Bicycle Coalition of Maine
Media Contact: Andrew Zarro
P: 207-623-4511
E: press@bikemaine.org
Another Pedestrian Killed in Portland: Bicycle Coalition of Maine Calls for Immediate Action on Road Safety
(Portland, Maine) November 21, 2025 — The Bicycle Coalition of Maine is mourning yet another preventable loss of life on Maine’s roads following a pedestrian fatality in Portland last night. This tragedy marks the 21st pedestrian death in the state so far this year.
On Thursday, November 20, 2025, Portland Police responded to a crash on Franklin Street at the intersection of Marginal Way involving a car and a pedestrian. A 75-year-old woman from Portland was struck by a vehicle while crossing Franklin Street with a group of runners. The victim was transported to Maine Medical Center with life-threatening injuries and later succumbed to those injuries. Her identity is being withheld pending notification of next of kin. No charges have been filed at this time.
This fatal crash occurred along one of Portland’s most dangerous corridors, where high speeds, complex intersections, and heavy traffic volumes continue to create hazardous conditions for people walking, running, and biking.
So far in 2025:
- 214 pedestrian-involved crashes, including 41 serious injuries and 21 fatalities
- 199 cyclist-involved crashes, including 29 serious injuries and 5 fatalities
“These are not just numbers,” said Andrew Zarro, Executive Director of the Bicycle Coalition of Maine. “These are people – community members who deserved to make it home safely. We cannot continue to normalize this level of danger on our streets. When is enough, Maine?”
The Bicycle Coalition of Maine is calling for urgent, statewide action to address unsafe infrastructure, reduce vehicle speeds, and commit to designing streets that prioritize human life. While enforcement and individual decisions matter, crash outcomes are shaped overwhelmingly by street design, roadway speeds, and the choices made by municipalities and state agencies.
“We need decision-makers at every level—local, regional, and state—to treat traffic violence as the public health crisis it is,” Zarro said. “Every life lost is preventable. Maine must act now.”
The Coalition urges communities and leaders across the state to accelerate investments in safer crossings, traffic calming, protected bike and pedestrian infrastructure, improved signal timing, and policies that support Vision Zero principles.
For more information or to support BCM’s work, visit www.bikemaine.org.
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The Bicycle Coalition of Maine works to make Maine a better and safer place to bike and walk. Founded in 1992, the Bicycle Coalition of Maine has grown into the leading bicycle and pedestrian advocacy group in the state. The Coalition believes all Mainers should have access to bikes and bike education, and we envision a future where Maine’s roads, public ways, and trails are safe and accessible, resulting in cleaner travel options, improved health, and stronger economic benefits for Maine communities.