Safety Shouldn’t Be Rolled Back: A Response to the Removal of Downtown Bump Outs
Everyone deserves to get where they’re going safely — whether they’re driving, walking, biking, or taking transit.
That’s why the City of St. Louis installed bump-outs downtown. These designs aren’t experimental or arbitrary; they’re widely used, evidence-based safety tools that shorten crossing distances, improve visibility, and slow turning vehicles. Quite simply, they save lives.
These improvements were not rushed. They were studied, publicly discussed, and funded through a deliberate process. They exist because too many people have been injured or killed downtown while trying to cross our streets.
They also align with the City’s recently adopted Transportation Mobility Plan, which places a strong emphasis on improving safety for all street users.
That’s what makes the recent removal of several bump-outs so concerning.
The congestion experienced during major events — when thousands of people drive downtown at the same time — is not surprising. But it is not evidence that safety infrastructure failed. It’s evidence that our transportation system cannot rely on everyone driving to the same place at the same time without delays.
We should not respond to a predictable traffic surge by removing proven safety measures.
If anything, moments like these highlight the need for more transportation options; better transit access, clearer wayfinding, and strategies that help people arrive without overwhelming our streets.
Safety cannot be conditional. It should not be compromised in response to temporary congestion, and it should not be reversed without data, transparency, or public input.
We urge the City to recommit to evidence-based safety improvements and to ensure that any changes to critical infrastructure are guided by data, community engagement, and a clear commitment to protecting human life.
Because no one should have to risk their safety just to cross the street.