Columbia Mayor's Task Force on Pedestrian Safety issues final report; recommends Vision Zero approach
Last Friday, the Columbia Mayor's Task Force on Pedestrian Safety issued its final report, which gives a strong recommendation for implementing a Vision Zero policy in Columbia:
After thirteen meetings during the last 9 months, we are pleased to present our Final Report and Recommendations, titled "A Vision Zero Policy for Columbia." As you will read, "Vision Zero" is a philosophy of transportation system design and operations that asserts:
1. Safety is the most important factor in transportation planning;
2. Traffic deaths and serious injuries are preventable and, therefore, unacceptable;
3. Transportation systems should be designed so that user errors are not fatal.
When these three statements comprise the foundation of the transportation planning process, there are fewer traffic crashes, and fewer deaths and serious injuries of pedestrians, motorists, and all other types of road users. The success of Vision Zero to save lives has been demonstrated in cities across the United States and throughout the world.
Our first recommendation to the City Council is to adopt a Vision Zero policy. This will establish a framework for the other fifteen recommendations, based on the "Three Es" --? Education, Enforcement, and Engineering. Each recommendation is supported with detailed background information, a reasonable timeline for implementation, and a viable funding strategy.
To underscore the urgency of these recommendations, we draw attention to a very recent report by the Governors Highway Safety Association [1], projecting that 2015 data on pedestrian fatalities in the U.S. will show a 10% spike over 2014. As we finalize this report, we note with sadness the death of yet another pedestrian in Columbia, struck by a bus on March 7th, 2016.
Ian Thomas, Task Force Co-Chair and Ward 4 City Councilmember
Clyde Ruffin, Task Force Co-Chair and Ward 1 City Councilmember
March 25th, 2016
The full Committee Report (download-PDF format) is an excellent summary of Vision Zero, what it is, how to implement it, and why reasons communities should adopt a Vision Zero policy.
Find out more about Vision Zero and how to implement Vision Zero in your Missouri community, on MoBikeFed's Vision Zero page.
Working to improve safety for all road users is one of the four major goals of MoBikeFed's Vision for Bicycling and Walking in Missouri. Vision Zero - with its proven methodology for moving to ZERO road fatalities--clearly fits perfectly with our Vision in this area.
Your ongoing membership and generous financial support helps turn our Vision into reality!
Join MoBikeFed's Advocacy Network
Working together we make a real difference! Join our advocacy network:
Related pages
Current topics...
Archives...
Want better bicycling and walking in Missouri?
We rely on the support of members like you. Please join, renew, or donate today.
- Home
- JOIN/DONATE
- News/Info
- Missouri Bicycling, Running, Trails
- Bicycle Skills and Safety
- Missouri Bike/Ped Law
- Clubs and Organizations
- Bike Shops
- Running Shops
- Bicycling, Running, Trails-related Businesses
- Ride, Run, Walk, Hike, Triathlon, and Events Calendars
- Bicycles on Amtrak
- Maps and Routes
- Trails and Trail Maps
- IBikeMO.org
- Planning a Missouri bicycle trip
- Gravel and Bikepacking Maps & Routes
- Bicycle & Touring Routes
- Advocacy
- Campaigns
- Our Legislative Platform
- Complete Streets
- Statewide Rock Island Trail
- Statewide Trail Vision - Quad State Trail
- Bicycle Friendly Missouri
- Walk Friendly Missouri
- Safe Routes to School
- MoDOT funding crisis
- High Priority Bike/Ped Project List
- Anti-harassment laws in cities & statewide
- Updating the basic bicycle law
- Our Vision for MoDOT
- Our Vision for MPOs/RPCs
- Our Vision for Cities & Counties
- Bicycle, pedestrian, trails plans across MO
- Protecting Vulnerable Road Users
- Vision Zero
- Missouri Trail Towns
- Store
- About