Pedestrian advocates plan protest for safer Indy streets
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Pedestrian advocates and cycling enthusiasts are calling all concerned citizens to the Cultural Trail this weekend to make some noise about Indy's ongoing public safety emergency.
Why it matters: The upcoming Safe Streets Protest at Massachusetts and North College avenues will continue a season of action for residents who say city leaders should be doing more to protect pedestrians.
Between the lines: The protest site was chosen in remembrance of Brandon Breedlove, a 27-year-old Indianapolis man and U.S. Air Force veteran killed in a hit-and-run at the intersection in March 2024.
- Two other pedestrians were wounded in the incident.
The latest: Jake Budler, protest organizer and Tomorrow Bookstore co-founder, told Axios that more than 18 months after Breedlove's death, no significant permanent changes have been implemented to correct safety issues in the area.
- He said the addition of temporary barricades and traffic markers painted on the southbound lane of College Avenue going across Mass Ave aren't enough.
What they're saying: "If somebody I know and somebody I love dies after being hit by a car, and that's the only thing that we can do as a city … that's just not good enough," Budler said.
- "And that's just one intersection. Everybody's got an intersection like that in their life, and we need a stronger, faster and more effective response."
Zoom in: The Safe Streets Protest will take place one week after dozens of community members and elected officials rallied at Shelby and Raymond streets as part of global World Day of Remembrance for Road Traffic Victims.
- Attendees pushed for a better Raymond Street design; safer walking and biking connections to Indy's Southside; and funding for the city's Vision Zero Plan.
- Organizations supporting the protest include Tomorrow Bookstore, Central Indiana Cycling, Health by Design, Bike People Indy, Proformus and Safe Streets Indy.
By the numbers: There have been 639 nonfatal incidents and 29 fatal incidents so far this year, per data tracked by Indy Pedestrian Safety Crisis, a project of Safe Streets Indy.
- There were 801 nonfatal incidents and 41 fatal incidents in 2024, and 637 nonfatal incidents and 47 fatal incidents in 2023.
Threat level: Safe Streets Indy says Indianapolis averaged nearly 3.2 people struck each day during October, the most dangerous month of 2025 so far.
- The 98 reported incidents last month were up from the 91 tracked in October 2024 and eclipsed the previous 2025 high of 81, set in August.
- This October also had the second-most incidents tracked in a month, behind the record of 103, set in August 2024.
If you go: The Safe Streets Protest is 1-3pm Sunday.
- Programming will include a vigil led by Central Indiana Cycling and remarks delivered by state Sen. Andrea Hunley (D-Indianapolis) and Andrea Watts of Health by Design.
- It will also feature a DJ, free bike repairs and infrastructure vision boarding.
Go deeper: Pedestrian traffic deaths rise in Indiana despite national drop