Fresno can reduce cyclist & pedestrian traffic fatalities. Vision zero is the way to do it | Opinion

For too long we have tolerated violence and bloodshed on our streets — not of gun violence, but the automobile. Like other forms of violence in our society, it leaves behind broken families, broken bodies and broken dreams.

Real progress has been made. Some is the result of manufacturer improvements. Some is cultural. Drunken driving is viewed as a destructive act, and we now recognize that distracted and fatigued driving must be similarly addressed. While tens of thousands of people still die needlessly every year, these changes have led to decreases in deaths on our streets, at least for the occupants of vehicles. Unfortunately, the same is not true for our most vulnerable road users, pedestrians and bicyclists. The last 15 years have seen a 60% increase in the number of pedestrian fatalities.

I lost my cousin in a vehicle accident six years ago. She left on what was supposed to be a routine drive to her family’s cabin, where she would spend time with her mother and father before volunteering at a Girl Scout camp. Unfortunately, neither she nor the driver of the vehicle that left her lane and struck my cousin’s vehicle would survive that drive. I have also lost friends and acquaintances to vehicular violence. Each one of these events is devastating to a whole constellation of family, friends, co-workers, and neighbors.

I live in the Tower District, arguably the most walkable neighborhood in Fresno. Despite this we have had numerous pedestrians and cyclists hit, some fatally, just in the last year. As a center of Fresno’s nightlife scene, bar parking lots overfill in the evenings and the bus does not run past 6 p.m. on Saturday. The city has begun to install protected bike lanes, but it remains incredibly dangerous and scary to attempt to ride or walk in the neighborhood, particularly after dark.

I have talked to many parents who are afraid to let their child walk or ride their bike to school. Some are even fearful of letting them walk to the corner store. In an era where many people are lamenting the restrictions of childhood, one of the biggest causes is too often ignored. Gone is the freedom of a child hopping on their bike to visit friends, allowed to explore at will.

Vision zero, a new philosophy being utilized by cities and countries around the world, offers a way forward. Vision zero is a new way of thinking, which says traffic deaths are preventable. We may not be able to prevent all collisions, but we can prevent the most severe and dangerous kinds. This requires a whole system approach. It’s not enough to focus on the individual driver, expecting infallibility at all times. We need safer infrastructure, safer speeds and safer vehicles. The work will not be easy, nor will it be quick.

After years of advocacy from community members and city leaders, Fresno has secured funding to develop a vision zero plan. Thankfully the city government — from the council and mayor’s office to public works and police— have shown a commitment to this vision. We also need input from you and your community.

Discuss roads and road safety in your neighborhood. Would you like to see better sidewalks, speed bumps, a stoplight? Share your vision with others, including your elected officials. Consider combining trips as well as carpooling to lessen the number of vehicles on the roads, and bike or walk when possible- it will improve your health as well. If you are considering purchasing a vehicle, opt for a smaller vehicle.

Working together, we can reduce the dangers of cars in our community and create a safer, healthier and more livable Fresno.