Trailnet has released its fifth annual Crash Report, a vital tool for advocacy and education aimed at building safer streets across the St. Louis region. Analyzing crash data from 2024 alongside longer-term trends dating back to 2010, this year’s report reveals an urgent need for systemic change to curb the rising tide of traffic violence — especially for pedestrians and people biking.
In 2024, both St. Louis City and St. Louis County experienced their deadliest year on record for pedestrians, even as some types of crashes declined. While reported crashes involving cyclists and pedestrians dropped by 9.5% from 2023 to 2024, pedestrian deaths surged — up 187% in the City and 24% in the County.
“Each data point in this report represents a life lost or permanently altered,” said Cindy Mense, CEO of Trailnet. “Preventing future tragedies requires a collective commitment — from drivers who must slow down and stay focused, to policymakers and engineers who must design and fund streets that prioritize the safety of everyone, especially those outside of cars.”
Key findings from the 2024 Crash Report include:
In 2024, 23 pedestrians were killed in St. Louis City, and 36 in St. Louis County.
Since 2010, the number of pedestrian and cyclist deaths has increased by 73%, even as total reported crashes have fallen by 35%.
In 2024, nearly 48% of all road fatalities involved people walking, up from 25% in 2010.
Cyclist crashes rose by 38% in the County in 2024 — with 81% of crashes occurring where no bike lanes or trails exist.
Each crash involving a pedestrian or cyclist is becoming deadlier: in 2010, fewer than 2% of those struck died; today, nearly one in 10 dies.
Trailnet’s report identifies wide arterial roads with high speed limits, poor lighting, inadequate pedestrian crossings, and a lack of bike facilities as persistent, dangerous patterns in crash data across the region.
The Crash Report is designed to provide leaders, planners, and advocates with actionable data that can drive life-saving changes. Trailnet calls on policymakers to urgently prioritize infrastructure investments that slow down traffic, create safer crossings, and expand access to protected biking and walking facilities.
“Our region deserves better,” said Mense. “With intentional investment, we can create streets that keep everyone safer and contribute to a vibrant and healthier community.”
Trailnet Champion: Brittany Jones
Each month we feature a member of our community that is working to push Trailnet’s vision of Streets for All. Brittany Jones is our champion for April!
Creating a world where everyone can move freely and safely takes more than just good infrastructure. It takes people who understand the connections between community, health, and justice — people like Brittany Jones, this month’s Trailnet Champion!
Brittany serves as the Assistant Director of Clinical and Community Integration and Racial Equity Initiatives at the St. Louis Integrated Health Network (IHN). She’s also the Project Manager for the REACH (Racial and Ethnic Approaches to Community Health) grant in St. Louis, a CDC-funded initiative aimed at addressing chronic disease and health disparities. Through REACH, Brittany helps lead efforts that not only address health inequities but also transform how communities experience and access safe, welcoming spaces.
For the REACH grant, Trailnet is taking the lead on strategies that increase physical activity through community design. Together, we’re helping neighborhoods connect activity-friendly routes to everyday destinations — a key part of creating more equitable, active, and thriving communities.
“Working with Trailnet has been an enlightening experience for me,” Brittany shared. “Trailnet has taught me the intricacies that go into creating built environments and really thinking about how we create an environment based on what a community wants. And I’ve seen Trailnet put that at the forefront — and it’s been a beautiful thing.”
Originally from Richmond, California, Brittany moved to St. Louis in 2018. She earned her undergraduate degree in Multi/Interdisciplinary Studies blending social work, criminal justice, and psychology and completed a dual Master’s in Social Work and Public Health from Washington University. Her passion for public health and social justice is personal.
“My passion comes directly from how I grew up,” she said. “I had to overcome a lot of adversity, and I’ve always had this heart and desire to give back—I just didn’t always know how. Social work is my heart and public health is my brain. They work hand in hand, beautifully.”
That passion now fuels her work to center equity, healing, and liberation in every aspect of public health. From supporting community coalitions to advancing policy strategies, Brittany brings both lived experience and professional insight to the table.
In her role managing the REACH grant, Brittany sees firsthand how the built environment impacts health — whether through access to nutritious food, green space, or safe places to move and gather. She credits Trailnet with helping her see how transportation and street design are deeply woven into these outcomes.
“Trailnet has been instrumental in helping to create action plans, traffic calming tactics, and really pushing the Safe Streets for All agenda,” she said. “It’s changed the way I look at where I live and how I participate as a community member. How do I help create a safer environment for myself, my neighbors, and the kiddos on my street?”
Brittany recently joined Trailnet’s planning team in Washington, D.C. at the National Bike Summit, organized by the League of American Bicyclists, where she and Erich Hellmer, Community Planning Manager at Trailnet, gave a presentation entitled “Who is a ‘Cyclist?’ Reimagining Equitable Mobility through Collective Action.” She’s thoughtful about how transportation conversations need to reflect historical context.
“There’s room for criticism and deeper thought,” she said. “When we’re talking about bike lanes or accessibility, how does that change for people who have been harmed by racist policies and segregation? I love being part of conversations that include those narratives.”
Brittany’s leadership, compassion, and big-picture thinking make her a powerful partner in our shared mission to create communities where everyone can walk, bike, and move safely — no matter who they are or where they live.
Thank you, Brittany, for your dedication to building healthier, more equitable communities!
Any loss of life on our streets is unacceptable
Trailnet mourns the tragic death of a cyclist who was struck and killed by multiple drivers on Gravois Avenue on Tuesday, April 1. We extend our deepest condolences to the victim’s loved ones and to the community grieving this loss.
This tragedy is heartbreaking, infuriating, and yet another example of the epidemic of traffic violence in St. Louis, affecting people biking, walking, rolling, catching the bus, and driving. Data from Trailnet’s upcoming 2024 Crash Report shows that this crash is one of many — 58 people riding bikes were struck by drivers in St. Louis City last year. Gravois Avenue has consistently ranked among the most dangerous streets for pedestrians and remains one of the City’s top crash corridors.
While details about this crash are still emerging, one thing is clear: any loss of life on our streets is unacceptable.
Traffic violence is a result of decisions, behaviors, and systemic failures in street design. Many proven solutions have not been broadly implemented in our region yet. We must demand change, including:
The City, State, and Federal government must continue to invest in protected cycling infrastructure, not just paint. New infrastructure often takes years to design and build, so it is critical to continue planning and community engagement for new projects. In the meantime, quick-build solutions should be deployed to improve safety now.
Education and enforcement efforts must focus on creating a culture of safer driving. We can all do our part by slowing down and paying attention to the road.
Reckless drivers should be held accountable, especially for a serious crime like a hit-and-run.
Two of the four drivers who hit the cyclist, including the initial driver, fled the scene and have yet to come forward. We urge law enforcement to thoroughly investigate and hold those responsible accountable, and we implore the drivers to come forward.
We also request that reporters and the news community alter how they speak and write about crashes by implementing people-first language. We must be clear: cars do not kill people — drivers do. And when a person driving a car hits a pedestrian or cyclist, it is not an “accident.” It is traffic violence; it is a “crash.”
This tragedy is not an isolated incident — it is a pattern. Traffic violence has become part of our daily lives, but it doesn’t have to be that way. We can and must do better.
Where Do Your Leaders Stand? Our Aldermanic Survey Results
Following the success of the Transportation and Infrastructure Mayoral Forum, Trailnet again partnered with the St. Louis Coalition for the Protection of Cyclists and Pedestrians, the St. Louis Urbanists, Transform 314, and Paraquad to create an Alderperson Survey. With St. Louis City elections approaching on April 8, 2025, we want voters to be informed about where aldermanic candidates stand on transportation issues.
This survey was sent to all 11 candidates; we received responses from four. Their answers have not been modified in any way, and are presented exactly as they were received. Click on names below to see the alderperson’s responses.
Trailnet Champions: Karen Nicholson and Scott Otto
In each of our monthly newsletters, Trailnet features a member (or members!) of our community who are working toward Trailnet’s vision of Streets for All. Karen Nicholson and Scott Otto are our March 2025 Trailnet Champions!
Trailnet is incredibly fortunate to have the best volunteers around! They’re hardworking folks always ready to chip in and spread our message, whether it’s through tabling events, hauling equipment at our rides, or any other number of things that make our work possible. We’re thrilled to feature two this month, both of whom won the Volunteer Award that our recent Beans, Bikes, and Brews event: Karen Nicholson and Scott Otto.
Karen has always had a heart for volunteering. During her 26 years at Scott Credit Union, she was incredibly active in their volunteer incentive program, winning company awards for the most volunteer hours, the highest percentage of team members volunteering, and the highest percentage of team volunteer hours. When it comes to volunteering at Trailnet, Karen loves getting to engage with the community. “I get to meet new people while giving back to the community and advocating for safer streets,” said Karen. “I love working with Trailnet employees; they are a great group of fun, caring, and supportive employees who always make you feel welcomed and appreciated while volunteering.”
In addition to volunteering, Karen keeps active with walking, hiking, and cycling. She’s a proud grandmother (she introduced her granddaughter to the Moonlight Ramble Ride in 2010, and volunteering in 2016!) and is excited to be a great-grandmother in April. We’re betting she’ll introduce her great-grandchild to cycling and volunteering before too long!
Scott got involved with Trailnet in 2023, around the same time that Gina Otto, his wife, became our Special Events Manager! She roped him into working some rides, and the rest, as they say, is history.
Scott keeps busy between his work at UPS, visits with his grown children in Arizona and Tennessee, and awesome hiking and biking adventures. He also loves building and repairing electronics, and is quite the cat dad! On top of all that, he spends a lot of time with Trailnet.
Scott has gone all in on volunteering at our rides, and like Karen, understands the joy of volunteering. “The feeling of giving back to the community — putting in hard work and seeing it pay off with happy smiling bike riders,” said Scott. “And I enjoy meeting new people and learning more about the communities where the bike rides take place.” Scott has found other great bonuses in volunteering, too! “It’s encouraged me to start riding my bike more often and feel more confident riding on streets versus just trails or bike paths.” What a fantastic plus!
Thanks to our volunteers, we’re able to make a bigger impact in all aspects of our work, and we can’t imagine functioning without them. Thank you Karen and Scott, for your passion for volunteering, and for Trailnet! We’re so grateful for you both!
In each of our monthly newsletters, Trailnet features a member of our community who is working toward Trailnet’s vision of Streets for All. Bill Coppel is our February 2025 Trailnet Champion!
A member of our Board of Directors from 2018 to 2024, Bill Coppel has been an incredible advocate for Trailnet, and St. Louis in general. During his time on Trailnet’s board, he served as the head of the nominations committee — a fitting position for a people-person and connector like Bill. He also served as board mentor to Cindy Mense, Trailnet’s CEO. He’s served as the Chief Client Growth Officer at TradePMP for the past two years, and earned his MBA from Washington University. An east coast native, he’s lived in St. Louis for 17 years, raising two children with his wife, Kathy. He’s always kept a busy professional schedule, but has made time for causes and organizations he believes in, such as KidSmart and the Missouri History Museum, and of course, Trailnet.
An avid cyclist, Bill has biked all over St. Louis and beyond with his family. In listening to him to talk about his adventures, his love of the area is evident. “We have cycled every inch of St. Louis from the north, farthest north side, all the way to the deepest south side of the city, to the western border, and, of course, to the river,” said Bill. “So we know every one of those neighborhoods, each one of them. And that’s another remarkable thing about St. Louis, is every neighborhood is very distinctive, and has its own personality.”
It was through the cycling community that Bill first heard of Trailnet. He joined the board not just because he wants safe streets for everyone, but also because of how safe streets can elevate a city. “Cities should be safe for non-vehicular transportation, whether you’re walking, cycling, or running — all of those things I think are incredibly important — but just as important is the fact that a city has to be inviting,” Bill said. “It has to be a safe city. It’s got to have opportunity, and what we’re doing with streets is helping to revitalize this city, and making it an attractive destination for companies, businesses, and people wanting to move here.”
Trailnet has benefited greatly from Bill’s wisdom as he helped shape and guide many of our campaigns. “I think a lot of the work we’ve done on calming streets, in the neighborhoods within the city for traffic calming, putting in bike lanes, putting in pedestrian crosswalks, and particularly in school areas — it’s great. We’ve been involved with doing all of that and more. I’m really proud of the work Trailnet has done.”
We’re deeply grateful for Bill’s time on our board, and are inspired by his advocacy for safer streets, and St. Louis overall.
St. Louisans Speak Out: The Future of Transportation Can’t Wait
The standing-room-only Transportation Infrastructure Mayoral Forum signaled a growing demand for transportation reform
On February 10, 2025, approximately 200 concerned St. Louisans gathered to attend the Mayoral Forum on Transportation Infrastructure at Paraquad’s headquarters. The event was held by a collaborative of St. Louis organizations: Trailnet, Paraquad, Transform 314, the St. Louis Coalition to Protect Bicyclists and Pedestrians (CP2), and the St. Louis Urbanists.
All four mayoral candidates — Recorder of Deeds Michael Butler, Mr. Andrew Jones, Mayor Tishaura Jones, and Alderwoman Cara Spencer — shared their personal visions for the future of transportation infrastructure in the City of St. Louis.
Questions were provided by the organizations and the public, promoting a productive conversation on a wide range of transportation topics. Notable topics included:
Allocating funds and ward capital to transportation infrastructure, including for the new St. Louis City Department of Transportation.
Improving ADA accessibility and mobility throughout the city.
Improving notable corridors, including South Grand.
Promoting dense, walkable neighborhoods.
Reducing the citywide speed limit.
Equitably distributing infrastructure improvements, particularly in North City.
Improving trust in government, particularly for Black St. Louisans, as it relates to advocating for transportation infrastructure.
Sharing the candidates’ own use of active and public transit, including how they hope to make use of public transportation more common for all.
Improving connectivity of St. Louis’ fragmented transportation networks.
Reimagining maintenance policies to remove barriers to safer infrastructure.
Trailnet would like to thank Paraquad, Transform 314, St. Louis Coalition to Protect Bicyclists and Pedestrians (CP2), and the St. Louis Urbanists for their collaboration on this event. Additionally, we extend our gratitude to everyone who attended the forum for their presence and thoughtful questions.
We believe that the turnout for the Mayoral Forum on Transportation Infrastructure demonstrated the exceptional need for mobility improvements in St. Louis. Pedestrians, cyclists, and those who use public transit attended in large numbers to show concern and advocate for improvement in mobility options and the safety of their communities from traffic violence, directly sharing their interests with elected officials. Moving forward, we hope to continue providing opportunities for greater public engagement in transportation issues, allowing for more informed residents and representatives.
Remember to vote in the Primary Municipal Election on March 4, 2025! The leading two candidates will then proceed to the General Election on April 8, 2025. To prepare, feel free to check current voter information and find your polling place.
Missed the Mayoral Transportation Infrastructure Forum? It is available for viewing on our Facebook page.
New Staff at Trailnet: The MarComms Team
With the New Year comes some brand new faces. Meet Chantal and Madyson!
Chantal Incandela, Marketing and Communications Director (on the left), and Madyson Weber, Social Media Coordinator (on the right) are Trailnet’s newest team members, and together they form Trailnet’s Marketing and Communications team. There’s a good chance you’ll see them at various events throughout the year! A little bit about our newest employees:
A passionate reader and writer, Chantal thrives on dissecting the customer journey and takes an almost obsessive delight in the art of wordsmithing. She takes public transportation to work most days (shout out to the 73 bus!) and loves admiring St. Louis’ architecture on the journey into the office.
A member of Trailnet’s leadership team, Chantal leads the strategic vision and execution of Trailnet’s communications and marketing strategy to tell success stories, promote events and rides, and educate the public about issues and current events related to Trailnet’s work. She is no stranger to the non-profit and marcomms world; before coming to Trailnet, she was the Press & Communications Manager at Opera Theatre of Saint Louis.
Madyson is nothing short of a superhero, seamlessly keeping her finger on the pulse of viral trends and top-notch content while managing a wedding and event content creation business, a mobile spray tanning venture, AND motherhood to an adorable six-month-old.
As Social Media Coordinator, Madyson creates content to promote Trailnet’s initiatives, campaigns, programs, impact, and priorities. In addition, she monitors all of our social media channels and keeps up to date on the ever-changing social media landscape and algorithm. With a background in environmental science, thorough knowledge of social media, and a deep love for all things sustainability, Madyson is an incredible fit at Trailnet!
You’re likely to catch Chantal and Madyson at a number of Trailnet events, and they look forward to meeting you. Feel free to reach out and say hello when you see them!
Upcoming St. Louis Mayoral Forum to Focus on Transportation Infrastructure
A collaborative of St. Louis organizations focused on pedestrian, cyclist, and public transportation issues — Trailnet, Paraquad, the St. Louis Coalition to Protect Cyclists & Pedestrians (CP2), the St. Louis Urbanists, and Transform 314 — will host a Transportation Infrastructure Mayoral Forum on Monday, Feb. 10, from 6 to 7:30 p.m. at Paraquad’s office, 5240 Oakland Ave. The forum will provide mayoral candidates an opportunity to share their vision and address questions about the city’s mobility infrastructure.
“Streets are the foundation of our communities and deeply connected to our quality of life,” said Cindy Mense, CEO of Trailnet. “How we travel shapes how we live, and the approach St. Louis’ next mayor takes to address the daily mobility needs of our residents will have a profound impact on everyone. We’re deeply grateful to Paraquad, CP2, the St. Louis Urbanists, and Transform 314 for collaborating with us on this forum, and giving the community the chance to hear from the candidates.”
The collaborative will explore a full range of issues including planning, design, funding, building, and maintenance with the candidates to assess their vision of providing quality, accessible, and connected transportation infrastructure. Members of the St. Louis community are encouraged to attend. Tickets are not required.
Each mayoral candidate will have five minutes for opening remarks, followed by two questions from the hosting organizations, and then questions from the community. A moderator and timekeeper will ensure all participants have adequate time to address questions.
All four mayoral candidates — Michael Butler, Andrew Jones, Tishaura Jones, and Cara Spencer — have confirmed their attendance.
