🚨 My stepfather, Thomas Wayne Bodden, was killed trying to reach the bus stop on West Broad Street. We demand safer streets and dignity for pedestrians.   

My name is Theresa Jones, and I’m starting this petition in memory of my stepfather, Thomas Wayne Bodden , who was fatally struck by two vehicles while crossing West Broad Street in Henrico County, Virginia, near the Publix shopping center.   He was just trying to catch the bus—something many of us do every day. He never made it.   

After his death, the focus—like in so many pedestrian tragedies—shifted to blaming the victim. People asked whether he was wearing bright clothing. But not everyone can afford reflective gear, or even a car to avoid walking in the first place, those who rely on walking and public transit—are being left unprotected and then blamed when they are hurt or killed.   

West Broad Street and other Richmond-area corridors are dangerous by design: few crosswalks, poor lighting, long distances between signals, and fast-moving traffic. These deaths are preventable—and avoidable—if the right changes are made.   

We, the undersigned, are calling on:  VDOT
Henrico County Board of Supervisors
Richmond City Council
Richmond Regional Transportation Planning Organization (RRTPO)  to take immediate and meaningful action by:   
✅ Installing pedestrian crosswalks, signals, and lighting in high-risk areas like near Publix, bus stops, and shopping centers 
✅ Lowering speeds and adding signage in areas with high foot traffic 
✅ Publishing crash and fatality data with full transparency 
✅ Engaging directly with families and residents to shape solutions—not just studies   

My stepfather’s life mattered. And so do the lives of the many others who walk these streets every day. Stop blaming the victims. Start fixing the streets.   

Please join me in demanding pedestrian safety and justice for Thomas Wayne Bodden —and for everyone who deserves to walk without fear.   

Signed, Theresa Jones On behalf of the family of Thomas Wayne Bodden and concerned residents of Henrico County and Richmond, VA