Bike Indianapolis Remembers Lives Lost to Traffic Violence on World Day of Remembrance
As we approach record-high traffic fatalities in 2021 and World Day of Remembrance on Nov. 21, Bike Indianapolis is urging City-County officials and Indianapolis motorists to address the traffic violence affecting all road users.
According to the IndyStar, Indianapolis has reported more than 115 traffic deaths in 2021, and on Oct. 28, Frank Radaker became the seventh person riding a bike to be hit and killed by a motorist since mid-July.
"We're on track for one of the deadliest years for traffic violence in Indianapolis, right after setting a record last year,” said Damon Richards, Executive Director of Bike Indianapolis. “People keep saying something has to be done, but assume someone else has to do it. Our mayor and City-County council must act to make our streets safer or more people are going to die. And it's not just on our elected leaders. We can all make our streets safer. Slow down. Pay attention. Don’t wait until someone close to you becomes a fatality statistic before you act."
The Data:
From 2019 to 2020, Central Indiana experienced an 18% increase in pedestrian crashes and a 16% increase in crashes involving people on bikes and cars — including a total of 59 deaths caused by motorists colliding with pedestrians and people on bikes. Since 2015, motorists have hit more than 1,200 pedestrians and bicyclists and killed 235 people walking and biking.
The graphic below charts “pedestrian” and “pedalcyclist” crash data reported by the Indianapolis Metropolitan Planning Organization between 2015 and 2020:
Source: Indianapolis Metropolitan Planning Organization
What Indianapolis Officials Must Do
Simply put, the City of Indianapolis must be transparent about the true scale of traffic violence within the city. Indianapolis’ current system for recording traffic violence relies on undetailed collision reports hidden behind an IMPD paywall — making it difficult to obtain reports and current data. This lack of transparency has led to a plague of underreported traffic fatalities and allowed Indianapolis’s pedestrian safety crisis to go unaddressed.
While the city has made recent investments in pedestrian and bicycle infrastructure, it isn’t enough to truly address the crisis on our streets. Indianapolis officials must act to stop traffic violence, share reports in a timely fashion and redesign infrastructure to calm traffic and prevent future traffic deaths. Bike Indianapolis is challenging Indianapolis officials to commit to the following practices to ensure the safety of all Indianapolis road users:
Create a crash response team led by City-County employees consisting of independent citizens to review crash sites involving pedestrians and people on bikes following collisions in order to detail infrastructure, document contributing conditions and recommend improvements to streets to prevent future deaths.
Develop a clear channel of communication and database that publicizes crash data and collision reports promptly following the inspection by the crash response team.
Respond to recommendations provided by the crash response team and execute plans to update infrastructure and policy in order to avoid future crashes.
What Indianapolis Residents Must Do
Pedestrians and people on bikes must share the road with motorists, and likewise, motorists must share the road with pedestrians and people on bikes. Indianapolis motorists can save lives by slowing down and remaining alert and aware of vulnerable road users. Indiana law prohibits the use of handheld devices such as cellphones while driving, and failure to abide by the law can result in a $500 ticket and four points against a driver’s license. Obeying speed limits and treating pedestrians and people on bikes with the same respect given to motorists can help ensure safer streets for all road users.
ABOUT BIKE INDIANAPOLIS
Bike Indianapolis is a member-based, nonprofit organization utilizing advocacy, education and ride programming to encourage Central Indiana residents to bike. We know riding a bike is healthier, more equitable and more sustainable than driving, but it’s also fun! For more information about biking, bike advocacy and bike rides in Indianapolis, visit BikeIndianapolis.org.
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