November 19th, 2023

It has been one year since a candlelight vigil was held for World Day of Remembrance for Road Traffic Victims. Attendees gathered at the Bernie Milton Pavilion to hear personal recounts of near-death experiences and heartbreaking testimonies from our neighbors and friends about what we hope to never endure: losing someone to traffic violence. Petitions were signed and Ithaca electeds and municipal staff reassured the community of their commitment to our safety. And on that sobering November evening, I left the vigil grateful to witness a moment of unity that could ensure that Ithaca is indeed a place that values the lives of all community members.

Throughout 2023 I have witnessed first-hand significant progress in the education and safety of bicyclists and pedestrians: improved access to safety equipment including helmets, lights and reflective gear; and the repair/redesign of infrastructure to better suit all forms of transit. Bike Walk Tompkins, in cooperation with organizations all around the City and County, continue to respond in real-time in order to fulfill these vital transportation needs, keeping those who cannot or choose not to drive at the forefront of our efforts. Despite our daily support of the most vulnerable road users, we still hear reports of hit-and-runs, critical and, yes, fatal accidents as a result of fast-moving traffic on a weekly basis. We cannot allow this to be a normal occurrence. 

I commit to the work of Bike Walk Tompkins and our partner organizations because of the impact bicycling and walking has had on my life. Bicycling provided me with transportation when I didn’t own a car and united me with a community that has supported me for nearly a decade. I am certain that I’m not the only one who has felt a sense of  freedom and independence by using their feet, a bike, a skateboard, a wheelchair... the list goes on. 

We cannot allow those who choose (and many often do not have the choice) to utilize alternate forms of transportation to be considered less deserving of protection and safety. It should not be normal to anticipate the worst when our neighbors, friends, and family members leave for work, for a walk, or for a leisure ride. I shouldn’t have to fight the urge to hold my breath when I step from sidewalk to crosswalk on Fulton Ave on my way to work. No one should wait in fear that their child may suffer injury on their way to and from school.

I’m thankful we have City, Town, and County staff who are prioritizing safe street infrastructure, but construction takes time. We cannot act as if we are absolved from any responsibility to one another while on the road, relying only on flashing lights or high-vis paint to tell us how to behave. As a driver, please understand that you are surrounded by steel and safety equipment that has been intricately designed to protect you and your passengers. According to a study completed by the National Traffic Safety Board, the rate of severe or fatal injury to passengers of a speeding vehicle at 21-40 MPH is 2.5% (1). From this same study, the fatality rate of a pedestrian being struck by a vehicle at 40 MPH sits at a sobering 85%.

When we are granted the license to operate a motor vehicle, we are also entrusted with a responsibility to respect those with whom we share the road. Put simply: drive safely and predictably and remain alert to the possibility of fellow road users being in your path. Accidents happen because we don’t anticipate them.

Ithaca and our surrounding county is a beautiful place, and our streets — paid for by our tax dollars — are our largest shared public space. Not only do we each have the right to safely be in these spaces, we should all feel welcome to do so in whichever way we are able.

- Niki Friske, Director, Bike Walk Tompkins

1. National Traffic Safety Board (2017) Reducing Speeding-Related Crashes Involving Passenger Vehicles. Available from: https://www.ntsb.gov/safety/safety-studies/Documents/SS1701.pdf

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