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Residents urge more funding to tackle rising traffic violence
Summary
A Bike Fremont representative and other residents told the council traffic violence has worsened since COVID, described fatal crashes and urged the city to allocate more than a $50,000 DUI‑checkpoint grant toward enforcement and safety measures.
A Bike Fremont representative told the Fremont City Council that traffic violence — including serious bicycle crashes and fatalities — has increased since the COVID lockdowns and urged the council to allocate more resources to address the trend.
Steve Scala, identified by the clerk as a speaker affiliated with Bike Fremont, said the issue “doesn’t just affect a couple minority bicyclists” and described recent high‑injury incidents at local intersections including Paseo Padre and Isherwood. He said a recent family fatality followed a driver swerving to avoid a speeding car and urged the council to consider funding beyond a $50,000 DUI‑checkpoint grant, which he called “a drop in the bucket” compared with about $1,000,000 in other police-related grants he observed.
The council heard the comments during oral communications. City staff and the police presented later in the meeting on grant-funded equipment intended to slow traffic; the police chief noted the city had 15 traffic fatalities last year and described grant-funded tactics aimed at reducing collisions.
The council took no immediate new funding vote during this meeting; public speakers asked that the council review allocations and consider additional targeted resources to address traffic deaths and severe injuries.
