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Philly Bike Action Petition Calls For Urgent Change On West Market Street

Philly Bike Action Petition Calls For Urgent Change On West Market Street
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Philly Bike Action petition calls for urgent change on West Market Street

Philly Bike Action Petition Demands Urgent Safety Reforms on West Market Street After Tragic Pedestrian Deaths Near Drexel

After two pedestrian deaths near Drexel’s campus on West Market Street in November 2025, Philly Bike Action (PBA) is raising alarm bells about the need for safer streets in West Market Street. They recently launched this petition for change. Philly Bike Action is an all-volunteer advocacy organization with a clear mission to expand protected bike lanes and improve cycling in Philadelphia. The petition is a great example of how this relatively new organization (founded in 2023) is powered by grassroots action. Piscitello Law is grateful for their leadership on this topic. We are happy to support PBA and amplify their call to action. This blog hopes to lay out why this petition and action is so important.

Two Souls Lost in One Week on West Market Street

On November 20, 2025, Meaza Brown (48) was crossing Market Street at 33rd Street with co‑workers from University of Pennsylvania. A speeding driver flew through the intersection, struck Meaza and killed her instantly. The driver fled the scene. Just one week later, on Thanksgiving Day, Rosa Mar Espinosa Rodas (41) was walking north on 36th street, and as she crossed Market Street, a speeding driver struck and killed her. The driver also fled the scene but was later found and arrested.

Listed on Visions Zero’s High Injury Network

These events are particularly tragic considering our top city transportation agency has identified this corridor to be included on the High Injury Network (HIN) – pictured to the right. The city’s Office of Transportation and Infrastructure Systems (OTIS) is responsible for defining, updating and publishing the HIN as part of Philadelphia’s Vision Zero plan. They utilize crash data (primarily from PA Department of Transportation) along with five-year rolling crash data sets to monitor the HIN. This designation means that this West Market Street corridor is among the 12% of streets that cause 80% of traffic deaths and injuries in Philadelphia. It also means that OTIS can use Vision Zero funding (among other funding sources) to improve the West Market corridor.

An Urgent Obligation to Improve Infrastructure

Through this petition, PBA does an excellent job identifying both immediate and long-term actions needed to make this corridor safer.

PBA petition urges OTIS to take Immediate Action:

  • Add speed cushions throughout the corridor to reduce frequent speeding.
  • Add leading pedestrian intervals to all intersections in the highlighted corridor to reduce conflicts between cars and crossing pedestrians.
  • Harden the median where it exists with temporary features such as plastic bollards or blocks to effectively reduce the road width and lower vehicle speeds.
  • Add Flex-Post Protection to the existing bike lane in the current no-stopping zones to reduce conflict between cyclists and cars.
  • Reduce the speed limit from 30 mph to 25 mph.

PBA petition urges OTIS to begin working on these long-term solutions:

  • Institute a road diet between 38th St. and the Schuylkill River.
  • Build a concrete median filled with greenery throughout the corridor where applicable.
  • Construct a two-way, concrete protected cycle-path throughout the corridor to connect to the Market St. bridge rehabilitation project.

Stronger Together

Kudos to PBA for working with transportation advocates and stakeholders to secure solid support as they launch this petition on West Market Street. The corridor is used by thousands of people daily, including school children, Drexel/Penn students/faculty, and commuters travelling by bike, bus, trolleys and walking. Piscitello Law is proud to support this petition and adds our voice to the urgent call for action along West Market Street. How many more pedestrians and cyclists need to lose their lives in this dangerous corridor?

Ways You Can Get Involved

Sign PBA petition & Share

Join a PBA petition blitz

  • PBA is looking for volunteers for in-person petitioning blitzes along the corridor where they will collect signatures from students and commuters.
  • Target Locations for Blitzes: 33rd and Market, 34th and Market, 30th St Station, JFK and Market, 34th and Walnut, 36th and Market, and 32nd and Market
  • Visit this PBA link to sign up.

Attend Vision Zero Conference March 12, 2026

Thanks for reading! :)

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