Streets Are For Everyone
Our Mission
Streets Are For Everyone (SAFE) is a 501(c)3 non-profit organization founded in January 2015 that aims to improve the quality of life for pedestrians, bicyclists, and drivers alike by reducing traffic fatalities to zero. SAFE addresses the problem in a holistic fashion through direct education, broad awareness campaigns, partnerships, community outreach, policy and legislation, support for those impacted, and other proven strategies.
What We Do
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SAFE Support Victim Services
We provide resources, support, and help to victims of traffic collisions and family or friends of victims…
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Finish The Ride & Finish The Run
Finish the Ride is a movement, started in the spirit of courage and determination…
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Streets, Art, SAFE Film Competition
Combining education and young-adult outreach, the Streets, Art, SAFE film competition…
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Activists, Advocates & Volunteers
A community of like-minded individuals united in the movement to make sure Streets Are For Everyone…
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Fight For Change
SAFE is committed to passing sensible policy and legislation that reduces traffic violence…
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Faith For SAFE Streets
Faith based leaders using their pulpit, prayers and powerful voices to remind our communities that it is up to each of us to ensure no one dies in traffic…
Why Streets Are For Everyone?
Who are we and where are we going?
Listen to the Surviving Driving Podcast for a summary of our story and our vision for reducing traffic-caused fatalities to zero.
“It is critically important to adopt policies that ensure our streets are designed for all who use them — pedestrians, bicyclists, motorists and public transportation users of all ages. All of us need safe and efficient streets. That won’t happen without change.”
— AARP statement of support for H.R. 2071 (2014), the Safe Streets Act
SAFE Streets Blog
Damian’s Story
The Tragedy That Started SAFE
SAFE was started by cyclist Damian Kevitt as a movement for safer streets after he was hit by a car, dragged 1/4 mile down Interstate 5, and nearly killed while riding his bicycle in Griffith Park in 2013.
While still in the hospital, Damian made two decisions:
No matter how long it took, he would finish the ride he started that day.
He would use his story to fight for safer streets for all road users throughout California.
Finish the Ride and Finish the Run were SAFE’s first events, and they continue today as a space where community members can come together for change.
What started as a single, life-changing event has become a community of activists, advocates, and volunteers united in a movement that proudly declares that “Streets Are For Everyone” and fights each day to realize Damian’s vision while lying in that hospital bed.
Here we are again, about to host our 11th Annual Finish The Ride and Finish The Run Griffith Park. It’s hard to believe we’ve been doing this now for 11 years. It’s incredible how much it’s grown in that time.
Many of you know the basic history of Finish the Ride, how I was hit cycling in Griffith Park in 2013, dragged nearly a quarter mile under a car onto and down the 5 Freeway. How it was a hit-and-run, and I lost my leg and nearly my life. How Finish The Ride started as an advocacy campaign on hit-and-run crimes to help make roads safer for everyone. For those who have been at a Finish The Ride event, you’ve heard me describe the story, and I’ve described the story every year since the first year. I’ve told the simple story so many times I can almost say it in my sleep (check with my wife, I likely do!)
Most of you don’t know that Finish The Ride, the deep roots of Finish The Ride, actually goes back to 1-2 days after I was hit. I was in intensive care at LAC+USC Hospital (now LA County General Hospital), and I was waking up from my first emergency surgery, where the doctors officially amputated what was left of my right leg.