Latest news with #BicycleCoalition
CBS News
22-07-2025
- CBS News
Michael Vahey sentenced to 6-20 years in prison in death of CHOP Dr. Barbara Friedes
A Philadelphia man was sentenced to 6-20 years in prison Tuesday after admitting to driving under the influence in the crash that killed CHOP Dr. Barbara Friedes last year. Michael Vahey, 69, pleaded guilty to charges of vehicular homicide, third-degree murder, driving under the influence and involuntary manslaughter, among other charges, his court docket shows. Police said the 30-year-old Friedes was on her bike in the bike lane on Spruce Street near 18th when Vahey, behind the wheel of a Volkswagen, struck her the evening of July 17, 2024. According to the DA's office, Vahey was under the influence of alcohol at the time of the crash and had a BAC of nearly 0.16. The legal limit is 0.08. He was also reportedly traveling over 50 mph, double the speed limit in the area. Friedes suffered "severe head trauma," police said after the accident, and was taken to Jefferson University Hospital, where she died a short time later. According to the Philadelphia Parking Authority, Friedes was the first cyclist death reported in the city in 2024. Friedes' death spurred advocacy for better protections for cyclists in the city. Organizations, including the Bicycle Coalition of Greater Philadelphia, said Spruce Street is a popular biking corridor that needs concrete barriers to protect cyclists. According to her obituary, Friedes was born at Francis E. Warren Air Force Base in Cheyenne, Wyoming and moved around with her father's Air Force career. After she graduated from Castle View High School in Castle Rock, Colorado, Friedes attended Florida State University, where she was on the FSU Golden Girls dance team, and later attended Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine. Friedes joined Children's Hospital of Philadelphia in 2021 as a pediatric resident and later became chief resident. She met her husband, Dr. Cole Friedes, when they were FSU undergraduates. "I'd like for her to be remembered as a kind, compassionate and brilliant wife, daughter, sister, friend and physician who dedicated her life to serving others and who was a magnetic and inspiring light," Cole Friedes told the American Academy of Pediatrics in 2024. "We were lucky to be loved by her." This is a developing story and will be updated.
Yahoo
24-04-2025
- Automotive
- Yahoo
San Diego unveils sweeping mobility plan to transform city transit
SAN DIEGO, Calif. (FOX 5/KUSI) — San Diego is rolling out a comprehensive Mobility Master Plan, laying the groundwork for a safer, greener and more efficient transportation network throughout the city. After three years of development, this first-of-its-kind plan for San Diego highlights hundreds of projects and programs that aim to make getting around better for everyone. Whether you walk, drive, take the bus or train, how you get around shapes your experience. San Diego City leaders agree a newly approved Mobility Master Plan is the way forward. Phil Throm, mobility planning, City of San Diego 'Where people need to travel and want to travel is really important, and this plan addresses that and has this human or passenger-centered approach,' explained Phil Throm, a leader in mobility planning for the city. The city council unanimously approved the 132-page plan on Tuesday. It identifies nearly 400 projects that are prioritized based on need{sot: phil throm – mobility planning, city of san diego} 'Improving sidewalks, we have transit access improvements, we also have bike lanes and there's a variety of different types of bike lanes,' said Throm. Not so fast, California drivers — police say don't do this to you license plate The plan zeros in on 11 focus areas, such as communities near El Cajon Boulevard and San Ysidro Boulevard. It also aligns with the city's climate action plan and vision zero, which aims to eliminate all traffic-related deaths and serious injuries. Chloe Lauer with the county's Bicycle Coalition supports the plan and wants to see this a few things. She said, 'Definitely more quick-build projects to provide protective infrastructure for cyclists as well as for pedestrians, and really anything that slows down the speed of the vehicular traffic.' The city is also looking at more than a dozen mobility programs and incentives. 'Things like transit passes and slow streets, and even harden the public right-of-way,' said Throm. An e-bike rebate program and carsharing is also a priority. 'The foundation is in place,' said Lauer. 'I think we'll see what they're able to achieve in a fiscally constrained environment and, you know, that's where the best visions can sometimes be harder to realize.' The city is also emphasizing implementation and monitoring. Throm said, 'Safety at the back-end of the plan is also a key performance metric that will be used to track and evaluate the plan.' The plan also gives the city an opportunity to seek state and federal funding for projects mentioned, but ultimately this is a blueprint for years to come that could evolve as time goes on. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.
