Breaking the cycle of tragedy: We can plan a safer future for Tallahassee

Tallahassee’s pedestrian and cyclist fatalities are out of control.

A recent study showed that Leon County had the third-most crashes involving pedestrians of Florida’s 67 counties. According to the Florida Traffic Safety Dashboard, 52 pedestrians and cyclists have died since 2020 in Leon County.

The good news is that we have the power to help.

Individual drivers must accept their responsibility behind the wheel for public safety – and so must policymakers. We know certain configurations of roads and planning priorities are safer than others that put residents at risk, and now is the time to prioritize safety on Tallahassee’s streets.

Policy choices surrounding growth management and urban planning – or the lack thereof – directly contribute to these tragedies. The senseless violence and death on our roadways are not acceptable. We have a responsibility and the opportunity to face it directly and make decisive changes.

In our city’s strategic plan which lays out our priorities as a commission, public safety comes first. To this end, the city, along with Leon County and Blueprint have made investments to improve roadways, widen sidewalks, and protect bike lanes—and there are more projects which do just that to come. Yet with the tragic deaths of dozens of pedestrians and cyclists in recent years, often at the same locations known to be sites of conflict between pedestrians, cyclists, and cars, it’s clear that more must be done.

At a recent city commission meeting I made the motion to explore joining “Vision Zero,” a network of cities committed to eliminating all traffic fatalities and investing in equitable mobility for all people. One such community, Hoboken, New Jersey, achieved zero traffic deaths in four years using common sense, straightforward solutions like improving sightlines and visibility at corners and intersections and utilizing leading pedestrian intervals which give pedestrians a head start before vehicles can turn.

Other safety improvements – some of which we have implemented in a limited capacity locally– include protected bicycle lanes, median refuge islands, high visibility crosswalk markings, pedestrian-activated stoplights, raised crosswalks, or using chicane designs.

In 2023 the Capital Region Transportation Planning Agency (CRTPA) published its “Safe Streets and Roads for All Safety Action Plan” which included a prioritized list of 52 critical local projects and other recommendations, many of which can be implemented immediately and at a low cost. Because of their good work—and the good work of many local partners—we can make investments knowing where they will make the greatest difference to our quality of life and to our safety.

With as many agencies and governments responsible for working together to make these changes, I recommend convening a Pedestrian & Cyclist Safety Taskforce to bring together experts and stakeholders in planning, transportation, and development to coordinate the implementation of the CRTPA’s recommendations, review current policies, and propose comprehensive changes.

We are at a crossroads in how we grow, and the future of our city.

Sprawl patterns of development are associated with many negative social costs shouldered by taxpayers, and one of them is – yes – more injuries inflicted on cyclists and pedestrians, and more unnecessary deaths.

By taking a comprehensive look at all these factors and urgently making pedestrian and cyclist safety a priority, we can change the status quo, save lives, and ensure that Tallahassee is safe for all its residents.

Jack Porter serves as a Tallahassee city commissioner, holds a master’s degree in Urban and Regional Planning and Public Administration and Policy from Florida State University, and is an avid cyclist.

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This article originally appeared on Tallahassee Democrat: Breaking the cycle of tragedy by planning a future for Tallahassee