New Philadelphia Law Makes It Illegal for Cars to Stop in Bike Lanes

Traffic fatalities in Philadelphia have been on the rise since 2020, leading the city to be named as one of the most dangerous for cyclists in all the country. Mayor Cherelle Parker signed the “Get Out the Bike Lane” bill just last week. The bill makes it illegal for motor vehicles to stop in any of the city’s bike lanes. Despite Mayor Parker pushing back Vision Zero’s (an executive order tasked with eliminating traffic deaths) primary goal from 2030 to 2050, the “Get out the Bike Lane” bill is a step in the right direction to make the streets safer for cyclists, pedestrians, and motorists.

Traffic Crash Statistics

Though there was a slight dip in the number of fatal traffic crashes from January to October of this year compared to last year (84 fatalities versus 100), city officials say that far more serious crashes have been resulting in death. For reference, 29% of severe crashes resulted in death last year, as compared to 17% of crashes between 2015 and 2019. Some other key findings from the City and the Bicycle Coalition of Greater Philadelphia (BCGP), a local non-profit with the primary goal of making every bike ride safe, include:

• There was a total of 126 traffic-related fatalities in 2023; of these deaths, 57 were pedestrians and 10 were bicyclists. There were 43 hit-and-runs.
• The post-2020 increase in traffic deaths has made the most significant impact on vulnerable road users. While deaths among people in vehicles increased to 29%, deaths among people walking or rolling (on bicycles, scooters, and other wheeled modes of transportation) grew by 65%.
• Philadelphia’s per-capita rate of traffic deaths is much higher than cities like New York and Boston.
• Between January 1^st and September 30^th of this year, 14 deaths traffic deaths have been reported along Broad Street alone.
• Ten people are killed or sustain serious injuries in traffic crashes each week.
• Hitting a pedestrian and “angle” crashes are the two most common types of traffic accidents to occur in the city. “Angle” crashes include T-bones and often include turning vehicles as well.
• Aggressive driving behaviors have steadily increased since 2020.
• The top contributing factors behind traffic crashes in the city are speeding, running red lights, distracted driving, impaired driving, and/or running stop signs.

How Will the New Bill Help Keep Philadelphians Safe?

While previous city law allowed motorists to stop in bike lanes for 20 minutes before being ticketed, this new bill brings about new — and more stringent –rules for residents. The new order designates over 35 miles of bike lanes as “No Stopping Anytime” locations, which means that if a driver stops, stands, or parks in a designated bike lane in the city they can receive anywhere from a $75 to $125 fine. Before the new bill passed, motorists could stop (but not park) in these locations for up to 20 minutes without being ticketed — and even if they did get a ticket, it was for less than the amounts allowed by the new bill.

By confirming over 35 miles of curbside bike lanes in the city as not only no parking but also as no stopping zones, city officials are making it clear that they are making roadway safety a priority. According to the Office of Transportation and Infrastructure Systems, or OTIS, the next phase of implementing the “Get Out the Bike Lane” bill is to finalize loading zone plans on certain streets throughout the city.

Were You Injured in an Accident?

Even a seemingly minor incident between a bicyclist and a motor vehicle can result in major physical harm to the rider, like:

• Bruises and lacerations
• Road rash
• Concussions and other types of traumatic brain injuries, or TBIs
• Facial disfigurement
• Broken bones
• Soft tissue injuries to the nerves, muscles, tendons, and other soft tissues
• Internal injuries like internal bleeding, hernia, ruptured spleen, pancreatic trauma, and more

If you were injured in an accident involving a motor vehicle, someone at our firm can help. If you would like to learn more about filing a legal claim to recover damages, contact a representative online now who can help.

Philadelphia Personal Injury Lawyers at Galfand Berger, LLP, Representing Injured Victims Since 1947

Contact the Philadelphia personal injury attorneys at Galfand Berger LLP today. Call us at 800-222-USWA (8792) or fill out our online form for a free consultation. Located in Philadelphia, Bethlehem, Lancaster, and Reading, Pennsylvania, we serve clients throughout New Jersey and Pennsylvania, including Allentown and Harrisburg.