Safety Conversation Continues
At a Charlotte City Council meeting chambers packed with people, chants, and tensions over the situation in the Middle East; a group of local runners filled the rows of an upper balcony waiting for a singular voice to share their concerns about safety.
In the public session before the Council’s official business agenda, Jesus Delatorre represented some area runners in their effort to make sure everyone has the opportunity to run or walk outside.
For his two minutes, Delatorre thanked council members and public safety for increased signage and police patrols along popular running routes. He also reminded them of local and national stories that highlight the work needed to help everyone feel safer outside. A Georgia nursing student’s murder just a week prior was a stark reminder of the dangers some runners face – particularly female runners and people of color.
“It’s important to show that this issue is not important to just one person,” Delatorre told us. “We felt as though having more people there can show the council members that their constituents in the community feel like this is an important issue.”
Tammy Brown McClellon was one of those runners in the balcony. She said it’s important to show up for meetings like this, because there’s power in numbers.
“I also believe it’s important to show up and represent for causes that you’re passionate about,” she added. “I am a person of color and a woman, so I feel like I have to be uber cautious when exercising outside. Any measures that can be put in place to make runners feel safe, I will gladly advocate for.”
And the opportunity in front of councilmembers was more than just a one-time presentation. Delatorre says he was able to connect with representatives from Charlotte Department of Transportation because of the meeting. He plans to sit down with them, and invite them to upcoming open safety forums and continue to push for mobility safety.
Prior safety forums have featured guests from Charlotte-Meckleburg Police, Sustain Charlotte, Vision Zero, and other pedestrian and people-focuses programs. Organizers are planning the next mobility safety forum now. If you’re interested in finding our more, you can follow @runcltrun on their social media platforms.
# # #
Leave a Reply