(The opinions and views expressed in the commentaries and letters to the Editor of The Somerville Times belong solely to the authors and do not reflect the views or opinions of The Somerville Times, its staff or publishers.)

As the deaths of Cheryl Pauline Richards this past weekend and Allison Donovan in February remind me, Somerville is not yet a safe city for pedestrians or other vulnerable road users, and cannot claim to be a “Vision Zero” city. The question is, is the Mayor and his administration interested in becoming one, or are they satisfied with reacting to each tragedy with sorrow and then hastily applying safety patches? Is he too focused on making press-worthy announcements about big, aspirational goals like Vision Zero, SomerVision, and Somerville Climate Forward to implement the everyday changes that make these goals a reality? According to the City website, “Vision Zero Somerville reaffirms the City’s commitment to multi-modal road safety.” But does it?

While the road where a driver mowed down a pedestrian on Saturday night is a state road, and the City has limited ability to make safety changes at that spot, Powder House Boulevard is not. This is a city street, one short block from my house. This is the street where Allison Donovan was killed by a hit and run driver only six months ago, and where the city is about to make a decision to yet again prioritize the status quo over the safety of vulnerable road users – in this case cyclists. If the City proceeds with its plan, in early August, “temporary” line painting will be applied – a one-way, unprotected “door zone” lane partway up the street with “sharrows” (no lane at all for bikes) in the other direction. This option is being chosen because it is the one that preserves street parking, at the expense of the well-being of cyclists. The city has said it will continue to “study” other options for the street, but after over two years of public meetings on this $3 million project, the City should not delay safety improvements any longer. The opportunity to do something different, something that is a tangible, real step forward for safer roads for all is now, and the city is choosing not to do it.

I encourage every Somerville resident who is sick of hearing about another dead pedestrian, another ghost bike ceremony, another road rage incident, to write to the Mayor, the City Councilor, and the Transportation Department telling them that you expect more – you expect a city with streets that are safe and not just prioritized for (almost) free parking.

Also, consider attending the public meeting to discuss both the pedestrian safety improvements and the road painting plan on Powder House Boulevard on Wednesday July 31 at 6:30pm at the West Somerville Neighborhood School.

Arah Schuur
Ward 6 Resident