For this installment of Stories from the Field, UC Berkeley SafeTREC’s Kris Leckie chatted with Pualani Vazquez and Paige Colburn-Hargis, Trauma Injury Prevention Community Outreach Coordinators for Scripps Mercy Hospital’s Trauma Service department. In this conversation, they talk to us about their work to improve safety for those who walk, bike, and roll in San Diego. Read their Safety Story below!
What is your current role?
Pualani: Currently, I am the trauma injury prevention and community outreach coordinator for Scripps Health at Mercy Hospital San Diego, an adult level 1 trauma hospital. In that role I use a data driven approach to work in collaboration with community-based organizations, law enforcement and first responder partners to develop and implement a wide range of evidence-based programs through public health outreach to reduce the frequency, severity and fatality of unintentional injuries. Also, I find it really important to provide injury prevention education to the medical professionals I interact with as they have really unique patient education opportunities.
Paige: I currently serve as the Trauma Injury Prevention Program Coordinator for Scripps Memorial Hospital La Jolla. In this role, I lead initiatives to prevent injuries across the lifespan, including programs focused on fall prevention, pedestrian and bike safety, and community education. I also work on collaborative projects addressing emerging safety concerns like micromobility.
What inspires your work in injury prevention?
Pualani: For me, it’s after I teach a class or talk with someone and that light comes on or they experience an “ah-ha” moment or they say I did not know that.
Paige: My inspiration stems from the knowledge that prevention saves lives and improves the quality of life for individuals and communities. Personal experiences, such as advocating for helmet use after my own child suffered a traumatic brain injury, have shaped my passion for this work. Knowing that injury prevention efforts can make communities safer and more equitable motivates me every day.
How is Scripps working to prioritize the safety of people walking, biking, and rolling?
Pualani: Besides the walk audits, curriculum development and ongoing education the Scripps Health Injury Prevention Team is working tirelessly to educate (1) younger riders and their parents about the importance on knowing the rules of the road and how powerful e-bikes can be, (2) older and returning bike riders who have jumped back onto bikes and may need to brush up on their own bike skills, (3) and motorists who have to be aware of all the new laws, infrastructure and paint so we can share the road safely. Most importantly, with the help of the San Diego Supervisors we have been doing a ton of helmet education and distribution.
Paige: Scripps prioritizes safety through community partnerships, education programs, and advocacy. We focus on injury prevention efforts such as bike helmet distribution, e-bike safety education, and pedestrian awareness campaigns. By addressing emerging trends like micromobility and engaging with policymakers and local stakeholders, we are advancing safety for all road users.
How did your work with the Community Pedestrian and Bicycle Safety Training (CPBST) program encourage safety for people that walk, bike, or roll in the Mira Mesa neighborhood?
Pualani: For me, every walk audit that I participate in, I am further reminded that our streets were not designed with active transportation at the front of mind.
Paige: Participating in the CPBST program in Mira Mesa allowed me to collaborate with local stakeholders to identify safety concerns and actionable solutions. The process empowered residents to advocate for changes such as better lighting, improved crossings, and educational outreach on pedestrian and bike safety. It created a foundation for long-term safety improvements tailored to the neighborhood’s specific needs.
What lessons or valuable takeaways did you gain from participating in the CPBST process?
Pualani: The CPBST process broke down this really big problem, that seems overwhelming, into chunks that could then be handled by the group. Additionally, we all know data is a motivating factor but a lot of the data sources we use in this space (i.e., FARS, WISQRS, etc.) have challenges. This process introduced me to Street Story which I think can be a very compelling data piece without some of the limitations that the other data sources have.
Paige: The CPBST process underscored the importance of community-driven solutions. Inclusive engagement, where diverse voices like parents, students, and individuals with disabilities are heard, ensures that interventions meet the unique needs of all users. Additionally, the process highlighted how data can guide resource allocation and inform advocacy for infrastructure improvements and bringing awareness to the current gaps that currently exist.
In your perspective, what are the key elements required to create a successful active transportation project or program in San Diego?
Pualani: We really need to educate the communities about why they need to care. We need to educate motorists about how their driving behaviors create life and death outcomes. We need to find a way to deliver these messages in a palatable way so the target audience can digest it and be moved to change behavior.
Paige: A successful active transportation program requires:
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Community engagement: Ensuring resident input drives solutions.
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Data collection and surveillance: Using injury and usage data to identify risks and monitor impacts.
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Collaborative partnerships: Aligning efforts among public health, transportation, and advocacy groups.
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Sustainable funding: Securing resources for infrastructure and education.
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Education and enforcement: Teaching safe behaviors and ensuring compliance with traffic laws.
Paige: My long-term involvement with e-bike safety emphasizes the importance of data. I was honored to contribute to a workgroup of subject matter experts that developed a proposal to the CDC ICD-10-CM committee for designated e-bike codes. This effort supports national surveillance of e-bike injuries, a critical step in understanding and addressing the safety challenges of emerging micromobility devices. I also provided feedback to the California Highway Patrol (CHP) during the development of the e-bike safety curriculum mandated by AB 2234.
What are your visions, either short or long-term, for San Diego?
Pualani: I would say the biggest vision that I have for San Diego is to get as many motorists as possible out of their car and out walking, biking and using public transportation. I truly believe the more we get out of our cars as pedestrians or bicyclists the better we are as drivers.
Paige: In the short term, I envision safer infrastructure, such as protected bike lanes and well-designed pedestrian crossings, that prioritizes vulnerable road users. Long-term, I hope for a transportation culture where walking, biking, and rolling are not only safe but also the preferred modes of transportation. This vision includes data-driven policies that anticipate and address emerging trends like micromobility.
If you had a superpower and could change anything, what would the future of active transportation safety look like?
Pualani: I am excited about the future of transportation not just as a landscape of new possibilities but being a part of the change to seeing it as a human-centered system that needs to balance efficiency, safety, and accessibility.
Paige: If I had a superpower, I would create a future where transportation systems are inherently safe for all users. Every road and pathway would be designed to eliminate conflicts between vehicles and vulnerable users. Data would seamlessly inform real-time safety improvements, and national surveillance would proactively guide injury prevention efforts. Education would be universal, ensuring that everyone, from drivers to e-bike users, understands how to share the road responsibly. No one would need to fear for their safety, whether walking to school, biking to work, or rolling through their neighborhood.
This Stories From the Field interview was conducted in collaboration with UC Berkeley SafeTREC. The opinions and perspectives expressed are those of the interviewee and not necessarily those of SafeTREC or the Office of Traffic Safety.
