Gahanna council adopts ‘Share the Road’ proclamation after family testimony on cyclist killed by driver

Gahanna City Council on Monday adopted a joint resolution designating August 2025 as Share the Road and Distracted Driving Awareness Month in memory of cyclist Roseanne Pfeiffer.

The resolution — introduced and presented in chambers and accompanied by a video from Pfeiffer’s sister — calls on drivers to “slow down, put away distractions and look carefully for those sharing our roadways” and affirms the city’s commitment to safer infrastructure for pedestrians and cyclists.

The measure matters because family members and local cycling advocates used the council platform to press for changes beyond awareness. In a recorded statement, Roseanne Pfeiffer’s sister, Kristen Jindra, described the May 31, 2025 crash that killed Pfeiffer and criticized state penalties for drivers who kill vulnerable road users when intoxication is not a factor.

In the video, Kristen Jindra said, “On 05/31/2025, my life changed irreparably for the worst. … Roseanne is my only sister, older by 18, and we did nearly everything together.” She described the crash and cited state sentencing she said followed the case, asking, “What will his punishment be? 90 days in jail and a license suspension. The laws in the state of Ohio say that's all it's worth to kill someone…” Jindra also cited a data tool reporting roughly 3,100 vulnerable-road-user deaths in Ohio between 2001 and February 2023.

Nicole Reese, introduced to council as president of Toledo Area Bicyclists and a representative of the triathlon community, urged organizing statewide advocacy and coalition-building to push for policy and infrastructure changes. “This proclamation is symbolic. It's a call to action,” Reese told the council, and she asked local officials to join regional advocates to create more effective, coordinated campaigns.

Two residents spoke during the hearing of visitors. Max Millian Orsley of Gahanna thanked council for the proclamation but said wording in the document should not imply that pedestrians or cyclists are to blame for crashes; he urged construction of separated bike lanes and “using concrete barriers to stop cars from killing us.” Jessica Miller, Pfeiffer’s sister‑in‑law, thanked council and asked elected officials to “compete with yourselves to leave the roads of Gahanna safer than they were when you came into this position.”

Council members and Mayor Chadwin framed the proclamation as both a community recognition and a spur for further engineering and infrastructure work. Council Vice President Trenton Weaver offered condolences and reminded drivers to take extra care with school back in session. Mayor Chadwin said the city’s engineering team and senior transportation mobility engineer Paige Wright are working on safety improvements and mentioned bollards and other defensive measures built into recent municipal projects as examples of engineering responses.

The council voted unanimously to adopt resolution 34-2025. Van Meter called the roll; members who voted yes were Trenton Weaver, Jeffrey Renner, Schnetzer, Powers, Jones, Nancy McGregor, Padova and Bowers.

Council members and advocates said the proclamation is intended to elevate the conversation and support further steps, including infrastructure investment and regional collaboration on cycling and pedestrian safety. The city also thanked the local Division of Police for its work on roadway safety in the proclamation text.

The council presentation concluded with a ceremonial handoff of the signed proclamation to Nicole Reese and an acknowledgement from family members in attendance that the measure is part of broader advocacy work.