May 14, 2018
Thom Carroll, File/PhillyVoice
The Delaware Valley Regional Planning Commission is set to announce $1.8 million in grants to 23 "regional revitalization" projects across Greater Philadelphia.
On Saturday evening, Pablo Avendano, 34, was traveling east in the bike lane at Spring Garden and 10th streets when he was struck and killed by a driver in a Mitsubishi SUV.
Avendano was reportedly riding for food delivery service Caviar at the time of the accident. According to police, Avendano was knocked off his bike and run over by the car. Investigators said Avendano was in the designated bike lane on Spring Garden around 7:40 p.m. when he was hit. Heavy rains fell off and on Saturday afternoon and night in parts of the city.
Avendano was pronounced dead at the scene.
The driver of the SUV reportedly stayed on the scene with police and fire officials. No charges have been filed and no arrests were made.
Avendano also was an employee of Sparrow Cycling Couriers. According to the Bicycle Coalition of Greater Philadelphia, the bike lane where Avendano was struck is one of the busiest east-west bike lanes north of Center City. The coalition said that, though the lane was restriped last summer, there is no painted buffer in the area of the accident.
Avendano’s death comes just days before the Ride of Silence, an internationally organized ride held in honor of cyclists struck by motor vehicles scheduled for Wednesday. The Philadelphia biking community has been quick to highlight Avendano as one of several victims to be remembered during the local ride.
The makeshift memorial in front of 990 Spring Garden for Pablo Avendano. pic.twitter.com/rqVaqU3tzu
— Davis Shaver (@davisshaver) May 14, 2018
#RideofSilence Wednesday, May 16, 2018 at 7:00 PM, PHL Art Museum in memory of bicyclists killed by motorists in the region.
— John Boyle (@fjohnboyle) May 14, 2018
Pablo Avendano
Dean Pryor
Lela Cruz
Kevin Williams
Emily Fredricks
Matt Petzel
Lorenzo Vasquez
Josh Goldinger
Edward McElrean
Unknown
the risks bike couriers and other workers take commuting on bikes is completely unrecognised and disrespected wrt their labour conditions
— rina (@rina_polpettina) May 14, 2018
Philly needs protected bike lanes NOW. As one of the most traveled E/W corridors in the city, Spring Garden is a great place to start. My heart breaks for this person, his family and friends, and our entire community of people who ride bikes in #Philly. #VisionZero #visionzerophl https://t.co/TCE1CBAhes
— Marisa Jones (@marisacjones) May 14, 2018
Last November another cyclist was fatally struck by a garbage truck while traveling in Center City, the third bicycling fatality in Philadelphia of 2017. Twenty-four-year-old Emily Fredricks was killed on a Tuesday morning near 11th and Spruce streets.
