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

Vision Zero (VZ) is the goal of eliminating serious injuries and fatalities in our transportation system. VZ got its start in Sweden in the 1990’s after decades of above average fatality and injury rates from crashes between vehicles, bicyclists and pedestrians. Since setting the goal of eliminating fatalities and injuries by 2020, Sweden has cut its traffic fatalities in half, despite the increase in vehicles and miles of road constructed in the same amount of time (The Economist, Feb 2014).

Vision Zero is a data-driven initiative that seeks to unify infrastructure design, public education and enforcement efforts around the goal of zero traffic fatalities and severe injuries, while increasing safe and healthy mobility for all types of users. It can be summarized in one sentence: No loss of life is acceptable. The Vision Zero approach has proven highly successful. It is based on the simple fact that we are human and make mistakes. The road system needs to keep us moving, and be designed to anticipate those mistakes. But it must also be designed to protect us at every turn.

Since 2006, Long Beach has made steady progress toward its goal of being a leader among bicycle and pedestrian friendly cities through changes in our infrastructure and adoption of related policies. In May 2016, the Long Beach City Council adopted a resolution to pursue a VZ strategy. In March 2018, after securing grant funding, the City Council authorized Department of the Public Works to hire a consultant (Toole Design Group) to conduct the network analysis and develop a VZ policy.

Long Beach has branded its Vision Zero project as Safe Streets Long Beach. Walk Long Beach is part of the technical advisory committee for this effort. No significant action has occurred since May 2019. WLB will continue to closely monitor and will be advocating for a strong and effective VZ policy for Long Beach

If you would like to know more about this effort, please sign up for updates or contact us.

 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.

 Vision Zero Network was pleased to team with Ford Safety Insights program on a webinar highlighting new solutions helping transportation practitioners transition safety planning and analysis from a reactive to proactive approach. Employing a data-driven approach using a tool like Safety Insights can help save communities time, money and, most importantly, lives. 

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.