For Immediate Release: Tuesday, March 3, 2020
From the Office of Councilmember Evan Glass
Recognizing his leadership on road safety issues
in Montgomery County
ROCKVILLE, MD, March 2, 2020 — Councilmember Evan Glass was honored by the Washington Area Bicyclist Association (WABA) with the Vision Zero Award for his leadership in advancing pedestrian and bicycle safety in Montgomery County. Councilmember Glass advocated for the hiring of a Vision Zero Coordinator, held a town hall meeting in December 2019 to hear from concerned County residents about road safety, and continues to meaningfully engage Montgomery County and Maryland transportation agencies to ensure county residents have safer roads.
“This is an award I wish I didn’t have to accept. 2019 was a deadly year for cyclists and pedestrians in Montgomery County and already in the first three months of 2020, six people have been killed and 93 people have been injured on our roads. Street safety is a life and death issue and is one of the biggest public health crises in the region,” said Councilmember Evan Glass (At-Large). “Montgomery County adopted a 41-point road safety plan, and I was adamant that a Vision Zero Coordinator be hired to turn this plan into reality. Whether someone is walking to school, riding a bike to work, or crossing the street in a wheelchair, we must make our roads safer for everyone.”
“Leadership is needed to solve the epidemic of traffic injuries and fatalities in Montgomery County. WABA is honored to present Councilmember Evan Glass with the 2019 Vision Zero Award for his leadership to address traffic safety by lifting up community concerns and advocating for life saving improvements,” said Washington Area Bicyclist Association Executive Director Greg Billing.
“To achieve zero deaths on our roads, we need political will: advocates who speak out and elected officials who listen. Councilmember Evan Glass is one such official, an example of a leader using his platform to work for progress,” said Alison Gillespie, Safe Routes Committee Chair, Montgomery County Council of Parent-Teacher Associations. “In 2019, he stepped up to take on issues of vulnerable road user safety across Montgomery County, including hosting a Vision Zero town hall that brought together decision-makers, stakeholders, and community members, creating a space to ask questions and voice concerns about how we will get to Vision Zero. Councilmember Glass’ work with Maryland State Highway and County Department of Transportation agencies shows a priority for addressing traffic violence.”
Councilmember Glass serves on the Council’s Transportation and Environment Committee and is the Lead for Homelessness and Vulnerable Communities on the Health and Human Services Committee. To learn more visit Councilmember Glass’ Council website here.
WABA is a 501(c)(3) member-supported organization founded in 1972 and serves the Washington, D.C. metropolitan region. WABA educates and advocates in Montgomery County and the Washington metropolitan area. It envisions a region in which biking is joyful, safe, popular, and liberating – supported by the necessary infrastructure, laws, activities and investments – and where bicycle ridership mirrors the incredible diversity of our communities. For more information visit waba.org.
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Release ID: 20-075