Katie Meeker, Opinions and Humor Editor
As Richmond begins the new year, it has seen a recent uptick in tragedy — multiple people, including the beloved director of the Valentine Museum Bill Martin, killed in pedestrian-related traffic accidents.
Richmond has some of the riskiest drivers nationwide, according to Axios. While traffic-related deaths in the city have declined since 2022 (a year that saw a record-high 26 deaths), the average is still higher than the 2017-2019 decline.
For the past year, City Hall — in collaboration with VCU — has committed to a global strategy called “Vision Zero,” an initiative aimed at preventing traffic-related fatalities.
The program has since taken a few main courses of action: building infrastructure that promotes pedestrian safety, such as curb extensions and crossing signs; increased police presence to ramp up speed enforcement; and initiatives such as “Heads up, Rams!” to educate and enhance pedestrian awareness.
The rollout of these programs, while efficient, is still ongoing. In Richmond, there were 13 traffic-related pedestrian deaths in 2025. In just the past three weeks, we have seen six. Richmond’s pedestrian safety issue is better classified as a crisis.
Mayor Danny Avula addressed these recent concerns directly in a Jan. 8 press release, announcing a series of immediate actions aimed at improving pedestrian safety in the city and stating that “everyone deserves to get where they’re going safely.”
The new actions Avula described include an expanded safety camera program, accelerated street safety improvements and the creation of a “Pedestrian Safety Task Force” in partnership with VCU.
Most notably, the release included the creation of a new Department of Transportation within Richmond’s greater Department of Public Works. It is set to lead the city’s street safety programs and mobility work, as well as head the planning, execution and maintenance of a public transportation system.
The creation of the department marks a major step forward for the city of Richmond and its residents.
A study by the American Public Transportation Association found that transit-oriented communities are five times safer than automobile-oriented communities.With fewer cars on the road and more people relying on public transit, there are fewer opportunities for accidents. With any luck, this new department will help Richmond start to make the transition.
Achieving this, though, means more than just the creation of a new department and promises of a better, safer Richmond. It means making public transit more appealing and accessible to the average Richmonder; it means properly funding and maintaining the Greater Richmond Transit Company, or GRTC, for the use of all.
The city’s main public transit option has been free to ride since 2021, established in the wake of COVID-19. Since then, there has been a notable increase in crowding on buses which many attribute to the elimination of fares.
A March 2025 report found that over half of local bus riders make less than $30,000 annually — a demographic more likely to be affected by pedestrian fatalities, according to a different 2023 study.
However, ever since VCU ended its funding agreement with the GRTC last summer to begin a new, VCU-exclusive shuttle service, the longevity of the free-ride program has been suspect. While free fares will continue through the fiscal end of 2026, without a new source of funding the future of the program is uncertain.
While VCU attests to operating first and foremost in the interest of its students, it seems like the institution needs a reminder that VCU and Richmond are deeply intertwined.
The safety concerns of the city are the concerns of students, and vice versa. It is important to consider the issues of both populations in tandem — while the new shuttle may be helpful for students, it leaves the rest of the city — including off-campus students — at a disadvantage.
To keep Richmond safe for all pedestrians, students and community members alike, VCU and the city need to work together. That means funding and supporting initiatives that help all citizens. Assets like the GRTC, Vision Zero and the new Department of Transportation are amazing steps towards achieving this goal — let’s hope we can see some lasting improvements.