Engaged Action is Key to Culture Change Needed to Make Roads Safe For All

On Feb. 10, I posted a piece about US historic traffic crash data since 1975 that showed the significant increase in traffic-related death and injury rates overall since 2020 when Covid began, especially for those using active transportation (walking, running, cycling and more). 

A few days after that Feb. 10 story, I posted a piece like the one you're reading now but then pulled it to make it more relevant to where I live in Hickory, NC, after hearing about two hit and run deaths within 5 days on nearby US Rt. 70. The first death involved a man on a bicycle Friday night, Feb. 14. The second death, Feb. 19, involved a male pedestrian in broad daylight only 5 miles away on the same road very close to what you see in the picture below I took from my car. 

I finished the Feb. 10 traffic crash data post advocating that culture change is the most important key to improving safety for all road users. At the same time, I noted that culture change is the most difficult goal we, as humans, can ever shoot to attain. 

Culture change doesn't happen at the snap of a finger. It's a process that requires three distinct steps: problem identification, practical solution development and community buy-in, and it all starts with engaged action.

Below are personal engaged action example bullets, and I sure don't mean to slap myself on the back. Engaging in positive change as a lifelong avid road cyclist, driver and longtime appointed or elected local official has been, and still is, a labor of love with some wins and many more losses. 

2012-2020: Chaired Westborough, MA, Bike and Pedestrian Advisory Committee (BPAC).

• Mission:
  • Improve safety and access for pedestrians and cyclists throughout town
  • Build a multi-use (walk/bike) trail
• Committee success highlights:
• Secured funding to install Rectangular Rapid Flashing Beacons (RRFB’s) at 17 high-use town crosswalks.

• Conducted Road Safety Audit (RSA) of downtown traffic rotary (roundabout) and promoted successful follow-up mitigation measures, like improving signage, installing a flashing yield sign and painting driving directions just before entering the rotary as shown below.

• Started Boston-Worcester Air Line Multi-Use Trail (BWALT) construction.

2021-Present: Hickory, NC

• Active with our Western Piedmont Council of Government (WPCOG) through its Movability Advisory Committee that now has become the Transportation Safety Plan Subcommittee focused on improving safety for all modes of transportation in our Western Piedmont 4-county region.

• Member of the "Hickory Moving Forward" Transportation Safety Plan Focus Group
  • Leading an initiative to develop a business and community organization led movement to improve road safety by promoting heightened personal responsibility and mutual accountability for all road users (the logo below is subject to change)

• BikeWalkNC (BWNC) board member since 2022. BWNC is North Carolina’s statewide active transportation advocacy organization.
• Participated in North Carolina State Highway Safety Plan 2024 drafting with a focus on improved active transportation and road intersection safety.
• Have helped coordinate North Carolina national legislator active transportation advocacy meetings during the League of American Bicyclists Washington, DC, National Summit since 2023.
• Helped produce two “In This Together” BWNC/Foreword Films pedestrian and cycling safety videos. 
• Working with 2025 BWNC Transportation Summit leadership team to prepare for our annual summit sited this year in Hickory.

I've written here and have spoken out publicly that the status quo regarding poor traffic conditions for all modes of transportation, and all supported by valid data, is unacceptable. Speaking is one thing. Engaged action rules. Action starts with interest, and it just takes one small step to get started, like checking in with someone in your community you know is involved and finding out how you can help.

That's how I got started.

You bet, I'll keep you posted on progress.