The Role of Trails, Walking and Biking in COVID-19 Management webinar Jul 9, 2020

 The Vision Zero Network was pleased to host a webinar on August 18, 2020 to share an innovative approach to driving-related offenses that seeks to increase awareness and meaningful accountability amongst dangerous drivers, rather than focusing on punishment, fines or fees. This is part of our commitment to support and promote alternatives to law enforcement and criminal justice practices that perpetuate unjust racial and economic outcomes and deliver questionable results for roadway safety.  

The Center for Court Innovation launched the Driver Accountability Program in 2015 as a pilot program at the Red Hook Community Justice Center in Brooklyn, NY. The program takes a restorative justice approach to seeking accountability for traffic violators and healing for victims and survivors. Restorative justice programs focus on behavioral change in a way that is more equitable by not disproportionately impacting low-income communities — offering promising opportunities for Vision Zero champions who want to ensure traffic safety work is both effective and equitable.

The program’s director, Amanda Berman, describes restorative justice as “a theory of justice that focuses on people, relationships, and healing, rather than the crime or offense, punishment, and the law.” With a focus on healing, restorative justice practices can be used as a preventative tool to reduce rates of recidivism and shift harmful behaviors.

 The Vision Zero Network was pleased to host a webinar on August 5, 2020 featuring Don Kostelec, a planner and advocate in transportation safety, health, and traffic engineering.  

There’s a lot of talk about “culture change” in the world of traffic safety. Oftentimes, people refer to changing the culture of the general public – the people traveling. And yes, that is a piece of the puzzle. But a more primary piece — and one that should be prioritized sooner — is changing the culture within our institutions that directly influence how people travel — safely or less so. For instance, is this roadway designed to encourage safety first? How about what speed limit is set? And what about the question of which road user — someone walking or someone driving — has priority at a tricky intersection that could pose dangers?

In this webinar, planner and advocate Don Kostelec shares examples of the many ways that key influencers in our traffic system — including planners and engineers — often have more flexibility to elevate safety than the traditional thinking may assume. And — if done right – this can be an important part of culture change toward Vision Zero.

The Vision Zero Network is helping communities across the nation mobilize to address the crisis of 40,000 traffic deaths a year in this country, and millions more injuries. We are bringing key stakeholders together to declare that “Enough is Enough,” recognizing these tragedies as preventable with the right strategies and commitment. Our goal is safe mobility for all.  

The Vision Zero Network is a collaborative campaign helping communities reach their goals of Vision Zero -- eliminating all traffic fatalities and severe injuries -- while increasing safe, healthy, equitable mobility for all. As a nonprofit project, the Vision Zero Network is committed to defining, building momentum, and advancing Vision Zero in communities across the U.S.

For our communities to succeed in keeping people safe on our streets, sidewalks, and bikeways, it will take real change. And we know that this change won’t be easy because it means, in many cases, affecting the status quo.

Safe Routes to School is an initiative that works to make it safe, convenient, and fun for children to walk and bicycle to and from schools. The goal is to get more children walking and bicycling to school,  improve kids' safety, and increase health and physical activity.

As the stats bear out, kids today have become less active, less independent, and less healthy. In 1969, nearly 50 percent of all children in the United States (and nearly 90 percent of those within a mile of school) walked or bicycled to school. Today, that number has plummeted to fewer than 15 percent. During the morning commute, driving to school represents 10-14 percent of traffic on the road.

Studies show that Safe Routes to School programs are effective at increasing rates of bicycling and walking to school and decreasing injuries.

Concerned by the long-term health and traffic consequences of this trend, in 2005 Congress approved funding for implementation of Safe Routes to School programs in all 50 states and the District of Columbia. Though there have been policy shifts, Safe Routes to School is still eligible for funding under the current federal transportation bill. Communities use funds to construct new bicycle lanes, pathways, and sidewalks, and launch Safe Routes to School education, promotion, and enforcement campaigns.