Protecting pedestrians requires listening to the people who navigate our streets every day and following through with improvements that make their journeys safer. Last night, I was proud and honored to join neighbors, pedestrian advocates, city staff, and law enforcement in Twinbrook for Rockville’s Walktober Walk-n-Roll and Candlelight Vigil. WUSA Channel 9’s Randi Hildreth covered the evening, highlighting both residents’ calls for safer streets and the devastating consequences of traffic crashes.

The report featured Rockville Pedestrian Advocacy Committee founder Eric Fulton, who described his experience navigating our community with a visual impairment and a white mobility cane. His message emphasized the importance of designing streets for people who depend on walking or wheelchairs to reach their destinations safely and independently.

Randi Hildreth also spoke with Mindy Badin, who carried a photograph of her son, Brett, who died while crossing Rockville Pike to meet friends for dinner in January 2020. Her account was a heartbreaking reminder that every traffic death leaves a family and community living with a permanent loss.

During our walk, residents identified locations where they want safety improvements, including along Atlantic Avenue, and city leaders discussed completed work such as enhanced sidewalks near Twinbrook Elementary School.. The evening concluded with a candlelight vigil honoring those lost in traffic crashes. Rockville City Police Deputy Chief Barry Dufek also urged drivers to put down their phones and pay attention. I am extremely thankful for Rockville City Police Department joining the walk and vigil, and for the work in keeping our streets and pedestrian walkways safe.

Through Rockville’s Vision Zero initiative, we are working toward eliminating traffic deaths and serious injuries through safer street design, education, enforcement, and ongoing evaluation. That work includes improving sidewalks and accessible curb ramps, enhancing pedestrian crossings, evaluating dangerous intersections, and using traffic calming to make our neighborhoods safer. The city recently completed safety audits of 30 intersections to identify potential improvements on both city and state roads.

I support continued investment in these protections and close attention to residents’ concerns about unsafe conditions. We must also work with our county and state partners on roads outside the city’s control, because everyone deserves a safe route regardless of which agency maintains the street.

Thank you to the Rockville Pedestrian Advocacy Committee for organizing this meaningful evening, to the residents who shared their experiences, and to CBS for bringing greater attention to pedestrian safety in our community.