On Tuesday, February 6, 2024, the NJ Bicycle and Pedestrian Resource Center, sponsored by the New Jersey Department of Transportation, in partnership with the Bloustein School of Planning & Public Policy and the New Jersey Chapter of the American Planning Association (APA-NJ), hosted a screening of The Street Project, which tells the stories of roadway safety advocates and victims of crashes and their efforts to make American streets safer.
This documentary discusses what many safety advocates refer to as “traffic violence”—a term for the sudden and often severe consequences suffered by victims of crashes on our roadways, particularly those experienced by vulnerable road users such as bicyclists and pedestrians. Traffic violence has broad-reaching impacts, including 46,980 roadway fatalities and 5.4 million injuries in 2021.
The Street Project invokes the harmful impacts of car-oriented streets, exploring their root causes and the profound impacts they have on communities worldwide. The film highlights some of the innovative and courageous efforts of people around the globe fighting for roadway safety.
Bloustein School Dean Stuart Shapiro and APA New Jersey Vice President of Policy Tom Dallessio opened the event with remarks about the importance of pedestrian and bicyclist safety in addressing equity concerns and quality of life issues.
The film screening was followed by a panel discussion highlighting the collaborative efforts needed to enhance street safety and underscored the significance of community involvement in creating safer, more inclusive urban spaces. Panelists included local experts and leaders who reflected on the film and shared their perspectives on and experiences with addressing the same issues in their own careers and communities:
- Jason Cilento, MPA, Mayor, Borough of Dunellen
- Michael Manzella, AICP, Director of Transportation, City of Jersey City
- Paul Mickiewicz, Program Manager, New Jersey Bike & Walk Coalition
- Michael Smart, PhD, AICP, Associate Professor, Bloustein School of Planning & Public Policy
The discussion included an interactive Q&A session that allowed for a dynamic exchange between the audience and panelists. Both groups shared their hopes, dreams, and ideas for safer, more livable streets.
Audience members asked questions about the progress of vulnerable road user safety initiatives in New Jersey. Others reflected on their own stories of traffic violence, some of which resembled the accounts of crash victims in the film. Still others asked the panelists for their perspectives on advancing new advocacy efforts in New Jersey, drawing inspiration from the tactics used in the film.
Altogether, the event was successful in its goal to bring people together for an in-depth discussion on the impacts of and opportunities for safety advocacy and what we can do to reduce the frequency and the consequences of traffic violence in our own communities.
The Street Project is available to stream for free on YouTube through PBS America. Watch it here.