Cleveland cyclists demand safer streets amid rise in fatal crashes [Video]

CLEVELAND — The city has seen a significant increase in fatal crashes this year, with 46 recorded incidents, marking a more than 40% increase from last year.

This has prompted local cyclists to call for improved safety measures on the streets.

Cyclists gathered Wednesday night in Ohio City, lining the streets to advocate for increased safety features, such as plastic bollards and separated bike lanes, which provide crucial protection from drivers.

The event served both as a plea for more such lanes throughout Cleveland and as a celebration of recent improvements on Detroit Avenue.

“It’s a relatively small section, and we’re very excited about it,” said Jenna Thomas, Advocacy and Policy Manager at Bike Cleveland. “But we hope this is just one small step toward seeing many more protected bike lanes throughout the city.”

The city recently installed plastic bollards along a section of the Detroit Avenue bike lane.

These …