2014 was a pretty exciting year for biking in Seattle. A bunch of stuff that has been in development in recent years — like the Broadway Bikeway and the Bike Master Plan update — came to fruition this past year. But Mayor Ed Murray also rewrote the rules on bike and safe streets projects, surprising even longtime advocates with fast and bold action both in expediting the launch of Pronto Cycle Share and building a protected bike lane through the heart of downtown at what can only be described as the Seattle version of light speed.

In 2015, we look forward to more pilot projects for safe streets, including projects to connect neighborhoods to the 2nd Ave bike lane and to improve other long-problematic spots like Roosevelt/U Bridge and Rainier Ave. But we are also excited about the potential for pilot projects to better activate public space, like some experiments with public plazas and car-free areas. And, of course, we hope Murray and his team have some more awesome safe streets surprises up their sleeves.

2014 also saw a deeper spreading of a culture shift in the way people all across the region think about traffic violence. More and more communities are no longer seeing tragic traffic deaths or serious injuries as the unavoidable costs of doing business. From Kenmore to Kirkland to Rainier Valley to Puyallup to West Seattle to downtown Seattle, people have gathered to honor victims of traffic collisions and to figure out how we can make sure it never happens again. Seattle Neighborhood Greenways has played a vital role in this movement by connecting with families and helping to organize vigils and memorial walks.

In 2015, Seattle and the Puget Sound region need to get serious about a bold and achievable Vision Zero effort. That’s zero deaths and serious injuries. Zero. (more…)