There is only one acceptable number: 0.
While some U.S. cities have set decisive “Vision Zero” targets to dramatically reduce bicyclist and pedestrian fatalities, the U.S. Department of Transportation (US DOT) has released proposed safety measures that have no goal, no accountability, and no attempt to reduce the 16% of all fatal crashes that include people who walk and bike.
Your comments count: Tell US DOT that we can’t turn a blind eye to the 45,000 bicyclists injured and 5,000 cyclists and pedestrians killed on our roadways each year– including 50+ bicycle deaths and 400+ pedestrian deaths per year in Texas. These deaths are not a statistic– each one was someone’s son or daughter, someone’s mother or father, someone’s coworker, someone’s friend. Having no standard is not working: we must have a national goal to make biking and walking a safe transportation option.
The overall safety performance measure lacks vision, accountability, and urgency. There is NO target set for reducing the number of people killed on our roads. States are asked to make “significant progress” towards two of four proposed measures, with a margin of error that could see fatality and injury numbers actually increase. We can’t keep losing our fellow riders and fellow Texans this way.
US DOT is asking for comments on their proposed safety measures– and they need to hear from you. Visit the League of American Bicyclists’ Action Center here to submit your comments. Please endorse the League’s comments or submit your own. The commenting period ends June 30.