On Thursday, September 15, dozens of bicyclists and alternative transportation activists came together in the U-District across from the place where bike messenger Robert Townsend was struck by a car last week to call for safer roadways.

A white 'ghost bike' now marks the spot where Townsend, a 23-year-old bike messenger, was struck by a car on September 10 and died from the collision-related injuries.

Townsend is the third bicycle fatality in the city of Seattle since July, following the deaths of Brian Fairbother and Mike Wang.

Four additional bicycle fatalities have occurred in nearby cities since July.

It's been a a devastating couple weeks on Washington streets and people are saying, "Enough is enough".

Cascade Bicycle Club hosted a press conference on Thursday morning to hear from community leaders, address the issues, and call for safer roadways.

Leaders such as City Councilmember Tom Rasmussen, King County Councilmember Joe McDermott, M.J. Kelly from Cascade Bicycle Club, and Lisa Quinn from Feet First called for safer shared roads through enforcement, infrastructure and, most importantly, conduct.

"We all are horrified to hear about the accidents that have occurred this past month," said City Council member Tom Rasmussen, Chair of the Transportation Committee.

"This month, three did not return home. The city is very upset about this," Rasmussen said, calling for the people of Seattle to stop pointing fingers, remind ourselves that "our lives are precious", and to agree to share the road.

Representing the King County Board of Health, Council Member Joe McDermott said he felt "proud to add [his] voice of concern and of alarm of the health and the safety of all people of King County".

"These fatalities affect the health of all of King County," he said, calling the fatalities a deterrent that keeps people from benefitting from the many health benefits that biking provides.

Lisa Quinn, Executive Director of Feet First, an advocacy group promoting safe walking conditions and walkable communities, called for changes in infrastructure.

Speaking of her own experience of being hit by a car three weeks ago, she said, "I was lucky to be able to walk away from that incident but we need more than luck to safely go by foot or by bike in this city."

M.J. Kelly and John Mauro of the Cascade Bicycle Club echoed the need for better infrastructure and friendlier, safer conduct.

"I don't want another family to bury a son, a parent, or a grandmother," said M.J. Kelly, Director of Communications, who spoke of the losing her grandmother after she was struck in a crosswalk.

"Together, we need to take a safer approach. In the end it comes down to conduct. We're all people trying to get from point A to point B. We need to slow down and look for each other. Enough is enough," she said.

Directing a call to action to the City Council, Mayor's Office, and Seattle Police Department, Cascade Bicycle Club's John Mauro said they're seeking four immediate outcomes:

"- Zero fatalities. We want to see a recommitment from our cities and our state toward the vision of zero traffic fatalities.

"- An informed, engaged public. More people who thought they were on the sidelines are coming together and realizing they can do something to make our city better and safer.

"- Less rhetoric. We want to hear a decrease the divisive, inflammatory rhetoric so that a civil and responsible conversation can take place about how to make our city streets safer and better.

"- Leadership. We call on our elected officials to make protecting our most vulnerable roadway users and improving public safety a top priority," said Mauro.

On Tuesday, September 14, Mayor Mike McGinn, too, called for a gathering in light of the recent fatalities.
In a blog post, McGinn has called for “a summit of community leaders, experts and elected officials to determine how best we can encourage an attitude of responsibility and empathy on the roads, and make it safer for all users.”

This summit will include Seattle Department of Transportation Director (SDOT) Peter Hahn, Seattle Police Department (SPD) Chief John Diaz, and several members of the City Council. The time, place and date of this summit have yet to be announced.