Officials in Buffalo are calling for safer streets.

Data collected from the state Department of Transportation, and compiled by GOBike Buffalo, shows car crashes involving pedestrians or cyclists have increased in each of the past three years in Western New York. They have risen from 676 incidents in 2020 to 879 in 2023 — a 30% increase. The increase in pedestrian and cyclist fatalities has been even more significant, rising 200% from 14 in 2020 to 42 in 2023.

Legislation proposed by New York State Sen. Sean Ryan and Rep. Jon Rivera would update the Complete Streets policy. The definition of a Complete Street is a roadway planned and designed to consider the safe mobility of all roadway users of all ages and abilities. It would include sidewalks, lane striping, bicycle lanes, paved shoulders suitable for use by bicyclists, signage, crosswalks, pedestrian control signals, bus bulb-outs, curb cuts, raised crosswalks, ramps and traffic calming measures. 

“Far too often, we witness the tragic consequences of dangerous intersections and poorly designed roadways," said Rivera. "Lives are lost, families shattered, and communities scarred by preventable accidents. Here in Western New York crashes involving pedestrians or cyclists have increased every year for the last three years. We must do better for our children and our families. The Complete Streets legislation I’m sponsoring alongside Senator Ryan is a step toward ensuring that our streets prioritize safety above all else.”

The new proposal would expand the policy to require all road projects receiving either state or federal funding to meet complete street requirements.