November 29: Cyclist killed on Spruce | Giant coffee pot | Tacony Library party

A cyclist was struck and killed by a trash truck on 11th and Spruce Tuesday morning, Philly Mag’s Claire Sasko reports. In response to the accident—the third cyclist death this year—bicycle advocates argue that the right hook (a type of accident when a vehicle passes a cyclist to the left and then makes a right turn, colliding with the cyclist) could have been avoided—had there been a protected bike lane. The Bicycle Coalition and 5th Square will be hosting a vigil at 11th and Spruce on Wednesday at 5pm.

Tribute to coffee, a company’s symbol: in 1929, Ellis & Brother Coffee and Tea Company built its new Art Deco headquarters at 9 South 16th Street, showcasing a new type of flashy and scented sign—a giant coffee pot. As in 22 feet tall and 12 feet wide giant. GroJLart writes about owner John Ellis’s landmark advertising move, which included a “system of pipes that would lead steam and smoke from the company’s roasting ovens through the spout of the giant pot.”

Philadelphia officials broke ground on a $7 million renovation project around the Holocaust Memorial Plaza Tuesday, WHYY News’ Tom McDonald reports. The statue at the foot of the Parkway has been in place for more than 50 years, making it one of the oldest Holocaust monuments in the country.

Building Inspiration: 21st Century Libraries Initiative: the newly renovated and expanded Lillian Marrero Library in Tacony reopens Saturday, December 2nd. The Free Library Blog highlights some of the snazzy new updates, including a welcoming, living-room-like common space, improved circulation desk, and, based on community feedback, small business resources. Tacony CDC and its intrepid leader Alex Balloon have also relocated to the lower library.

Uber, Lyft, and the privilege of making money using city infrastructure: as cities rethink urban transportation systems, folks are taking cues from São Paulo, where the city went from banning ride-hailing apps to charging a usage fee. The policy intervention has layers, charging by use of streets per mile and implementing a sliding scale that takes into consideration peak hours, underserved areas, number of passengers, electric vehicles, women drivers, and accessible vehicles.

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