HUP: Bicyclist struck by car not likely to survive

The 70-year-old student, who has not been publicly named, is still in critical condition. The 70-year-old man who was struck by a car while riding his bicycle on Walnut Street Friday morning remained in critical condition last night, and hospital officials expressed slim hopes for his survival. "We don't expect him to improve," an administrator at the Hospital of the University of Pennsylvania said last night. "His condition is grim." The man, whose identity has not been disclosed, was crossing at the intersection of 34th and Walnut streets when he was hit by a taxi traveling west on Walnut Street at about 10 a.m. on Friday. The victim is one of several hundred older adults who attend Penn classes as part of the University's Senior Associates program, run by the College of General Studies and the Institute on Aging. According to University Police officials, the man sustained "severe head trauma" and witnesses at the scene described heavy blood loss coming from the victim's head. Hospital administrators have refused to comment specifically on the nature of the man's injuries. The cab driver who hit the man stopped immediately, according to both witnesses and police officials. Friday's accident, which is not the first at the busy intersection, has raised questions of pedestrian safety at Penn and the lack of bicycle lanes. The corner of 34th and Walnut has been the site of Penn Police efforts to combat speeding in University City. Yesterday, people passing by the intersection generally expressed concern about speeding cars and a lack of bike lanes for members of the University community. "It's like a highway," third-year Graduate School of Fine Arts student Vanessa Keith said. "A lot of people bike to school and there's no bike lane." College junior Kristina Rencic, who was passing by the intersection on a bike of her own, explained that Penn has a responsibility to its pedestrians to address safety issues on campus streets. "I definitely agree with the criticism that Penn doesn't have enough bike lanes," she said. "I think the University should accept the criticism and do something on the heels of this incident." Accounting Professor Cathy Schrand said she feels much of the blame rests with the irresponsible passing motorists. "My problem is they're not conscious that pedestrians have the right of way," Schrand said, noting that many "cabs and buses don't even watch" for people crossing the street. Second-year Biomedical graduate student Michael Sleet noted that Walnut Street's three wide lanes make it a haven for speeding drivers. "You can get a drag strip type of thing," Sleet said. "That's definitely a problem." And first-year Wharton graduate student Dave Smith explained that although Walnut Street is "more like a highway than a street," he usually feels comfortable traversing the thoroughfare on his bike. "I usually switch up to the sidewalk," Smith said. "Philadelphia is pretty ugly in the streets." But History Professor Ann Moyer said that adding bike lanes to campus, which must come in partnership with both Penn and the City of Philadelphia, is essential. "If attention and energy are devoted to this, it can work," Moyer said. "There are other dangerous places on campus but this is especially bad. There are no two ways about it."

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