This pedestrian fatality at Forbes + Oakland Ave shows there’s still much more work to do to protect vulnerable road users
We are saddened to learn that 71-year-old Bobby Paige of McKeesport has died of his injuries one day after being struck by a driver while walking near Forbes and Oakland Ave on October 28, 2025.
Our hearts go out to his friends and family as they deal with this tragedy. At this time, very little is known of the incident, which is currently under investigation.
But what we do know is…
This loss underscores the need for safer, people-focused streets in Oakland and across Pittsburgh. Pittsburgh’s Oakland neighborhood is an area that is well-known to be bustling with residents, students, faculty, and commuters. It has long been a place where people walk, bike, and take transit to reach jobs, schools, hospitals, and community spaces. Yet things like high traffic volumes and drivers traveling at unsafe speeds create conditions that put lives at risk.
As communities like Oakland continue to grow, the question bears repeating: why are streets still unsafe for people walking? Everyone deserves to be able to walk safely, without fearing for their lives. This tragedy is a reminder of the hazards pedestrians face in our city.
What else is certain is that road fatalities are preventable. Humans make mistakes, and how do we make sure that a mistake doesn’t cost a life? When it comes to our streets, pedestrian safety needs to be prioritized over all else, especially in areas with high foot traffic like Oakland.
What do we do now?
Bike Pittsburgh believes that every person has the right to safely travel on our streets without fear of death or serious injury. From a legacy of unsafe street design to irresponsible driving, people are at risk every day, especially people who walk, bike, and roll.
We talked to Oakland’s local bike/ped committee, Complete Streets at Pitt, and they will be discussing this crash at their board meeting this week. We will keep you updated on any further plans.
In the meantime, if you would like to join local efforts to remember and honor road traffic victims like Bobby, join us in McKeesport on Monday, November 17th for a World Day of Remembrance gathering and community walk. World Day of Remembrance is about remembering the fatalities and serious injuries on our roadways, supporting all people impacted, and acting in a way that helps to change and prevent future crashes from happening. We invite anyone to attend and help bring awareness to these crashes.
NEWSLETTER