After two pedestrian deaths and a rash of serious crashes involving bicyclists in recent weeks, the Portland City Council may officially adopt a goal Wednesday of eliminating all traffic deaths and serious injuries by 2025.

The Vision Zero resolution before the council calls on the city to adopt a series of safety initiatives, to push for unmanned photo radar and to become more aggressive with reducing speeds on certain types of streets.

Mayor Charlie Hales and Commissioner Steve Novick are pushing the ambitious campaign despite years of budget cuts at the Portland Bureau of Transportation.

The Oregon Department of Transportation has reportedly pledged a $150,000 grant to develop the Vision Zero Transportation Safety Action Plan.

"We need action now," said Noel Mickelberry, executive director of Oregon Walks, in a statement. "Traffic fatalities and serious injuries from crashes are avoidable, and we must take bold steps immediately to protect those who walk on our street."

Added Mickelberry: "This is a crucial conversation for our city's leaders that must lead to action. We call on our elected leaders to ensure we have a city where you can jog safely in your neighborhood, where you can walk across our beautiful bridges on a sunny day, and where you can be guaranteed to still have your life when you get to the other side."

On Sunday, an SUV driver struck and killed George Carlson, 36, while he was walking on the Burnside Bridge sidewalk. Police say the driver, Douglas James Walker, 59, of Beaverton possibly suffered from a sudden medical emergency behind the wheel. He was not cited.

Eight days earlier, a driver charged withDUII

as he jogged in his neighborhood.

Despite its reputation for traffic engineering that encourages commuters to bicycle and walk, Portland is late entering the "Vision Zero" movement. First introduced in Sweden in 1997, the campaign has spread to myriad U.S. cities, including Seattle and New York.

In some places, advocates have complained that Vision Zero is little more than a trendy pledge made by elected officials. In other cities, however, the philosophy has heavily influenced transportation policy.

In fact, in parts of New York City on Tuesday, angry MTA bus drivers slowed the morning commute to a crawl to protest a new law preventing drivers from entering crosswalks unless they're completely clear of pedestrians. (That's all but impossible in most parts of Manhattan.) The law was passed under Mayor Bill de Blasio's Vision Zero.

However, PBOT Director Leah Treat said Vision Zero will "reinforce recent investments that will make our multimodal transportation system safer for everyone."

The City Council will hear the resolution to adopt Vision Zero and develop a stakeholder committee to shape the safety action plan at a 9:30 a.m. hearing. =

Here's a look at what else is "out there" about traffic, transit and transportation in Oregon and around the globe (no matter what the clock says, it's always the morning commute somewhere):

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From The New York Times:

Why does the trip back always feel shorter?

Time looks at the shocking amount of money

Seattle Times sketching columnist Gabriel Campanario

-- Joseph Rose

503-221-8029

jrose@oregonian.com

@josephjrose