We talked to Walk + Bike Chula Vista volunteer, Salvador Medina, as part of our series of profiles on people who help make our programs a success. Sal is a Health Coach with Walking for Fitness and stalwart volunteer for many Walk to School Day events in Chula Vista. Below is a brief conversation we had with him about why he enjoys walking.

Remember waking up early in the morning and the crisp, cool air on the walk to school? I don’t, I grew up in an era where I got dropped off every morning and have few memories of walking home. This is the reality in many homes regardless of whether students live within a 1-mile walking radius. There are many reasons why families don’t walk to school such as, parents’ work schedule, extra sleep, or having family members that attend different schools. However, should not walking to school ever be attributed to road conditions and driver behaviors that create an unsafe environment?  

SAN DIEGO (March 20, 2017) – A 76-year old woman was struck and killed last Friday while walking in Mira Mesa. She was crossing the 10800 block of Westonhill Drive when a vehicle hit her at 9a.m., according to a police report. Her name has not yet been released.

“This terrible collision is a reminder of how important it is for our region’s leaders to commit to Vision Zero,” said Kathleen Ferrier, director of advocacy for Circulate San Diego. “Older adults and children continue to be the most vulnerable in these crashes."

Vision Zero is a campaign based on the fundamental principle that traffic crashes are preventable and promotes a goal of eliminating traffic deaths and serious injuries by 2025. The program has been successful in other U.S. and European cities.

Unfortunately in San Diego, the number of pedestrian deaths has increased steadily over the last three years, with 21 people dying in 2014, 23 in 2015, and 25 in 2016. Each year, another 40-50 people are seriously injured while walking. This is at least the second reported traffic death in Mira Mesa this year.

San Diego's City Council adopted a Vision Zero resolution in October 2015 to support the goal of zero traffic deaths in San Diego by 2025. Since then, Circulate San Diego has worked with Mayor Faulconer's office and City staff to form a Vision Zero Task Force and create a one-year implementation strategy.

Last year the Associated Press issued new guidelines for journalists to think twice before using the word “accident” to describe car collisions. Advocates for Vision Zero in New York City created a website, CrashNotAccident, that allows and urges people nationwide to sign a pledge to stop using the word accident.

The philosophy behind the movement is that traffic crashes are fixable problems, caused by dangerous streets, unsafe drivers and a multitude of distractions. The term “accident” implies it could not have been avoided. The website CrashNotAccident calls out other types of dangerous situations that already use the word crash, for example, that planes do not have accidents, they crash. The same kind of thinking should be applied to traffic collisions.

About Circulate San Diego

Circulate San Diego is a regional nonprofit organization dedicated to advancing mobility and making the region a better place to move, work, learn and play. Our work focuses on creating great mobility choices, more walkable and bikeable neighborhoods, and land uses that promote sustainable growth. For more information, go to www.circulatesd.org.