This letter was sent on May 1, 2026. The individual referenced in the original letter has been omitted to ensure their anonymity since expressed permission was not given to publicly mention them or their experience.
Jared Harber jared@oaksandspokes.org
May 1, 2026, 1:17 PM
Good afternoon, everyone!
And happy Bike Month!
I just wanted to share a brief story about a very close friend of mine, a very experienced and talented cyclist (identity omitted), who was recently hit by a vehicle on Hillsborough St.
This concerns me because I know them to be a very aware and highly competent rider. I have also noticed a small uptick in reports of experiences with aggressive drivers, near misses, and collisions. So, I am here, yet again, asking you all to prioritize the safety of all road users when making transportation decisions.
I know all of you are empathetic to these needs, and that many of you ride bikes or scooters yourselves. So it should come as no surprise that roads in Raleigh are unsafe for everyone, including drivers. Frequently traveled corridors such as Hillsborough St should be shining examples of safe, protected, multimodal thoroughfares.
I am really excited by the staff’s commitment to implementing The Big Jump project, and I am encouraged to hear about the upgrades Hillsborough St is expected to receive. I just ask that, when the time comes, we stand firm in our commitment to a protected and safe infrastructure. We all know that voices concerned about removing on-street parking will continue to show up, or will rally against bike infrastructure despite the myriad benefits it provides, from safety to traffic calming to economic development. That is a loud voice, but it is still a minority one.
I believe we should pursue these changes sooner rather than later, especially because Hillsborough St is one of the most heavily traveled bike and pedestrian corridors in the entire city.
Learning about my friend’s collision, and its proximity to the recent death of Natalia Duque-Wilckens while walking from campus, begs the question: why are we not treating improvements to the safety of all users on Hillsborough St and neighboring roads as one of our top priorities? Making these changes sooner rather than later will protect a widely used biking road, make it a centerpiece corridor, and reflect the City’s values and commitment to roadway safety for all users.
A couple of semesters ago, Oaks and Spokes led a series of biking and walking audits with students at NC State University, and it was staggering how unanimous the group’s consensus was that Hillsborough St feels scary to bike and walk on. I understand we invested a lot of money in overhauling that corridor 20 or so years ago, but I think it is time to reassess it and ensure everyone feels safe. Maybe sooner rather than later.
Thank you all for your time. I know you care deeply about this, and I hope we can find room in the budget to ensure these roads receive the priority upgrades they desperately need, even if it means a small loss of on-street parking.
Jared Harber
Director – Oaks and Spokes