close
close

Hundreds gather to mourn those hit and killed by cars on the city streets

On Sunday morning, safety activists gathered near Rittenhouse Square to commemorate and mourn the recent traffic fatalities among pedestrians and cyclists and to demand action to improve safety on the city’s streets, even though other fatal accidents had occurred just hours earlier.

The vigil was held for Barbara Friedes, who was struck and killed by a speeding car while riding her bike in Center City last Wednesday. Friedes was a resident at the Children’s Hospital of Philadelphia, where she worked with children with cancer.

Cyclists, pedestrians and supporters gathered around the 1800 block of Spruce – where Friedes was struck from behind and flew more than 20 feet before landing. Despite wearing a helmet, she suffered severe head injuries and died shortly afterward in the hospital.

The crowd stood between the bike lane and the car lane, holding signs with messages including “No more bike deaths” and “Protect the bike lane.” Others held up photos of other pedestrians and cyclists who had been killed by cars.