That is a classic false dilemma - a false option logical fallacy.  Vision Zero is not a "political ploy by BEST" nor an "LTD gimmick".  
A third alternative is that the existing system does not provide enough safety for pedestrians. As you have noted, "...bikers and pedestrians blindly trust lines painted on the street or traffic/pedestrian lights."  I would not say they "blindly trust" but expect that a green light, a walk sign and a crosswalk means it is safe to cross. Sure, people still need to look both ways, but your accusation that they have "blind trust" blames the pedestrian when they have the right-of-way.
As far as saying, "Until that changes, we’ll probably hear more tragic news.", it is not a "tragedy" if the system is designed without adequate safety. It is a correctable design error  This is why Vision Zero calls it "collisions", not accidents. 
I get a sense there is an undercurrent of nefarious motivations by govt. and pedestrian are at fault. Are those your beliefs?