BikeWalkLee supports Cape Coral efforts to lower speed limits around schools

From: Darla [mailto:dletourneau@bikewalklee.org]
Sent: Monday, February 15, 2010 2:28 PM
To: Mayor John Sullivan/Cape Coral (kfernand@capecoral.net); Kevin McGrail (ghickman@capecoral.net); Chris Chulakes-Leetz/Cape Coral (ghickman@capecoral.net); Peter Brandt (ghickman@capecoral.net); Eric Grill (ghickman@capecoral.net)
Cc: Don Scott/MPO (dscott@swfrpc.org); Dan--BWL (dmoser@bikewalklee.org); Margaret Banyan (mbanyan@comcast.net); Steve Rodgers (GatewayCyclist@yahoo.com); Ron Gogoi; Brenda Tate (brenda1297@hotmail.com); David Plazas (dplazas@news-press.com); Dawn Gordon (DawnGo@leeschools.net); Persides Zambrano (pzambran@capecoral.net)
Subject: Cape Coral schools want city to lower speed limits

Mayor Sullivan and Cape Coral Council members,
On behalf of BikeWalkLee, a coalition working to complete Lee County’s streets, I would like to applaud your efforts to reduce the speed limits around Cape Coral schools so that it is safer for students to walk or bike to school. We urge you to reduce the speed limits around all the schools in Cape Coral. We know that vehicle speeds along routes to school are a safety concern for parents, teachers, and members of the community for good reason. Research shows that “ the chances a pedestrian will survive a crash with a vehicle decline rapidly the faster the car is driving. For example, a pedestrian hit by a vehicle traveling 20 mph has a 95 percent chance of surviving. If the vehicle is traveling at 30 mph, chances of survival decrease to 55 percent. At 40 mph, only 15 percent of pedestrians are expected to survive.” I’ve attached an excellent new report by the Safe Routs to School National Partnership, entitled Safe Routes to School: Putting Traffic Safety First, which contains this information and other ideas for improving student traffic safety.

Thank you for your efforts to make it safer for students to walk and bike to school. BikeWalkLee looks forward to working with you on further efforts to make Cape Coral roads safer and more accessible for all users, including pedestrians and cyclists.

Darla

Darla Letourneau
Steering Group
BikeWalkLee
a coalition to complete Lee County's streets
www.BikeWalkLee.org
dletourneau@bikewalklee.org
239-472-1179


Read the article:
News-Press
February 14, 2010
Cape Coral schools want city to lower speed limits