By Ruth Fox 

Washington, DC, November 9 

In 2015, the District of Columbia government committed to a plan to reduce pedestrian and bicyclist traffic deaths.  The plan, called “Vision Zero” was initially launched with the goal of having zero pedestrian deaths in Washington, D.C. by 2024. As 2024 draws closer, D.C. residents are taking stock of the ambitious plan. 

According to the D.C. Metropolitan Police Department, as of October 30, there have been 42 traffic deaths in the District this year.  This is the highest of any year since the launch of Vision Zero in 2015. Experts and activists blame the lack of improvement on the D.C. government’s failure to implement policies necessary to achieve Vision Zero objectives. Falling short of Vision Zero goals impacts students across the city.  According to a 2019 survey by the Office of the Deputy Mayor for Education, 23% of students walk to school– activists say the failure to improve traffic safety to protect those students is no small issue. 

It may be easy for those traveling in cars to dismiss Vision Zero, but the program’s lack of success in addressing traffic danger has a devastating effect on cyclists and pedestrians.   One particularly devastating story is Allison Hart, a kindergartener at Mundo Verde Public Charter School (the same school attended by the author of this article).  In 2021, five year old Allie was riding her bike through a school zone with her dad, when she was hit and killed by a van that failed to stop at a stop sign.  Earlier this month, Nijad Huseynov, a 24 year-old graduate student at George Washington University, was killed while riding in the L Street bike lane near Dupont Circle.

According to a March 2023 report by the Office of the District of Columbia Auditor, the main reason for Vision Zero’s failure seems to be a delay in funding for investments to address traffic danger.  Mentioned in the auditor’s report, the city conducted safety studies but failed to incorporate the results into planning, thus delaying actions to improve safety.  In addition, according to the report the budget for Vision Zero was held at $500,000 for the first three years of its implementation, which delayed funding and to address traffic safety. The report asserts that D.C. government didn’t fully fund Vision Zero. 

Karina Rick formerly the Director of Transportation Planning for Washington D.C., offered her perspective on D.C.’s lack of success in implementing Vision Zero. In her view, the failure is not only a problem of government implementation, but also a problem of democracy and public opinion.   

Rather than pointing to one easily solvable issue, Ricks pointed out the problem that will always arise in a democracy that considers the input of people with different viewpoints– not everyone will agree.   Ricks views the lack of Vision Zero implementation not as the consequence of lack of effort, but as the consequence of conversation.  “We are a democratic country, which is wonderful, and it also means that it involves dialogue and listening and exchange which tends to slow things down.”  

Ricks points to a particular experience she had when she was attempting to build a crosswalk on a street across from a school. Parents were jaywalking with their children due to the lack of a convenient crosswalk, eventually someone was  hit by a vehicle. To build this crosswalk, one parking spot would need to be removed, this was the root of the pushback she received.  

Said Ricks,  “some of the residents were really really upset that we were going to eliminate one parking space, no matter how many conversations we had with the community that this is about the safety of children and district residents, and someone actually said out loud at one of the meetings ‘well I’m sorry that’s not my problem, my problem is where I’m going to park my car.’” To Ricks, push back like this has been the driving factor for Vision Zero’s slow progress.

Lack of traffic safety impacts Field Students.  

Matteo Sdralevich, a tenth grade student at The Field School, spoke about his experiences biking in D.C. “It really does depend on the road though”, said Matteo, “some are fine, some aren’t.  Bicycle lanes are nice, yes, but they aren’t everywhere, and on some of the more necessary roads, they aren’t present.” While there are bike lanes in D.C, a lack of consistency seems to be what is causing issues. Matteo gave the example of Foxhall Road as a street that needed improvement.  “ I go up and down Foxhall, and it is a nightmare to cycle” he said.  Roads like Foxhall may discourage students from biking to school. Matteo points out that, while he can get around the city fine for the most part “it is probably worse for someone who has cycled less than me.” 

To learn more about what the D.C. government do to help make D.C. a more accessible city for students who bike to school, like Matteo, I spoke to Sarah Haedrich, the Vision Zero coalition coordinator at the Washington Area Bicyclists Association.  Haedrich states that, D.C. needs to start putting more funding into the Vision Zero project. Sarah Haedrich is currently working on a grant for education and outreach, where she speaks to people about street safety laws and policies, and educates people on how to best keep themselves, and others safe, while using D.C. streets. While Haedrich recognizes the importance of education and outreach she also recognizes the need for funding in order to achieve this ambitious goal: “[P]people can talk and spread messages, but ultimately it’s very important to have the funding at the end of the day to do the projects.” 

When asked what students at The Field School do to help the situation Sarah Haedrich says; “It’s so important that your voice is heard in the decision making and in the messaging…Historically I don’t think youth have been listened to when it comes to safe streets… but my other message would be, get involved.” As students we may have minimal power in swaying the tide concerning Vision Zero, but students can still speak up, share their stories, and do what they can to keep the streets safe.  The National Highway Transportation Safety Administration (NHTSA) provides safety tips for drivers to help keep pedestrians safe, such as stopping for pedestrians in crosswalks and never passing another vehicle stopped in a crosswalk.  To protect cyclists NHTSA especially warns drivers to look carefully when turning and to avoid turning in front of bicycles – which may be moving faster than you think.  NHTSA warns that driving the speed limit is another important way to avoid harming pedestrians and cyclists.  The maximum speed on DC surface streets is 25 miles per hour, and Vision Zero has lowered the limit to 20 MPH on many DC streets.  According to a report by ProPublica, the chance of someone dying when hit by a car goes up rapidly when the speed is greater than 20 MPH.  According to data analyzed by ProPublica, “a person is about 70 percent more likely to be killed if they’re struck by a vehicle traveling at 30 MPH versus 25 MPH.