A “Die-In” outside Denver’s City and County Building represents the people killed on city streets in 2025.

One by one, as names were called, individuals lay down on the pavement in front of Denver’s City and County Building, holding flowers over their chests. The action was part of a “Die-In” protest organized by Denver Streets Partnership to honor the 93 pedestrians, cyclists and motorists who were killed on Denver streets in 2025.

“Today is a day about accountability, remembrance, empowerment, and visibility. It’s also a moment to mourn our neighbors who were killed on Denver’s streets last year in crashes that were totally predictable and preventable,” said volunteer Andy Cushen who addressed the crowd.

The event was held on March 11, or 3-11, as a way to highlight the importance of residents writing or calling the city’s 3-1-1 non-emergency number to report dangerous streets and intersections across the city. “3-1-1 represents a promise made by our city officials to provide us with essential public infrastructure and services that support our collective well-being,” said Cushen.

“Virtually everyone has a street or intersection in their neighborhood where they regularly experience close calls or don’t feel safe walking with their kids, so we’re encouraging them to let the city know where these traffic safety issues are,” said Jill Locantore, executive director of the Denver Streets Partnership. “Learn how to use 3-1-1 as a tool to be an engaged citizen. Let the city know that people care about this issue.”

Mayfair resident Julie Torvik showed up to represent one of the people who was killed last year. She said she has been disappointed that the city isn’t doing more to make streets safer. “I really see the mayor backpedaling on some of the more important safety issues regarding pedestrians and bicyclists—of being more in favor of cars. And that’s the wrong way for the city to move,” said Torvik.

Advocates want the city to do more to make Denver streets safer.

Locantore said the city actually has a strong action plan, called Vision Zero, that lays out strategies for making streets safer by redesigning them to prioritize safety.  But she said those strategies aren’t being implemented. “A few years ago, a special fund was created for multi-modal transportation projects. It’s about $15 million a year. But they’ve diverted that funding to other projects that have nothing to do with safety,” said Locantore.

Jon Ewing, the mayor’s spokesman, responded in an email saying: “We mourn the lives of the 93 individuals we lost last year and are committed to making Denver’s streets safer.  While there is no one solution to improving traffic safety, crashes do have predictable and preventable causes and we are responding accordingly.”

Ewing went on to explain some measures that will be implemented soon. “This year the city will roll out strategic speed reductions in busy corridors, add bike lanes and pedestrian crossings, update school zones, and begin work on multiple bond projects that will improve our streets.”

Locantore, however, remains disappointed that the mayor hasn’t prioritized the safety issues that he campaigned on three years ago. “The advocacy community is not feeling heard by this mayor. We’re feeling ignored and dismissed. And it’s really distressing because this is a top public safety issue for our city. And it deserves the same attention as car theft or gun violence.”

Front Porch photos by Christie Gosch