The Bicycle Coalition of Greater Philadelphia is teaming with Thomas Jefferson University and presenting sponsor AAA for the first-ever Vision Zero Conference in Philadelphia on December 3.
Vision Zero is based on the concept that road crashes are not accidents, but are preventable events. A Vision Zero Policy seeks to reduce all traffic deaths in a given area to zero. The Bicycle Coalition and its partners believe Philadelphia can make this happen.
“There are nearly 100 deaths and thousands of injuries in Philadelphia traffic each year. This is public health and safety crisis that warrants a comprehensive action plan,” says Sarah Clark Stuart, Interim Executive Director of the Bicycle Coalition of Greater Philadelphia. “We believe many citywide organizations — City Hall, the Philadelphia Police Department, and hospitals, among others — have an important stake in this issue.”
Each year, there are 11,000 crashes in Philadelphia, nearly 100 deaths, and thousands of injuries. Pedestrians and cyclists are our most vulnerable road users and lack real protection against thousand-plus-pound vehicles.
AAA Mid-Atlantic has teamed up with the Bicycle Coalition and Thomas Jefferson to help figure out how to stop Philadelphia’s traffic violence.
“We should never think of crashes on Philadelphia streets as inevitable,” said Catherine Rossi, Vice President of Public and Government Affairs for AAA Mid-Atlantic. “AAA believes that the traffic safety culture in Philadelphia needs to change among motorists, bicyclists and pedestrians alike as everyone, across all modes of transportation, needs to share the road safely and responsibly.”
The costs to Philadelphia are horrendous – not just in terms of the human toll, but financially as well. According to the Pennsylvania Department of Transportation, the medical, auto insurance, and infrastructure costs associated with crashes total more than $1 billion per year.
National experts in safety design, engineering, education and enforcement from both the public and private sectors will share their expertise and experience to help lay the groundwork for a goal and action plan that is tailored to Philadelphia and employs best practices. Join us for a day of speakers, panels and break out-sessions focused on this crucial safety issue.
The Bicycle Coalition of Greater Philadelphia and its partners have urged the incoming Kenney Mayoral administration to create a task force with a mandate to craft Philadelphia’s Vision Zero Policy.
Media contact:
Randy LoBasso | 215-242-9253 Ext. 311 | randy@bicyclecoalition.org
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