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Teen tells council Cleveland streets are unsafe for pedestrians, urges immediate traffic changes
Summary
A 16-year-old public commenter told council that speeding and reckless driving make Cleveland streets dangerous for youth and pedestrians and urged immediate safety measures rather than more studies.
R. D. Perry, a 16-year-old who said he is part‑time enrolled at Cleveland State University, urged Cleveland City Council on May 8, 2025, to prioritize pedestrian safety and immediate traffic-calming measures to protect young people and other pedestrians.
Perry described near-misses and general “reckless driving” on city streets and said he refuses to become a licensed driver because of unsafe road conditions. “We don't need another traffic study. We don't need any more empty promises about looking into it,” he told council, urging speed limits, pedestrian safety infrastructure, and improved road maintenance.
Perry directed his remarks to both council and law enforcement, asking what police were doing to protect pedestrians and calling for pothole repair and clear enforcement of speed limits. His comments were made in the public-comment portion of the meeting; the transcript does not record a staff response, referral to the Department of Public Works, or a council motion on the topic.
The speaker framed the issue as urgent for youth safety and said further inaction would cost lives; no formal city action was recorded during the meeting.
