Each pair of shoes in that image above represents just one of the 405 precious lives lost on Oregon roads so far this year. We are on pace for yet another grisly record locally and across the state as our collective efforts to make road use safer continues to be outpaced by the growth of the threat.
“My hope is that everyone who sees these empty shoes will be reminded that someone still mourns a person who no longer walks among us.”
— Kim Stone, survivor and member of Families for Safe Streets
In that gap between our incremental safety measures and the harsh realities of our sick transportation culture, people are being killed and injured every day.
One group hit particularly hard by this constant stream of traffic violence are the families left behind. Oregon and SW Washington Families for Safe Streets is made up of those survivors and they want more people to feel the loss caused by these crashes. These brave moms, dads, sisters and brothers are hosting a event this Saturday (11/5) to collect shoes for a temporary art installation that will coincide with the World Day of Remembrance for Road Traffic Victims observed worldwide on November 20th.
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“My hope is that everyone who sees these empty shoes will be reminded that someone still mourns a person who no longer walks among us,” said Kim Stone, one of the founding members of Families for Safe Streets.
The Day of Remembrance seeks to not just remember lost friends and family, but also to pay tribute to the first responders who deal with the traumatic aftermath of traffic carnage.
If you have a used pair of shoes that you’d like to donate for this art installation, please drop it by Oregon Walks headquarters, 1805 NE 2nd Avenue, between 11:00 am and 3:00 pm on November 5th. Everyone is also invited to the unveiling of the memorial and a vigil on the 20th. More details on the event’s Facebook page or the BikePortland Calendar.
— Jonathan Maus, (503) 706-8804 – jonathan@bikeportland.org
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