BikeHouston has amplified its calls for action, demanding that road safety for cyclists be a priority, with the incoming mayor set to take office come January 1.

According to KHOU 11 News, at least 16 cyclists have lost their lives in traffic incidents this year. The cycling community, still reeling from the death of 16th victim James Midkiff, was struck by a speeding driver, who then fled the scene.

In the background of an upcoming mayoral runoff, the safety concerns of Houston’s cyclists can't be overlooked. "When you're forced to share the road with a 6,000-pound truck, the cyclist loses every time," Joe Cutrufo, the Executive Director of BikeHouston, told KHOU 11 News.

On the earlier side of this year, the cycle of losses began with a fatal crash when a 56-year-old man was killed by a semi-tractor trailer. "With few exceptions, trying to share the road on Houston's streets is like swimming with sharks," Cutrufo stated in an email obtained by the Houston Chronicle. Advocates are urging the next mayor to uphold the city's "Vision Zero" pledge to eradicate roadway deaths, calling for further development of bike-friendly projects.

BikeHouston remains steadfast in its message that the established bike infrastructure is effective in preventing cyclist fatalities. Cutrufo said in an interview with the Houston Chronicle, "We're not seeing drivers killing bicyclists in the places where we've built safe streets with separated bikeways.".