Safety Can't Wait: Rally to Support Safer Streets
Monday, May 19th at 6:30pm - Ann Arbor City Hall
Community members came together on May 7th for a Die-in to raise awareness of the lack of progress on Ann Arbor’s Moving Together Towards Vision Zero plan. On Monday we have a chance to support additional funding for safer streets.
Join the Bicycle Alliance of Washtenaw, along with folks from Walk Bike Washtenaw, Neighborhood Institute, and Crashes In Ann Arbor to support safer streets in our community. We are really encouraged that all these groups and advocacy organizations are coming together to make our voices heard!
What: Rally to Support Safer Streets
Where: Ann Arbor City Hall at 301 E. Huron Street
Date: May 19th
Time: 6:30pm
For full details, see this press release that went out Friday:
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
ANN ARBOR ADVOCACY ORGANIZATIONS PLAN RALLY TO SUPPORT SAFER STREETS
— GROUPS CALL FOR FOUR SPECIFIC ACTIONS FROM CITY COUNCIL —
ANN ARBOR, Michigan (May 16, 2025) — Leaders of Walk Bike Washtenaw, Bicycle Alliance of Washtenaw, Neighborhood Institute, and Crashes In Ann Arbor will gather supporters to honor two recent victims of traffic violence on Huron Street/Business Loop I-94. Participants will meet in front of Ann Arbor City Hall at 301 E. Huron Street on May 19th at 6:30pm, before the City Council meeting, and call for four immediate improvements to Ann Arbor’s transportation system:
Reconfigure Ann Arbor-controlled streets to slow vehicle traffic.
Complete the trunkline transfer of MDOT-controlled streets to city ownership.
Deactivate flashing yellow arrows at intersections where controls cannot detect the presence of a pedestrian.
Approve the Budget Amendment to Prevent Roadway Fatalities and Injuries on Major Streets
“We need a transportation system that is safe for everyone,” says Peter Houk, who compiles crash data on his site, Crashes in Ann Arbor. “This includes those who make mistakes, because everyone makes mistakes.”
There have been at least 10 crashes resulting in a serious injury or fatality on Ann Arbor streets this year. In the past month alone, two crashes within a block of City Hall have killed one person and injured another.
“This budget amendment is a chance to course-correct,” says Matt Catanzarite, chair of Walk Bike Washtenaw. “It represents a rare alignment of funding, public support, and practical opportunity to make a difference now. Volunteers and advocates have been pushing for years for these changes, which are already written into the plans. It is time to act on them.”
“We already know how to fix this,” says Kirk Westphal of Neighborhood Institute. “Slower streets save lives and make our cities quieter, healthier, and more connected. The evidence is clear: What’s missing isn’t knowledge. It’s urgency.”
“This coalition is evidence of the widespread support for these proposed changes,” says Nate Phipps of the Bicycle Alliance of Washtenaw. “Council must fund and carry out these safety measures and recommit to creating safe streets for all in Ann Arbor.”
Walk Bike Washtenaw (walkbikewashtenaw.org) is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit that has been promoting transportation options for a sustainable and livable community since 2001. Its mission is to make Washtenaw County a national leader in bicycling and walking by improving facilities, policies, and community support through advocacy and education.
Bicycle Alliance of Washtenaw (bikewashtenaw.org) is a joint project of area organizations and enthusiasts that coordinates their strengths in the Washtenaw area to create a better and safer environment for cyclists.
Neighborhood Institute (neighborhoodinstitute.org) is an educational 501(c)(3) nonprofit based in Ann Arbor. Its vision is for everyone to be able to live and meet their daily needs in the neighborhood of their choice.
Crashes In Ann Arbor (crashesinannarbor.org) is a project to support Ann Arbor’s goal of zero fatalities and serious injuries from traffic crashes by documenting and raising awareness about traffic crashes and their causes.
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