INDIANAPOLIS — City leaders continue to push to keep people on foot and on bicycles safe around Indianapolis.
Dozens of pedestrians have been hit by cars just this year. Wednesday was the first public meeting for the Vision Zero task force. They focused on introducing the members of the task force and laid out the process and next steps to implement the plan.
Task Force chair John Barth said Wednesday's meeting is the first step of many to accomplish the Vision Zero goal of eliminating traffic fatalities by 2035. Just in August, 103 pedestrians were hit by drivers in Indianapolis. Seven of those people died.
"There's a lot of important work that needs to happen between now and that date. Really focused on getting our action plan up and running so we can include our strategies in the budget for next year," Barth said.
The task force introduced its members and laid out its plans for next steps. They also introduced Vision Zero consultant Maria Cantrell. She was a Vision Zero coordinator for the city of Columbus, Ohio. Barth said the experience the consultants provide will help them figure out what will work best for our city.
"We are going to bring together a lot of experience from other cities. Our consultants will say, 'This is how Columbus, Ohio does it, this is how New York does it, this is how Hoboken does it,'" Barth said. "So we can learn those lessons and infuse the things we really think are best practices and put them into our plan."
Barth said community engagement will be vital.
"Vision Zero doesn't work unless you have the support of the community," said Barth.
Connie Szabo Schmucker with Bicycle Garage Indy said that's exactly why she attended the meeting.
"Right now there are a lot of people not getting home safely, whether they are walking or biking or going to transit or in a car. Improving our roadways so everyone gets home safely should be important for everybody," said Schmucker.
One of her co-workers was hit and killed while riding his bike three years ago. She said making the roads safer for pedestrians and cyclists will also help drivers.
They hope to have the first draft of the action plan completed by 2025. Another meeting is planned for December, at which time the task force will allow public comment.