Today is the World Day of Remembrance for Road Traffic Victims, a day held to honor those who have lost their lives or been impacted by roadway crashes.

Local Motion and our partners in the Transportation for Vermonters alliance are working to make Vermont safer for those biking, walking, and rolling. We have made strides, but there is more to be done. You are an important part of the conversation.

We want to recognize the 11 Vermonters who lost their lives this year while biking, walking, and rolling on our roadways, and the 165 Vermonters who were injured - not to mention the impact left on their families, friends, and communities.

This map shows the distribution of crashes resulting in injury or death of a bicyclist or pedestrian over the past year with data from the Vermont crash query tool. The map above tells a little more of the story - the lives and memories of those who were killed in roadway crashes. These people are not just data points on a map or headlines in the news - these are our neighbors, parents, children, and friends. People whose lives were tragically cut short, and whose deaths have torn a hole in the lives of those that survive them.

It’s worth mentioning that older Vermonters are disproportionately represented in traffic fatalities among people who walk, bike, and roll.

Roadway deaths and injuries are predictable and preventable based on road speed. Every person deserves to move safely through their community. Safe speeds save lives.

What can you do right now?

Join a Walk/Bike Group in your town

These groups help local decision makers set priorities for street improvements and promote positive change in their communities.

Tell National decision makers: the transportation bill must include biking and walking

Federal funding for biking and walking infrastructure is at risk. Compose a message through the League of American Bicyclists to tell decision makers how important these funds are to provide safe and accessible infrastructure for all. If Rep. Graves has his way and the next transportation bill is a “traditional highway bill” that could mean zero federal funding for bicycling and walking through 2031. 

Stay connected to your community

Engage in events happening across the state to stay connected with our active community. Come watch Cycling Without Age in Essex Jct on Nov. 20, ride with the Local Motion EZ Breezy group rides every month (all year round!), or find even more events on our community calendar.

What has been done?

Through collective advocacy work at the statehouse, several laws have been passed recently to make our streets safer for those biking, walking, and rolling.

As of July 1, 2025, drivers are required to give vulnerable road users at least 4 feet when passing. In the last legislative session, we asked for an education plan to roll out for drivers.

Vermont passed a new law stating that bicyclists may move through intersections when the pedestrian signal is lit in their direction of travel. This helps bicyclists to move safely through intersections before car traffic - preventing potential dangerous conflicts.

There is more work to be done, and we will continue to advocate for safer streets. Learn more about Local Motion’s advocacy work, and the work of Transportation for Vermonters.

What resources are available?

• Vermont Bike and Walk laws - the rights and responsibilities of bicyclists and pedestrians
• Post-Crash resource - a wallet-size guide on what to do in the immediate aftermath
• Rules of the road - for bicyclists, pedestrians, and drivers
• Media training - how we talk about crashes greatly impacts the public's response

Transportation for Vermonters (T4VT) is a diverse coalition of individuals, organizations, businesses and institutions committed to working together, creatively, and across sectors to achieve a sustainable, accessible transportation system for our rural state.