19 hours Ago
Portland is facing a public safety crisis. In just five months, four pedestrians have been killed on our city’s streets . These were not accidents.
They were predictable and preventable tragedies. In November, Cynthia Karst was struck and killed while crossing Franklin Street at Congress Street. In January, Joe Lewis was fatally hit at the intersection of India and Middle streets.
In February, Justin Mitchell lost his life near the Homeless Services Center on Riverside Street. And already in March, a man was struck by two vehicles on Forest Avenue and died from his injuries. Andrew Zarr is executive director of the Bicycle Coalition of Maine.
Jon Kachmar is executive director of Portland Trails. Four lives lost in four months. Four families shattered, and immeasurable community harm.
And still, our streets remain just as dangerous today as they were before these tragedies occurred. For years, our organizations — Portland Trails and the Bicycle Coalition of Maine — have been sounding the alarm about the dangers faced by vulnerable road users. We have called for changes, offered solutions and urged the city and state to make safety a priority.
Yet time and again, we see the same cycle: a fatal crash, a promise to study the issue, years of inaction, and then another fatal crash. This cycle must end. Portland cannot afford more delays.
We cannot wait for a two-year intersection study or a five-year funding cycle to make our streets safer. We must act now, using the tools we already have to make immediate improvements that will save lives. Too often, the conversation after a crash focuses on individual behavior — whether the driver was distracted, whether the pedestrian was paying attention.
But this framing ignores the bigger picture. The reality is that the way our streets are designed is almost always a contributing factor in these deaths. We have built roads that prioritize vehicle speed over human safety.
We have left gaps in our pedestrian, bicycle and trail networks that force people into dangerous situations. And we have allowed this to continue despite clear evidence that better choices exist. We know that change is possible because other cities have done it.
Communities across the country have adopted policies and street designs that reduce speeds, create safe crossings and protect vulnerable road users. They have invested in redesigned intersections, separated bike lanes and off-street trails. Engineers and planners have the tools to do better, but they need the political will and direction from city leadership to implement them.
This crisis is not just about street safety; it is also about equity. Not all Portlanders face the same risks. Wealthier neighborhoods and downtown areas tend to have better infrastructure and safer crossings, while lower-income areas often lack the same protections.
The Homeless Services Center on Riverside Street is a stark example of how some of our most vulnerable community members bear the brunt of unsafe road conditions. Seniors, children, people with disabilities and those who rely on walking or public transit are the most at risk. Every time we fail to act, we are putting these Portlanders in danger.
The solutions to this crisis do not require years of study or excessive spending. There are immediate, low-cost measures that can make an impact right away. Narrowing travel lanes slows down vehicles and makes streets safer for everyone.
Expanding sidewalk space and adding pedestrian refuge islands create safer crossings. Reprogramming traffic signals to give pedestrians a head start can significantly reduce conflicts between cars and people walking. Mini roundabouts and all-way stops can slow traffic and prevent high-speed crashes.
In addition to on-street safety, these strategies also support trail use by creating safer road crossings that bridge gaps in the off-street transportation network. Even small interventions like planters, paint and signage can make streets safer while longer-term projects are planned and built. There is no reason for Portland to wait any longer.
We need city leadership to commit to bold action now. Portland must adopt a Vision Zero policy that prioritizes eliminating traffic deaths. The city must strengthen and expand its Complete Streets ordinance, ensuring that every road project includes meaningful safety improvements.
And most importantly, we must stop treating pedestrian deaths as unfortunate but inevitable occurrences. They are not. They are the result of choices we have made as a city, a state and a nation — and we can make different choices.
To make this issue even more real for those in positions of power, Portland Trails and the Bicycle Coalition of Maine will be reaching out to Portland’s elected officials and city leadership in the coming months to invite them to join us in walking and biking across the city. We want them to experience firsthand what it’s like to move through Portland as so many of their constituents do every day. They need to see, in real time, the gaps in our infrastructure, the dangers of our high-speed corridors and the urgent need for safe, connected, people-centered streets.
This is not just about advocacy, it’s about accountability. We need leaders who will listen, who will experience the reality of our streets, and who will act. No more delays.
No more excuses. No more lives lost. Our View: Pedestrian fatalities should shock us all into action We invite you to add your comments.
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