New safety measures to be put in place to combat increasing traffic deaths.
Mayor Michael Hancock announced last week that plans are in motion to reduce speed limits on some high traffic roads in Denver to improve safety for pedestrians, drivers, and bicyclists.
The move comes after recent accidents claimed the lives of local bicyclists Scott Hendrickson, 60, and Alexis Bounds, 37. Both were hit by vehicles while riding. The city has seen an increase this year in traffic fatalities, 49 so far this year, which is up from 31 at this time last year, according to the Denver Police Department.
Mayor Hancock announced that the roads affected were identified by Denver Public Works as routes with a history of high speeding activity. They, along with the Denver Police Department and Denver Public Health and Environment, will be making changes and improvements to existing infrastructure as well as enforcement improvements.
Five streets have been identified to have their speeds reduced:
- West Evans Avenue from Federal Boulevard to Huron Street will be the first stretch of road affected. Expected to have the speed limit reduced by the end of August.
- 56th Avenue from Quebec Street to Tower Road.
- Cherry Creek Drive South from University to Colorado Boulevard.
- Peris from 47th Avenue to 39th Avenue.
- 1st Avenue-Steele Street-Cherry-Creek Drive corridor.
Along with reduced speed on these five routes, the city has announced additional measures that will be completed as soon as possible, including enhancing bike lanes and protected bike areas, installing high visibility crosswalks, increasing in-street pedestrian crossing signage, and increasing the number of driver feedback signs to keep drivers alert of their speeds.
“More and more people are choosing to use different modes to move around our community. We all need to be more aware and less distracted when we’re on our streets,” Mayor Hancock said in his announcement. “City government needs to do its part too. We’re going to keep pushing for more steps to reduce speeds and reduce conflicts between modes, so fewer and fewer people, until we reach zero, are losing their lives on our streets.”
This is all part of the city’s Vision Zero goal of eliminating all traffic deaths by the year 2030.
Do you think that reducing speed limits on these highly-trafficked and busy streets will help increase safety for all who share the road? What about the other measures announced, like promoting better driving habits and increasing traffic enforcement; do you think they will be effective? Sound off in the comments. Stay safe out there, Denver!
