SVBC Presents Vision Zero to SMC Council of Cities
Image (from left to right): Kevin Fehr, Daly City; Hans Larsen, Fremont; Emma Shlaes, SVBC; Mayor Emily Beach of Burlingame
At the end of January, SVBC was honored to present at the San Mateo County Council of Cities in Burlingame to about fifty councilmembers from all over San Mateo County. This group is an Association of all 20 cities in SMC that meets monthly to discuss matters of mutual concern and interest. Each city sends at least one city council representative. The meeting location rotates, and the host chooses the program topic each month. In January, Burlingame was the host and Mayor Emily Beach invited SVBC to present on Vision Zero. SVBC’s Deputy Director, Emma Shlaes, presented and also coordinated presentations by Hans Larsen, Public Works Director of City of Fremont, and Kevin Fehr, City Engineer of Daly City.
This was an incredible opportunity to share the message of Vision Zero, the goal to have zero traffic deaths and major injuries, with a large audience of decision-makers. It was a great platform to introduce the concept to many city councilmembers at once, so that they can start talking about it and know what their neighboring cities are working on (you can see which cities have Vision Zero policies or plans here). SVBC shared the Vision Zero Toolkit we developed a couple years ago to help cities in this process.The three panelists divided and conquered three important pieces of Vision Zero:
Understanding the concept of Vision Zero
Roadmap of steps to Vision Zero, ways to adopt a policy and get city staff and electeds on board
How to implement Vision Zero and how just a year of dedicated implementation can give you great results (like 30% decrease in Fremont bike/ped collisions in one year)
Fremont was recently announced as the recipient of a national “Vision Zero for Youth” award. The city is also working on new separated bikeway infrastructure to officially open in May, Bike Month. SVBC organized an infrastructure ride in Fremont for city staff and elected officials to check out its bike facilities.
Daly City was the first city in San Mateo County to adopt a Vision Zero resolution in 2016. In 2019, the city started to flesh out its Vision Zero Plan, which is expected to be released early this year. SVBC has been working with the city as part of a stakeholder group for the Plan.
Check out SVBC’s presentation here and let us know if you would like to request a presentation at your BPAC, City Council, or community meeting!
Thanks Mayor Beach for the opportunity and to our fellow speakers.