Denver loves to talk about being a progressive, people-first city. It adopted Vision Zero back in 2016 — a sweeping commitment to eliminate all traffic deaths and serious injuries by 2030. It has invested in bike lanes, pedestrian refuge islands, HAWK signals, and signal timing overhauls. Local government has made streets a signature issue.
And yet: in 2025, 93 people died on Denver’s streets. The deadliest year since 2013.
That’s not a typo. Despite years of infrastructure investment and policy pledges, Denver’s traffic death toll has climbed in nearly every year since the Vision Zero promise was made. Advocates with Denver Streets Partnership gave Mayor Mike Johnston a grade of D on his transportation safety report card, citing rising fatalities, slowed project timelines, and funding redirected away from street safety infrastructure. If you live in this city, especially if you walk, bike, ride the bus, or zip around on an e-scooter, that number should stop you cold…