Safe Streets Indy

*** MULTIPLE CHILDREN STRUCK BY DRIVERS IN THE PAST 24 HOURS *** In the 24-hour period between 3/12 8:41PM and 3/13 8:24PM: * THREE Juveniles were struck by drivers of vehicles * ALL THREE were transported to local hospitals by medics * TWO were riding bicycles at the time they were struck * ONE was classified as involving Serious Bodily Injury (SBI) The two riding bicycles were 13 and 9 years old, respectively. The third, on foot when struck, was just 7 years old. The first incident occurred in District 25 (Brian Mowery), the second occurred in District 14 (Andy Nielsen — Vision Zero Task Force), and the third occurred in District 11 (Crista Lee Carlino). ENOUGH IS ENOUGH. We need our elected officials to show URGENCY and we need them to do so without any further delay. We've been told that we have to take this slow and we have to be deliberate. Slow and deliberate is going to get more of our city's children injured and killed —?and that is simply NOT acceptable. CC: Maria Cantrell

Roy Hodges Jr was struck and killed by a hit-and-run driver on West Washington Street in May 2024. His family recently spoke with WTHR-TV's Logan Gay about remembering Roy, the need for sidewalks, and harsher penalties for drivers who commit a hit-and-run. WTHR: 'He took away everything' | Family of dad killed in west Indy hit-and-run awaits justice, seeks stronger laws https://lnkd.in/gYyKZpQ3 Roy's family set up a change dot org petition to demand harsher penalties for drivers who commit a hit-and-run. Please consider taking a moment out of your day to sign this petition and share it with your circles. chng.it/KNkK8wBGZr

??? JUST LAUNCHED: Our new interactive Bus Stops map is now available! You can now view Pedestrian and Bicyclist incidents that occurred at or near Bus Stops across the city from this new map on the Indy Pedestrian Safety Crisis website. Visit the link below and select "Bus Stops" in the "View" dropdown to check out this new map. While you're there, check out our "Intersections" map which maps ped/bike incidents that occurred at or near specific intersections across the city. https://lnkd.in/g9hMUe_t

ICYMI: This morning we sent out our February 2025 Summary newsletter. If you're not subscribed you can read it at the link below. If you'd like to subscribe you can do so by visiting our website (safestreetsindy.org) and clicking on the Subscribe link in the footer! Summary for February 2025: https://lnkd.in/gg3qtUiV

NEW: Safe Streets Indy is excited to announce the launch of Incident Email Alerts! Select partners can now be alerted by email immediately when an incident occurs that matches their criteria. At this time this new service is open to government officials, news media, and advocacy organizations. If you're interested in signing up for Incident Email Alerts you can reach out to us here on LinkedIn or via the Contact Us form on our website.

Happy to share that my note, “The Road to Safer Streets: Tackling the Pedestrian & Cyclist Safety Crisis in Indianapolis,” is now officially published in the Indiana Health Law Review. This long process wouldn’t have been possible without the incredible support of our editors, my wonderful advisors Nicole Berwick and Lee Little, and the hard work of Safe Streets Indy (Eric Holt) in raising awareness about this critical issue. Check out the link below to read my note.

This morning a bicyclist was struck and killed near the intersection of Raymond & Shelby. Sadly, this is an intersection we know all too well. Last September, a volunteer installed one of our “How Many?” signs at this location due to 4 prior non-fatal ped/bike incidents in the area. Since the installation of the sign there have been two additional non-fatal bicyclist incidents. Now, a person is dead. Yet, this week we were told that the process to fix this has to be slow and deliberate. We were told we have to re-analyze the data. Figure out where the problem areas are. Slow and deliberate is going to get dozens of our fellow citizens killed before we ever lift a finger to do any actual work. We have the data. We know where we need to implement fixes. We know what fixes we need to implement. Stop letting bureaucracy get in the way of saving lives! More information about this morning’s fatality can be found here: https://lnkd.in/gsq7jjQn

This morning a bicyclist was struck and killed near the intersection of Raymond & Shelby. Sadly, this is an intersection we know all too well. Last September, a volunteer installed one of our “How Many?” signs at this location due to 4 prior non-fatal ped/bike incidents in the area. Since the installation of the sign there have been two additional non-fatal bicyclist incidents. Now, a person is dead. Yet, this week we were told that the process to fix this has to be slow and deliberate. We were told we have to re-analyze the data. Figure out where the problem areas are. Slow and deliberate is going to get dozens of our fellow citizens killed before we ever lift a finger to do any actual work. We have the data. We know where we need to implement fixes. We know what fixes we need to implement. Stop letting bureaucracy get in the way of saving lives! More information about this morning’s fatality can be found here: https://lnkd.in/gsq7jjQn

Safe Streets Indy provided the following statement to WTHR regarding today's Vision Zero Task Force meeting: "Safe Streets Indy was grateful to learn that the Vision Zero Task Force is finally holding a second meeting.?In the six months since the Indianapolis City-County Council passed this Vision Zero proposal, there have been more than 50 traffic fatalities on city streets including 19 of our most vulnerable road users — pedestrians and bicyclists.?Meanwhile, the Vision Zero Task Force has only met once and has taken no public comment.?We call on Councilor Barth, Vision Zero Task Force Chair, to commit to greater transparency and urgency as it moves forward in 2025." — WTHR: "Vision Zero Task Force, aimed at ending traffic fatalities in Indy, to meet for second time since August formation"

Safe Streets Indy?has learned that the next Vision Zero Task Force meeting will be held February 11th at 4:00PM in the Public Assembly Room (Room 230) at the City-County Building. This is set to be the first proper Vision Zero Task Force meeting after a brief introductory presentation in October and the cancelled December meeting. [UPDATE: The city has officially announced this meeting.] The meeting agenda once again does NOT include time for public comment?— just like the October and (cancelled) December meetings. Safe Streets Indy is greatly concerned by the Vision Zero Task Force's lack of engagement with the public.?Why does the Task Force not want to hear from the citizens of Indianapolis? Why the lack of transparency and accountability? In the nearly six months since the Vision Zero resolution was passed in August at least 50 people have been killed in crashes on the streets of Indianapolis —including 19 vulnerable road users such as pedestrians and bicyclists. Indianapolis is in the midst of a street safety crisis, and we need urgent action — not "business as usual" which is what we are sadly getting here. John Barth Andy Nielsen