Cyclists pay tribute to road traffic victims on World Remembrance Day

On Sunday, a large group of cyclists rode through Philadelphia to raise awareness about bike safety and honor those who have been killed in car crashes. More than 100 bicyclists hit the streets to pay tribute to cyclists lost in traffic fatalities, including Sidney Ozer’s 17-year-old son, Samuel. According to the city of Philadelphia’s Office of Complete Streets, 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 an advocate for bike safety, helped organize the commemorative bike ride. She highlighted that Philadelphia is a Vision Zero city, meaning they aim to get to zero traffic deaths. However, the numbers are going in the wrong direction.

Advocates like Fredricks want to see more bike lanes where there is 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. Additionally, advocates want the Speed Camera Pilot Program on Roosevelt Boulevard extended because it’s set to expire next month. With Thanksgiving coming up and an empty seat at the dinner table where Samuel would have sat, Ozer vowed to celebrate his son’s life and continue fighting for safer streets in his honor.