Stories

Stories from You

Stories from You highlights the perspectives of practitioners, advocates, and community residents improving safety for people walking and rolling throughout California!

Are you passionate about safe active transportation and have a Safety Story you’d like to submit? SafeTREC wants to hear from you! If you've been involved with an active transportation plan, project, or program that improved safety for people walking or rolling in your community, we want to hear about it!

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Safety Story with Mario Anaya

For this installment of Stories from the Field, UC Berkeley SafeTREC’s Karen Nguyen Vo chatted with Mario Anaya, community development director of the City of Tulare. In this installment, he talks to us about his work to improve safety for those who walk, bike, and roll in Tulare, including with the Comunidades Activas y Seguras (CAyS) program, a program funded by the California Office of Traffic Safety. Read his Safety Story below!

Can you describe your current role at the City of Tulare? What drew you to work for the city?

I currently serve as...

Safety Story with Edgar Hernandez

For this installment of Stories from the Field, Berkeley SafeTREC’s Jarah Crowner chatted with Edgar Hernandez, Senior Transportation Planner for Caltrans: California Department of Transportation. Hernandez talks about his inspiration for working in active transportation and why community engagement is vital for success in active transportation programs.

What is your current role?

I am the Active Transportation Planner for Caltrans District 6, serving Madera, Fresno, Tulare, Kings, and Kern...

Safety Story with Megan Wier

For this installment of Stories from the Field, Berkeley SafeTREC’s Kristen Leckie chatted with Megan Wier, Assistant Director at Oakland’s Department of Transportation (OakDOT). Wier calls out the importance of interdisciplinary collaboration and focusing on the needs of the most vulnerable. Read her Safety Story below!

Do you mind telling us about your agency and then about the role you play within that organization?

Since March 2020, I have worked...

Safety Story with Paul Van Dyk

For this installment of Stories from the Field, Berkeley SafeTREC’s Lisa Peterson chatted with Paul Van Dyk, City Traffic Engineer with the City of Long Beach. In this installment, Van Dyk discusses the value of building both an internal and external safety culture, providing tools for practitioners, and ensuring that not only the infrastructure we build but also the programs we offer are accessible and available. Read the Safety Story below!

Lisa: Could share a little bit about your background and what your current role is?

Paul Van Dyk:...

Safety Story with Jason Kligier

For this installment of Stories from the Field, Berkeley SafeTREC’s Lisa Peterson chatted with Jason Kligier, Mobility Manager with the City of Santa Monica. In this installment, Kligier discusses the development of the 2022 Local Roadway Safety Plan, implementing pedestrian and bicycle safety improvements as part of achieving the city's Vision Zero goals, and the importance of data analysis, community engagement, and outreach. Read the Safety Story below!

Can you share with me about your current role with the City of Santa Monica?

I am the Mobility Manager for...

Safety Story with Denise Turner

For this installment of Stories from the Field, Berkeley SafeTREC’s Kristen Leckie chatted with Denise Turner, Lead Program Manager for the Alameda County Safe Routes to Schools (SR2S) Program. Turner calls out the importance of making it safe, convenient, and fun for children to walk and bike to and from school. Read her Safety Story below!

What is your current role?

I work for the Alameda County Transportation Commission, and my title is Associate...

Safety Story with Karen Rodriguez

For this installment of Stories from the Field, Berkeley SafeTREC’s Jarah Crowner chatted with Karen Rodriguez, Community Programs Coordinator for California Walks. Rodriguez talks about her inspiration for working in active transportation and why community engagement is vital for success in active transportation programs.

What is your current role?

As a Community Programs Coordinator for California Walks, I oversee the development and implementation of our...

Safety Story with Ana Lopez

For this installment of Stories from the Field, Berkeley SafeTREC’s Kristen Leckie chatted with Ana Lopez, Policy and Program Analyst for SafeTREC and our lead for the Comunidades Activas y Segura (Active and Safe Communities) Program, funded by the California Offfice of Traffic Safety. Lopez calls out the importance of community-centered and culturally/linguistically-sensitive approaches to improve the safety for...