City of Goleta Receives $64,429 Grant for Bicycle and Pedestrian Safety Program

The City of Goleta announced on November 25, 2025, that it has been awarded a $64,429 grant from the California Office of Traffic Safety (OTS), funded by the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration. 

The grant focuses on promoting safe practices for pedestrians and bicyclists, educating on the importance of sharing the road. 

The grant will fund a variety of community safety programs, including bicycle and walking events, training for young riders, helmet distribution, and educational sessions in schools. A standardized e-bike education program is also planned. 

Community bike rides will promote safe cycling practices, and walking activities will provide youth-focused safety training. Pop-up events will teach participants about road visibility and safety, including the use of reflective gear and bicycle lights. The program will continue through September 2026. 

Autumn Glaeser, Assistant Public Works Director, said, “We are working toward building more walkable and bike-friendly neighborhoods where everyone can travel safely and confidently.”

Citing data from the California Office of Traffic Safety, the City stated that Goleta experienced more fatal and serious injury collisions than roughly 80% of similarly sized California cities between 2017 and 2020. 

The City noted it has implemented multiple initiatives to improve safety for pedestrians, bicyclists, and motorists. The key initiatives include the 2018 Bicycle and Pedestrian Master Plan, the 2022 Goleta Traffic Safety Study, and multiple capital improvement projects.

 

 

 

 

 

 

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Vision Zero Project

In February 2024, the Goleta City Council adopted the Vision Zero initiative, which aims to prevent serious traffic collisions in Goleta through coordinated planning and safety-focused actions. It guided transportation planning, street and sidewalk design, and maintenance of public areas.

In summer 2024, the City Council lowered speed limits on major roadways by 5 to 10 miles per hour, targeting roads with high rates of serious and fatal injuries or heavy bicycle and pedestrian traffic.

In September 2024, Goleta received $364,000 from the Safe Streets and Roads for All grant program to support safety initiatives.

Funds will support the development of a public safety dashboard to monitor projects, launch a Vision Zero Public Safety Campaign, create a Neighborhood Traffic Calming Toolkit, and implement a Safe Routes to School program for students in the Old Town neighborhood.

According to 2022 data from the California Office of Traffic Safety, pedestrians and bicyclists continue to be the groups most affected by traffic collisions in Goleta. There were 13 pedestrian collisions, including three minors under 15 and three seniors 65 and older. Bicycle incidents were more frequent, with 26 collisions, including two riders under 15. 

In 2021, Goleta recorded 10 pedestrian collisions, including one child under 15 and one adult aged 65 or older. There were 16 bicycle-related collisions, including two riders under 15.