View the Agenda: 2019 NATIONAL BIKE SUMMIT

In Philadelphia, members of the Vision Zero Alliance—a group of organizations including the Bicycle Coalition of Greater Philadelphia, AARP, the Clean Air Council, and others are committed to reducing traffic fatalities to zero by 2030--have begun organizing "Listening Sessions" to better hear from the communities most affected by traffic violence in Philadelphia.

These listening sessions are a bottom up approach to learn from specific neighborhoods about their problems, solutions they have, and their ideas for implementation. The listening sessions are located throughout West and North Philadelphia, two areas that have extremely high rates of traffic crashes and fatalities and are also generally underserved areas of the city, with high rates of poverty -- a correlation that is not a coincidence. These listening sessions were not necessarily bicycle-focused, but sought to understand what the residents of these underserved communities wanted in the effort to make their commutes and living situations safer, and more comfortable.  Listening session attendees have been eager to have their voices heard, and are hopeful for positive change in their communities.