Over a dozen cities in the United States have signed on to Vision Zero — committing to reduce the number of deaths occurring on the roads to zero. Pittsburgh is not one of them.

Pittsburgh is often listed as one of the safest cities for pedestrians. But over 200 people are struck at intersections in Pittsburgh every year, and the number of deaths has been rising since the mid-2000s. This is unacceptable.

Mayor Bill Peduto and the City of Pittsburgh need to sign on to Vision Zero, and present a comprehensive plan to deal with the problem of traffic fatalities in the city. We do not expect this will be easy; there are serious cultural, infrastructural, and policy changes that need to take place. But we cannot expect that the number of deaths will be reduced without the city, pedestrians, bicyclists, and drivers all taking an active part in committing to a safer Pittsburgh.

Learn more about Vision Zero at www.visionzeroinitiative.com.

Photo from Pittsburgh Tribune-Review.