Cycling Legal Expert Bob Mionske Comments on the "Philadelphia Problem"

Legally Speaking With Bob Mionske

Andre Steed Dies-Reward For Hit and Run Bicyclist Offered

Pedestrian Andre Steed passed away Saturday morning as a result of the injuries sustained in the hit and run with a bicyclist on October 15th.

Andre was a Paralegal for the law firm of Caesar, Rivise, Bernstein, Cohen & Pokotilow, Ltd. They are offering a reward of $10,000 for information that leads to the identification, arrest and conviction of the individual that struck and killed Andre. Further information regarding the reward will be available via the Citizens Crime Commission of Philadelphia (215-546-TIPS; http://www.crimecommission.org/philadelphia.html).

The cyclist has been described by witnesses as a white male, about 5'9" tall, 140 pounds, in his late teens or early twenties, wearing a white hoodie with red spots in the background and riding a white mountain bike.

Thanks to Sal Guerriero and Pete LaVerghetta for providing updates to this story.

Chicagoland Bicycle Federation Changes its Mission and Name

Our good friends at the Chicagoland Bicycle Federation (CBF) announced last week that they are now known as the Active Transportation Alliance (ATA) and have expanded their mission to include pedestrian and transit advocacy, much in line with Transportation Alternatives in New York.

The ATA has over 40 employees and an annual budget in the 7 figure range. Many of our programs and our approach of effective advocacy are modeled after their successes. Newer and growing organizations are adopting a multi-modal approach to broaden their base which in turn works to affect change. Bicycle, Pedestrian and Transit issues however each has it's own set of challenges and may require different "departments" within an established group.

There are several organizations that fill some of the voids in pedestrian and transit advocacy in PA in NJ.

The Delaware Valley Association of Rail Passengers
NJ Association of Rail Passengers
PenTrans
Phillywalks

What are your thoughts on a multimodal bicycle-pedestrian-transit organization for the region?

Road Carnage Becomes Reality At Moorestown High

Many Moorestown High School students will be wearing black today in response to last weeks tragedies where 2 Moorestown High School students died in separate crashes

Evan Welch, 18, died Dec. 9. Welch was a passenger in the car that veered off the road and into a ditch on Garwood Road in Moorestown. . Police have said alcohol and speed played a factor in the crash.

17 Year Old Eric Messick died Friday night in a three-car accident in Southampton, NJ when an Ocean County driver crossed a double yellow line to pass a slower vehicle on Route 38 near Rt 206 and struck the car Messick was riding in.

The second crash points out the dangers of rural highways (exacerbated by being located in an increasingly suburban township). But in both cases it was the decisions made by the drivers behind the wheel that yielded the catastrophic results.

Also an update from posting last week, a newlywed couple was killed making a delivery while crossing the highway. Oscar Manuel Ramos Cortez, 27, and Silvia Mejia Deolores, 19, were struck on Route 206 near Powell Road at about 5:40 pm Wednesday, Pemberton Township, NJ.

The BCGP urges everyone to drive with care and our deepest sympathies go out to the Welch Messick, Cortez, and Deolores families.

Deadly Day for Pedestrians

1 Pedestrian killed one injured when struck on US 206 near Powell Rd in Eastampton NJ
The Burlington County Times stated that the two people were making a delivery on the opposite side of the highway.

A pedestrian was struck and killed by an Amtrak Acela Express Train at about 10:30 a.m. near the 400 block of Highland Avenue in Chester.

Last week in Lower Makefield Township a woman was injured by a snowplow while walking in the road during Thursday's night's snow and ice event. No word on her condition.