The 2024 PennDOT VRU Safety Assessment identifies the 400 most dangerous streets in Philadelphia, yet Pine and Spruce Streets in Center City are not among them. This data challenges the necessity of additional restrictive measures on these streets, particularly when considering key findings.

The report highlights that the majority of bicycle accidents occur at intersections rather than mid-block, suggesting that safety improvements should focus on better intersection design and traffic control rather than continuous barriers. Furthermore, Philadelphia County’s bicycle crash fatality rate is 5% and pedestrian fatality rate is 9%, but these incidents are not concentrated on Pine and Spruce Streets, indicating that city-wide resources should be allocated to higher-risk areas.

Additionally, concerns about bike rider “dooring” incidents from parked cars appear to be overstated, as these account for only 1% of crashes with no identified fatalities. The report’s Chapter 6 (pages 168-178) outlines recommendations for bike lane upgrades and introduces a star rating system for countermeasures, where helmet use receives the highest rating, while laws prohibiting bike passing receive only one star, suggesting that certain policy measures may be less effective than education and protective gear.

This assessment underscores the need for a data-driven approach to street safety that prioritizes proven strategies rather than unnecessary infrastructure changes that could disrupt accessibility for residents, businesses, and emergency services.

https://www.friendsofpineandspruce.org/blank-7