pedestrian deaths

If Denver is serious about reducing the number of people who need to be remembered at candlelight vigils, we need bold action on street safety. We need more red-light cameras.

This morning Denver Police Chief Paul Pazen stood before a row of motorcycle cops to announce that nine new officers will beef up the city's traffic enforcement efforts. The move aims to cut the city's road deaths, which is increasing dramatically.

A group of eight people wearing gigantic eyeball masks high-fived pedestrians and danced at the corner of Speer Blvd. and Larimer Sts. this morning. The event intends to cut pedestrian fatalities in the state by urging people to make eye contact with drivers before crossing the street.

The Department of Public Works installed in-street pedestrian signs in the crosswalks at two intersections in the Washington Park neighborhood this morning. The signs come three weeks after Mayor Michael Hancock promised to boost street safety at 24 locations around the city after drivers killed two bicyclists last month, adding to a fast-rising death rate that is on track to reach highest level in over a decade.

As traffic fatalities skyrocket, a new region-wide Vision Zero program aims to help cities and counties within the Denver Metro improve street safety. 

Hundreds of people on bikes gathered near the ballpark last night before riding in the rain to a candlelight vigil held where a driver hit and killed a bicyclist last week. The second cyclist death in as many weeks, the action was part memorial, part protest and also part of an annual celebration when bicyclists put on dresses and ride through the city.

As the number of traffic fatalities continues to increase in Denver, the two candidates for mayor stopped short of committing to spending a small amount for fast, cheap street safety improvements.

Dozens of cyclists and pedestrians walked and biked to a ceremony yesterday where they remembered the 88 people killed on Denver’s streets since January 2018. There, Mayor Michael Hancock admitted that the city isn’t doing enough to stop traffic fatalities and serious injuries. “Every one of those lives lost is unacceptable and preventable,” Hancock said before listing the … Continued

This year, drivers have already killed 26 people, far outnumbering the 15 traffic fatalities at this point last year.