Why our newsletter is different this week
(Note: This article is a recreation of our May 17, 2025, weekly newsletter.)
Behind every newsletter we send is a real person. Today, that person is grieving her father’s tragic death.
So this message isn’t about updates or events. It’s about a life cut short — and why our work must continue.
My colleague and friend Lauren Sawyers, who writes our newsletter, is taking time away from work right now after the heartbreaking death of her father.
(Photo: Lauren and David with their dad, Bill Yoder)
On Friday, May 11, Bill Yoder was hit and killed by a driver while biking here in Charlotte. He was 73.
While Bill loved cycling for fun, he didn’t ride a bike just for recreation. Due to a health condition, driving wasn’t an option. His bike was his transportation. His freedom.
Lauren has shared how proud her dad was to remain independent — getting where he needed to go by bike.
At Sustain Charlotte, we often speak about the need for safer streets. But this time, it’s personal.
It’s a reminder that the people who power our work — who write the newsletters, organize events, and advocate for policy change — are also members of this community. We walk and bike here. Our families do too.
His death is a tragedy not just for his family, but for our whole community.
Already this year, in just the first four months of 2025, there have been 14,427 vehicle crashes in Charlotte. Forty resulted in a serious injury.
Twenty-eight people, including Bill, have lost their lives.
These are not just numbers. These are people. Parents. Friends. Neighbors.
These tragedies don’t just happen. They are the predictable outcome of a transportation system designed to move cars quickly — not to keep people safe.
Streets and intersections like the one where Bill lost his life are engineered for speed, not safety. But they can be redesigned. And they must be.
We also need a cultural shift.
Be patient when behind the wheel. Leave earlier than you think you need. Plan for delays. Pay attention and avoid distractions. Obey the speed limit. Never enter the intersection if traffic prevents you from clearing it.
We also need CMPD to enforce our traffic laws. Many drivers speed, run red lights, and block crosswalks because they know they can get away with it.
To honor Bill and the 67 others killed or seriously injured by traffic violence in Charlotte already this year, we invite you to take action:
- Use your voice to demand an end to this crisis.
- Make a gift today in Bill’s honor to support our advocacy for safer streets.
- Share this message with others who care.
Change happens when we speak up and refuse to accept that this is just the way it has to be.
With a heavy heart and resolve,
Shannon Binns
Founder + Executive Director
Sustain Charlotte