Berkeley Father Advocates for Safer Streets following Crash with Son

Adam Moss and his 3.5-year-old son narrowly avoided a tragedy, nestled in the suburban charm of South Berkeley, during their routine bike commute. Riding their Xtracycle cargo bike to preschool, they were hit by a driver and the incident shattered the tranquility of their daily journey. While Moss’s son emerged physically unscathed, the incident left Moss facing potential injury, possibly a torn ligament, amplifying the urgent call for safer streets in Berkeley.

“I typically take both children to school in the morning by bike. I had just dropped my eldest child off at their elementary school and was on my way to preschool with my 3.5-year-old in tow when the collision happened,” Moss says. “We take the same route every day, and while our bike rides are utilitarian, they are also opportunities to experience our cityscape and neighborhood in a way that can only be done while rolling free on two wheels.”

The collision unfolded at the intersection of Heinz Avenue and Seventh Street, nestled within Berkeley’s bicycle boulevard network.

“The driver who struck us must have been completely distracted, as they cut a diagonal turn across the centerlines to speed through a yellow light and struck us head on, on the wrong side of the road,” Moss explains. “The SUV crushed our front wheel, bent the fork of our bike, and hit my right knee. Our bike toppled over and sent both me and my son into the street.”

Moss vividly recounted the intersection’s inadequacies, lamenting the lack of essential safety measures that could have mitigated the severity of the crash.

“We were miraculously fortunate to not have been more severely injured. My son was physically protected due to the safety features on our Xtracycle bike, including double hand rails,” Moss says. “Thankfully, we were immediately surrounded by concerned witnesses who cared for my son and me, ensured the driver didn’t flee the scene, and helped us into safety.”

Despite Berkeley’s progressive ethos, the reality on its streets falls short, prompting Moss and his family to become staunch advocates for improved infrastructure and heightened road safety measures.

“Our family has historically been outspoken about safer streets, but the incident led us to become even more dedicated advocates, talking to Council members and gathering community support for the safe streets campaign,” Moss says. “My wife especially transformed the trauma and fear of this experience into direct action and advocacy.”

Their impassioned advocacy echoes the sentiments of the group Berkeley Citizens for Safe Streets (BCSS), which is tirelessly campaigning for a parcel tax aimed at funding not only critical street and sidewalk repairs but also vital safety infrastructure enhancements.

“This measure can fund things like bulb-outs, raised crosswalks, flashing beacons, improved traffic signals, and other pedestrian and bicycle safety improvements that will help save lives,” says Rebecca Mirvish, campaign manager for BCSS. “By leveraging this tax money with additional grants, our hope is that Berkeley would be able to implement most of the projects in its safety plans, such as the 2017 Bicycle Plan or 2020 Pedestrian Plan, which have languished for lack of funding.

The proposed measures aim to confront decades of neglect, envisioning a Berkeley where streets are safe havens for all road users, particularly vulnerable cyclists and pedestrians.

“Berkeley’s bicycle boulevard network was first established in the 1970s, but has not been substantially updated since,” Mirvish adds. “While the infrastructure deployed was innovative and cutting-edge for its day, Berkeley has fallen behind and many parts of the network lack common-sense improvements that are widespread around the world today.”

However, the journey towards safer streets is riddled with challenges. Organized opposition to the tax measure looms large, threatening to derail progress with misinformation and resistance. Overcoming these obstacles demands substantial resources and unwavering commitment, yet amidst the tumult, there is a burgeoning swell of public interest in championing initiatives that prioritize pedestrian and cyclist safety.

“As soon as people find out about our campaign, they tend to get excited,” Mirvish says. “People are tired of the status quo, where serious injuries and deaths from traffic collisions are just a normal part of everyday life in Berkeley. Many people are glad something serious is finally happening, and lots of people who weren’t even necessarily tuned in to the Safe Streets movement have jumped up to help with the campaign.”

Berkeley Citizens for Safe Streets formed around nine months ago and represents a formidable alliance of community activists, public works experts, and elected officials united in their resolve to address the longstanding neglect of Berkeley’s streets. Their collective vision is one of lasting change—a Berkeley where incidents like Moss’s collision are uncommon, where streets are vibrant, and above all, safe for all who traverse them.

For Moss, although Berkeley has a history of progressive politics, the current infrastructure standoff has boiled down to a “parking spot vs. bike lane” argument in “a profoundly reductionistic and unimaginative manner that is both tragic and enraging,” he says. “Our city can easily accommodate both safe infrastructure for cyclists and adequate parking for people with disabilities and other limitations that require accessible parking.”

As for his own family, the incident is not going to keep them off their bicycles, but implementing safe cycling infrastructure is a must.

“Cycling, especially for transportation, is something our family is dedicated to through and through,” Moss says. “I’ve been an active cyclist long before parenthood and I refuse to surrender the beauty of navigating the world by bike — the most sustainable, enjoyable, and liberating manner of movement I can conceive of.”