It Worked: Readers Take Over CDOT’s Victim-Blaming #SafetyStartsWithAllOfUs Campaign
Instead of making streets like Federal Boulevard (also known as highway 88) safer with proven physical interventions that calm traffic speeds, the Colorado Department of Transportation is trying to “educate” the carnage out of deadly city streets with a PR campaign (as usual).
It’s ridiculous that CDOT expects people walking and biking to bear the same responsibility on public streets as people operating multi-ton killing machines. So we asked you to flip the script — and you did.
Streetsblog readers from all over the country overwhelmed CDOT’s #SafetyStartsWithAllOfUs hashtag on Twitter. Here are some of the best responses:
Some of you took CDOT’s Day-Glo wardrobe requirements to the next level…
New CDOT recommended pedestrian light-suit and body-armour. Remember #SafetyStartsWithAllOfUs @ColoradoDOT pic.twitter.com/McIiRc0E0x
— daniel gonzales (@scmodstyle) June 14, 2018
Headed for a walk down Federal Blvd or Colfax Ave? Be sure to wear your @ColoradoDOT approved high-visablity walking outfits! #SafetyStartsWithAllOfUs pic.twitter.com/R55MB4BjGl
— Steven Chester (@UrbanDenver) June 12, 2018
Headed for a walk down Federal Blvd or Colfax Ave? Be sure to wear your @ColoradoDOT approved high-visablity walking outfits! #SafetyStartsWithAllOfUs pic.twitter.com/R55MB4BjGl
— Steven Chester (@UrbanDenver) June 12, 2018
Latest @ColoradoDOT reccomendation is full-body-airbag-suits for all pedestrians. #SafetyStartsWithAllOfUs pic.twitter.com/DJlPRfh8nB
— daniel gonzales (@scmodstyle) June 14, 2018
Some people used their firsthand experiences to combat CDOT’s faux safety message…
Drivers unapologetically unsafe today, even though @ColoradoDOT specifically asked them not to be! Weird. #SafetyStartsWithAllOfUs
— Torin Jensen (@geeesman) June 15, 2018
Survived the bike ride in today, got yelled at for not riding in a bike lane on a street without one. Swerved around 2 cars in bike lanes and avoided two cars running red lights. @ColoradoDOT #SafetyStartsWithAllOfUS
— Jake Cohen (@coloradically) June 14, 2018
Also, the number of times I, as a pedestrian, have been an existential threat to a driver EVER is still zero. #SafetyStartsWithAllOfUs https://t.co/3yDunAuP9a
— Chris Jones (@PickledEntropy) June 14, 2018
A quick search through the news of the day provides plenty of fodder too…
Heads up pedestrians, cars on Federal are sometimes on the sidewalk. Don't look at your phone and wear reflective shit or something. #SafetyStartsWithAllOfUs https://t.co/BCHVh5h74m
— sunshine (@MountainDayTime) June 15, 2018
. @ColoradoDOT “pedEsTriaNS HavE tHe RighT to bE ON roADs Just AS MUCH As dRiveRS DO. AnYtime yoU ARe A pEdeStrIaN on cOLoRado ROAdS, MAke sURE yoU are vIsIbLe tO DrIvERs. PedEStRIaNS SHOUlD STRIVE TO bE SafE ANd Seen.” #saFETySTaRTswIthaLLOfuS https://t.co/bavBLeCLCq
— Bob Gunderson (@Bob_Gunderson) June 12, 2018
@ColoradoDOT I’m seeing reports of 3 major vehicle crashes on highways in the Denver area all in the last hour. Gotta tell those pedestrians and bikes to stay off highways #Sarcasm #SafetyStartsWithAllOfUs #visionzero
— Andrea DeFrates (@AndreaDeFrates) June 14, 2018
One Denver City Council member weighed in…
#SafetyStartsWithAllOfUS Let's design our roads for people not for cars. #VisionZero https://t.co/j9m72ggtW6
— Mary Beth Susman (@CouncilSusman) June 13, 2018
You all owned Colorado’s transportation department. Enjoy…
If you aren’t a skilled communicator, it is important to practice your messaging skills before you hit the busy airwaves. Many advocates offer lessons to help transpo agencies become better communicators. #SafetyStartsWithAllOfUs #bikesafe
— Martha Roskowski (@martharoskowski) June 13, 2018
.@ColoradoDOT says #SafetyStartsWithAllOfUS **
** “All of Us” excludes CDOT and its licensed professional engineers, as well as fellow AASHTO member DOTs, who purposely design deadly conditions for people who walk along DOT-managed streets. pic.twitter.com/YaVCLORUIX
— Don Kostelec (@KostelecPlan) June 15, 2018
@ColoradoDOT If hi-visibility gear is so effective, why do construction workers need a law to require vehicles to slow down and impose stiff penalties if they injure a worker? #SafetyStartsWithAllOfUs should be #SafetyStartsWithRoadDesign
— Chuck Hayward (@hayward_chuck) June 14, 2018
Such a teachable #SafetyStartsWithAllOfUs moment: substance-impaired driver crashes into 2nd story dentist office. Perhaps @ColoradoDOT could put your red-circle X graphic on this image? https://t.co/Atc6ZbJO6Q pic.twitter.com/ANbR3wfoyk
— StreetsblogLA (@StreetsblogLA) June 12, 2018
