ride on SE 52nd Ave.
(Photo © J. Maus)
Lost in the end-of-year festivities and perhaps overshadowed by a startling number of people killed while walking on Oregon roads in 2010 (60), lies a positive statistic that deserves our attention. In 2010, there were zero fatal bicycle crashes in Portland.
According to PBOT data, this is the sixth time since 1999 that no one has been killed while riding a bike in our city (others were 1999, 2000, 2002, 2006 and 2008).
Back in 2009 I shared an interview with Greg Raisman — who’s not just one of PBOT’s most knowledgeable traffic safety experts, he’s also a passionate advocate for safe streets. Here’s a quote from that interview (emphasis mine):
“All traffic fatalities are a symptom of the same disease. It’s equally sad and tragic if a person is killed while walking, biking, or driving. It also appears that the conditions that make it safer for the most vulnerable make it safer for everyone. As roads become safe enough that a child can safely walk or bike to their friend’s house, the roads also become safer for driving to that friend’s house when you have to.”
Words to live by as we get ready for Mayor Adams’ Fifth Annual Transportation Safety Summit on February 8th.
UPDATE: I’ve published a follow-up to this story with more 2010 traffic fatality data.