Aspinwall, PA : Cyclists honor fellow biker who died in West Carson Street collision on Tuesday September 6 2016

A week after bicyclist Dennis Flanagan died in a collision with a vehicle on West Carson Street, more than 200 friends, relatives and strangers pedaled through the rain Tuesday from the South Side to McKees Rocks and back to remember him and demand more bike-friendly streets.

“It hits home so much because we can all see ourselves in Dennis,” said Scott Bricker, executive director of the advocacy group BikePGH.

Flanagan, 49, of McKees Rocks was bicycling home from the South Side docks when the crash happened. Family members said he rode 10 miles a day after being diagnosed with high blood pressure. He told relatives he wanted to be sure he'd live to see his daughter, Corra Flanagan, 16, finish high school.

The crash occurred just days after PennDOT completed a three-year road reconstruction project on West Carson. Flanagan's death reignited fears that the street design is unsafe for bicyclists and pedestrians. BikePGH had advocated for a bike lane when the project was in the design phase.

“Enough is enough,” Bricker said. “We call on PennDOT to fix West Carson Street. We call on PennDOT to involve bicyclists and pedestrians from the start in their design. We shouldn't end up with roads like West Carson Street. They're deadly.”

Bicyclists share a 14-foot lane on West Carson with motorists. City crews will paint a line 4 feet from the edge of the road to create a shoulder, PennDOT district executive Dan Cessna said.

“That sort of addresses their issue,” he said, adding that the painted line was something PennDOT and the city agreed to before the project began.

Cessna noted that the crash remains under investigation.

“Obviously, PennDOT is very concerned and saddened any time a bicyclist is killed. … But we can't be sure any feature would have saved this person,” he said.

Some have criticized BikePGH for being too aggressive in their push for bike-friendly streets.

“My message to BikePGH is continue to be aggressive,” said Dennis Flanagan's brother, Sean Flanagan, 44, of Mt. Lebanon, “because I don't think there is such a thing as being too aggressive when you're trying to save lives.”

The route for Tuesday's protest ride included the crash site at the West Busway. Many bicyclists pinned signs to their bikes that said: “We Ride With Dennis” and “PennDOT, Can You Hear Us Now?”

Gordon Huang, 36, of Highland Park didn't know Flanagan but participated in the protest to show his support.

He has bicycled on West Carson Street before, and “it's never been a safe experience,” he said. “Cars are always traveling fast there.”

Rosanne Van Shura, 63, of Moon rides her bike five times a week. She has had a few close calls with motorists and would like to see more bike lanes installed throughout the city.


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Cyclists honor fellow biker who died in West Carson Street collision