Safe Streets COS: Mayor Yemi Commits to a Safer, More Connected City

Last Wednesday at Mann Middle School, Mayor Yemi Mobolade officially launched Safe Streets COS, a citywide initiative that signals a major shift in our city’s approach to transportation – KKTV Article linked here . “Road safety is public safety,” the Mayor stated, marking a bold commitment to protecting lives through smarter data and safer infrastructure.

This builds on the city’s Transportation Safety Action Plan which was officially adopted by the Colorado Springs City Council this month (See the Bike COS safety action plan call to action here)

For those of us who ride, this commitment hits close to home. Nationally, the single biggest factor keeping people off their bikes isn’t a lack of interest—it’s a lack of safe connections. People want to ride, but they won’t do it if they feel like there are “gaps” in the network that put them in conflict with high-speed traffic (See the 2025 Study on Infrastructure Roadblocks).

1. Bridging the Gaps

Connectivity is the heartbeat of a bikeable city. Safe Streets COS focuses on “high-risk corridors” and trail crossings to ensure our network isn’t just a collection of paths, but a continuous, safe system. By treating these unsafe connections as a public safety priority, the city is clearing the path for more residents to choose a bike for daily trips.

Safety Demonstration Projects (Implemented & Planned):

Neighborhood traffic circles: To calm intersections in residential areas.
Speed tables & Speed feedback signs: Proven tools to reduce vehicle velocity.
Protected bike lanes: Physical separation to eliminate the “fear factor” of riding.

2. Building Safe Connections for Kids

The launch at Mann Middle highlighted a critical focus: school zones. By using engineering to force slower speeds, the city is creating the safe environments necessary for students to walk and bike to class. If we can make a middle schooler feel safe on their commute, we make the whole neighborhood safer for everyone.

Link to Planned School Zone List

3. Data-Driven Transparency

You can’t fix what you can’t see. The city has launched the Safe Streets Dashboard, an interactive tool that lets you explore crash trends and safety efforts in your own neighborhood. Transparency allows us to see exactly where those “unsafe connections” are so we can advocate for the pilot projects needed to fix them.