed short-term and long-term improvements to the DRT and connector streets, including Race St:

• Short-term: restriping and green paint of the unprotected bike lane near the 2nd St intersection, improved trail signage, leading pedestrian intervals, and other improvements.
• Long-term: a road diet and safer multi-use path and/or two-way bike lane along Race St east of 2nd St, especially avoiding the conflict with the I-95 on-ramp, a protected intersection at Columbus Blvd, and other improvements.

September 8, 2025. PBA meets with OTIS to discuss improvements to Race St and other corridors throughout Philadelphia.

November 21, 2025. PBA adopts its first Strategic Plan. The plan includes a key initiative to fill the gap in the bike network along Race St between Franklin Square and the Delaware River Trail.

December 12, 2025. DVRPC publishes updated traffic data for the 300 block of Race St, giving the City insights into updated traffic patterns following the concrete-protected bike lane on the PennDOT-owned segment of Race St near Franklin Square, between 8th St and 6th St.

December 22, 2025. PBA requests that OTIS study, in the first quarter of 2026, a motor vehicle travel lane reduction on Race St to support a bike lane, and possible intersection traffic signal timing adjustments to accommodate the reconfiguration.

January 11, 2026. PBA writes to Old City District to request inter-organization collaboration on installing a bike lane on Race St to improve safety conditions for people biking and walking.

February 6, 2026. PBA meets with Councilmember Squilla and requests that the Councilmember introduce legislation to replace a traffic lane with a bike lane on Race St in Old City, pending a study from OTIS.

May 26, 2026. PBA meets with DRWC to propose safety improvements to Race St, among other topics. DRWC agrees to look into moving the shared-use path away from the I-95 ramp and onto the south side of the street, pending City approval.

September 20, 2026. Robert "Bawbee" Craskey is hit by a car while riding his bike on Race St and sent to the ICU with serious injuries.

September 26, 2026. PBA requests follow-up meeting with DRWC to discuss fast-tracking improvements to Race St.

September 27, 2026. PBA Organizers initiate additional neighborhood conversations around safety upgrades to Race St infrastructure.

September 29, 2026. PBA sends a 7-page infrastructure proposal to improve safety on Race St to Councilmember Squilla, OTIS, and PennDOT. PBA reiterates its proposal for a protected bike lane on the south side of Race St between 4th St and Columbus Blvd and closing the I-95 northbound on-ramp on Race St.

Read the report: Race St Trail Connector

October 1, 2026. PBA issues call to action in email newsletter for PBA members to email Councilmember Squilla and OTIS about making improvements to Race St.

October 2, 2026. OTIS releases statement to PBA members who wrote emails:

"Thank you for reaching out to the Office of Transportation and Infrastructure Systems (OTIS). Confirming receipt of your note. We are meeting internally to determine how to improve safety on Race Street, and we appreciate your commitment to making Philadelphia safer."

Contact

Contact the Philly Bike Action District 1 team at district1@bikeaction.org.