18th Police District, Bike Incidents
This watch area is set up by the Bicycle Coalition of Greater Philadelphia to report traffic accidents or instances of road rage and harassment.
Notified About
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Very Dangerous for Cyclists Archived2922-2954 Chestnut St Philadelphia, PA 19104, USA - Cobbs Creek
This is a very dangerous stretch of road for cyclists because the bike lane and right turn lane intersect. I bike it daily and have seen two accidents and numerous near accidents between bicyclists and motorists. Last week my husband's rib was broken when he was struck by a car while biking here. When we returned to the scene to look at it several days later, we found another biker rolling on the ground after having just been hit by a car.
1) Flashing lights and signs are needed here
2) bright plastic road dividers should be installed, to limit the area that cars are able to move into the bike lane
3) and/or more permanent bike lane dividers should be installed to protect cyclistsThank you for consideration and assistance.
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3730 Spruce St Philadelphia, PA 19104, USA - Cobbs Creek
Twice over the past three days I saw a police van parked in the bike lane (marked a no-stopping zone) in front of the Wawa on Spruce at the intersection with 38th, the SE corner. In both instances there were spaces a few yards ahead in the legal parking/loading zone area.
This is a tricky intersection to bike through to the east, with the bike lane in front of the Wawa frequently blocked (the no stopping-zone apparently not enforced), shunting bicycle riders into the car lane. It is generally frustrating that the police do not enforce this no stopping zone, and incredibly galling that we twice saw an officer himself breaking the law and ignoring other illegal parking.
On December 31st, 2010 at about 12:30pm the van # was 2502. We saw an officer get out of the van and enter the Wawa. At the same time, three cars were parked in front of the van, in the no-stopping zone in the bike lane. There were spaces in the legal parking/loading zone ahead, and the officer did not seem to be in any kind of hurry. We parked in the loading zone, ran into the UPS store for a few minutes, and the van was still there when we came out (and there was still space to park in the loading zone).
Today, on January 2nd, 2011, at about 10:45am we saw another police van, # 1901, in the same situation - parked in the no-stopping zone in front of the Wawa, with cars in front also parked in the bike lane/no stopping zone.
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Abandoned cars Open4812-14 Chester Ave Philadelphia, PA - Philadelphia Planning District University/SouthwestThree cars were parked on the block a month ago and haven't moved since. Two are directly in front of 4814 Chester Ave - a grey Dodge Stratus, PA plates GBH 1738 and a white Dodge Stratus PA plates GDP 5067. The third is directly in front of 4812 Chester ave - a grey Chevrolet Corsica MI plates BPN 7017. The one in front of 4812 parked just short of a car length past a driveway (if they pulled up another two feet someone could park behind them) so they are actually eating up almost two full parking spots. It had been full of boxes, large bags and trash but someone cleaned it out recently. Not sure what the ordinance is but it seems like there must be a law that you can't just use 3-4 parking spots on a residential block as your personal car storage.
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501 S.55th St Philadelphia, PA - Cobbs CreekHouse is an eyesore with mounds of trash, garbage on exterior and trash inside makeshift boarded up garage, overgrown weeds
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Expressway Ramp Traffic Pattern AcknowledgedSchuykill Ave W Philadelphia, PA 19104, USA - Cobbs Creek30th between Chestnut and Walnut is currently a two lane road where there are signs posted that the right lane must turn right onto Walnut. Everyday during PM rush hour the right lane becomes a second lane to the ramp for 76 East. Two lanes trying to merge onto the ramp causes back up and almost accidents. Please either enforce the traffic signs/patterns or change the signs to allow both lanes to proceed to the ramp during rush hour.
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Baltimore Av & 43rd St Philadelphia, PA 19104, USA - Cobbs CreekCars often enter the bike here (often suddenly) so that they do not have to wait for cars attempting to make a left turn.
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collision/accident Acknowledged4101-4199 U.S. 13 Philadelphia, PA 19104, USA - Cobbs CreekThis was on January 26, I reported it to the police. I was in the bike lane on Baltimore Ave going straight, the light was green, a white or silver SUV turned without signaling. It merged into the bike lane before turning (before coming to the end of the block), so even though I was braking hard, there was not enough room for me to stop. The rear end of the car, behind the rear tire, swiped my left shoulder, knocked me off my bike as well as my $70 headlight, which it ran over. The car didn't stop, just continued north on 42nd street. It had a vanity license plate that started with "M," but that was all I could make out.
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Aggressive drivers on Chestnut St. Archived3400-4000 Chestnut St Philadelphia, PA 19104, USA - Cobbs CreekThe recent resurfacing of Chestnut St. between 34th and 40th Streets brought unfortunate changes for cyclists. First, the wide, right-hand-side parking lane (34th-38th) that used to double as a bike lane was removed and replaced with a narrow parking lane and a narrow driving lane. Now I encounter multiple cases of harassment per week due to drivers' annoyance at me taking up the right lane. The section between 38th and 39th has recently been converted to a "loading zone", which causes even more confusion and rage in drivers, who appear to think it is a bike lane. A dedicated bike lane all along this section would be fantastic, but failing that, some nice big "SHARE THE ROAD" signs would also be excellent.
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4800 Kingsessing Avenue Philadelphia, PA - Philadelphia Planning District University/SouthwestInhabitants of apartments at 4800 Kingsessing, and 1130 48th Street, directly across (owned by the same person), continue to create a barrage of obnoxious noise that can be heard for a block in every direction. 3AM, 3PM, doesn't matter. It's unpredictable but incessant. All morning, until noon, aggressive dogs held on chains by men who loiter at 4800 Kingsessing created an unbearable amount of noise. The garbage, noise, and aggressive behavior of the men and their girlfriends (who live in the house) have been a source of unending despair for everyone in the community since the house was rented to them about a year ago. Police are aware of the problem but have proven unable to address it in any effective way.
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Chronically blocked bike lane Archived3744 Spruce St. - Cobbs CreekOn the Southeast corner of Spruce and 38th, on Spruce Street, cars are usually parked in front of the Wawa in the bike lane in a clearly-signed no stopping zone. This is a tricky intersection in the best of circumstances, but the parked cars shunt cyclists into the car lane at a difficult spot, and (to make it more fun) where the pavement is subsiding.
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5300 Catharine St Philadelphia, Pennsylvania - Cobbs CreekLarge boulder size bricks on front sidewalk due to a car accident from a Police chase. Front, side and backyard filed with trash from short dumping. Around the whole property is filled trash and tall weeds. A large window is missing on the street side of the house allowing for trespassers to enter the property. This property has been vacant for years and the owner has done nothing to clean it or maintain it. It is unsanitary and a safety hazard