Mayor Murray announces Seattle's Vision Zero plan

Mayor Ed Murray has a vision of a Seattle without any traffic deaths and serious injuries. And today, Murray announced several big actions his administration will take this year as it works toward Vision Zero, joining a growing number of cities around the world who design streets with human error in mind so collisions are minimized and deaths and serious injuries are eliminated. 

The crashes on Seattle streets are unacceptable and preventable, Mayor Murray said. "If we can slow down, we can save a life."

Key actions from Mayor Murray's plan include:

• Designate five to 10 neighborhoods with 20 mph speed limits and physical traffic calming.
• Conduct several road safety improvement projects on key arterials throughout the city, including Rainier Avenue.
• Conduct bi-monthly crosswalk enforcement actions to ensure people driving observe the rights of people walking.

"All people deserve to get to where they are going safely, and we applaud Mayor Murray for this vision," said Elizabeth Kiker, Cascade's Executive Director. "All people on bikes, all pedestrians, even most drivers have stories about calls that are way too close, or worse, loved ones who did not survive. One more traffic death, is one too many. Cascade joins Mayor Murray, SDOT and our coalition partner is the commitment to safer streets for all people.  Together, we will work to make vision zero a reality."

Show your support. Sign the Vision Zero Pledge >>

Started in Sweden in the 1990s, Vision Zero is a road safety effort that prioritizing four simple principles in planning, designing and enforcing our transportation network: 

1.) Life is most important. 
2.) Every person matters. 
3.) People make mistakes and mistakes shouldn't cost lives. 
4.) The government is responsible for safe streets. 

In rolling out their 2015 Vision Zero action plan, Mayor Ed Murray and his administration have embraced these four simple principles. Last year Cascade Bicycle Club also adopted Vision Zero as part of its five-year strategic plan and is now part of a growing coalition called "Neighbors for Vision Zero." The coalition --which includes Seattle Neighborhood Greenways, Commute Seattle, Feet First, Transportation Choices and Washington Bikes-- will continue to work in the years to come to ensure we make all our streets safe by through better street design.

We imagine a city where people drive at reasonable speeds, people can safely walk across the street and people can bike everywhere on a complete network of comfortable bikeways.

Be part of the movement.  Show your support for Vision Zero by signing the pledge >>