Documentary released to honor those who died in traffic accidents, discuss change
CLIFTON, Ohio (WKRC) - Across the nation and at home, reckless drivers and dangerous roads are killing people.
Already this year, more than thirty people have died on Cincinnati roads. On Sunday, those people were honored just before a special screening of a new film about street safety.
Cincinnati City Council member Mark Jeffreys helped bring the film “The Street Project” to the Esquire Theatre. The documentary explores the global efforts to make streets safer for pedestrians and cyclists.
"A real grassroots effort to get neighborhoods activated and streets safer,” said Jeffreys.
Before the showing, there was a moment of silence for the 32 people killed this year in traffic incidents.
For Jeffreys, Sunday's World Remembrance Day for Traffic Victims was personal.
"I lost my mother-in-law four years ago. And she was killed. She was 81, survived the Holocaust, but she got run over by a car, by a driver,” said Jeffreys. “So, it’s something I reflect on. She has not been there for graduations for three of our kids, and you know, Thanksgiving is here. So, these 32 people are lives and this is Thanksgiving week and they won’t be at the table."
Jeffreys recently introduced an ordinance for Cincinnati to adopt a Complete Streets policy.
"Certainly not going to change our roads overnight, but it will certainly start to bend the curve,” said Jeffreys.
The policy means when a street is built or re-paved, city engineers will add on things like speed bumps, bike lanes, or curb extensions, or they will explain why it is not feasible.
"In the last 75 years, we’ve designed them for cars first and people are really an afterthought, so this flipped the switch. We are first going to think about how people are using it, whether they are walking or using a mobility device,” said Jeffreys.
You will soon see some Complete Street projects in The West End, Queensgate, and Lower Price Hill. The city is using $20 million in federal grants to reduce lanes for vehicle traffic, plant trees, and add bump-outs and protected bike lanes.
