Twenty-seven pairs of shoes are laid out in a grid on the floor of the Sapulpa Public Library. Each pair represents someone who has died on the streets of the regional Tulsa area by way of bicycle or pedestrian fatalities in the last two years. Behind each pair of shoes is a placard detailing the age and gender of the victim, the date of their death, and the location of the fatality.
The youngest is just 14 years old.
The display is a sobering reminder of the need for caution when driving our streets, whether it be a wary eye for the walkers and cyclists we share the road with, or simply a better understanding of the laws regarding them.
“Travel with Care Tulsa” is a public awareness campaign from INCOG and The Oklahoma Highway Safety Office. The mission of the campaign is to educate the public on the rules of the road and hopefully keep our citizens safe while in transit, according to an accompanying booklet about the campaign.
The literature and the website at travelwithcaretulsa.com contain helpful tips for being a more alert and safe cyclist or pedestrian and give answers to common questions such as “Do cyclists have to stop at stop signs?” including citing specific codes that support those answers. The exhibit at the library includes a map of every pedestrian fatality in the last two years in the Tulsa region.
It’s unknown how long the exhibit will be at the Sapulpa Public Library, but it’s worth checking out if for no other reason than the sharp reminder to remain aware of your surroundings, where you’re on foot or behind the wheel.
