Sanibel's annual report contributes to their excellent bicycle and pedestrian safety record

Kudos to city of SANIBEL on producing annual report on bike/ped crashes, their causes and then taking action to address problems, resulting in an excellent safety record for island path users. Also check out the Island Reporter July 16th story about the report, "Sanibel bikers prone to injury are mostly middle aged". Sanibel Releases Updated Shared Use Path Incident Report

Today, the City of Sanibel issued an updated study analyzing all incidents on Sanibel's Shared Use Paths. This is the third year the City has issued a report analyzing all reported incidents that occurred on the community's Shared Use Path system. Data from 2006 to April 25, 2014 is analyzed in the report. Trends analyzed include cause and type of incident, location of incident, ages of involved parties, and residency of involved parties, injuries, date of reported incident and time of reported incident. "By continuing to evaluate our trends and focusing on capital improvements we have been able to improve the overall safety for everyone who uses our shared use path system, residents as well as visitors. We will also utilize this data to design an education and enforcement program," stated Sanibel City Manager Judie Zimomra when releasing this report.    Sanibel City Council will officially receive the report at their July 22, 2014meeting. All Path users are urged to view the City's video on Bike Safety. The video is available on the City's Home Page or by clicking here. A copy of the full report can be viewed by clicking here.

BikeWalkLee: Pedestrian safety is a two-way street

BWL Column in News-Press "Go Coastal" Section, Dec. 5, 2013

Pedestrian safety is always important, especially in Southwest Florida. / Getty Images/NP

 This week's BWL column focuses on pedestrian safety and what both parties--drivers and walkers--can do to avoid calamity.

The recent rise in pedestrian fatalities on Lee County roadways is reason enough for concern, but the promise of more traffic in the months to come could mean local streets will be even more deadly.
 

This is wrong for many reasons – Number 1 being that people are dying or being seriously injured, of course. 

But accepting these fatalities and life-altering injuries as the price of more cars and more walkers is also wrong… because it implies that the answer is either fewer cars (like that’s going to happen) or fewer walkers, a sad outcome with multiple bad consequences for our community.

It also sends a message that walking isn’t safe or valued in this area, which will discourage those who want to walk and endanger those who have to walk. In an area with the climate to make walking a year-round activity and one that’s been working to improve its bike/ped infrastructure, having walking perceived as being less safe is a major step backwards.

Speaking of steps, what can both parties in this problem — drivers and walkers — do to avoid calamity (and worse) when their travels intersect?

For walkers, we resurrect the three “B’s”:

• Be seen: Wear clothing that stands out, rather than blends in. If you’re walking at night, carry illumination so traffic can see you. If vegetation near an intersection or driveway might obscure a driver’s ability to see you, make sure they actually do know you’re there before entering their path.

• Be smart: Notice your surroundings and any hazards. Be able to hear traffic as well as see it (ideally meaning don’t use an iPod, or at least don’t have it up so high you can’t hear anything else). Don’t be a distracted walker, too busy talking or texting to watch what’s happening around you. Crossing a road at a crosswalk is usually safer than crossing mid-block, but if you are going to cross away from an intersection be extra cautious… traffic is moving faster, and drivers are not expecting you.

• Be predictable: Walk at a consistent pace if you’re in a traffic-heavy area or crossing at an intersection. Don’t dart into traffic and surprise a driver, who may be distracted. Don’t start crossing a road or intersection then pause in the middle to ponder what comes next… because what comes next might be you getting hit by a car.

Motorists have their own trio of recommendations:

• Pay attention. More than just working with walkers, it’s a good general rule of thumb. Driving is too important to be done while distracted, and the consequences of a momentary lapse can be fatal… for you and the other people using the same road corridor. If what you’re doing takes your attention away from the road for more than a second, then stop doing it and just drive. Pedestrians, pedalers and passengers will appreciate your attentiveness.

• Remember who you are. You’re encased in a two-ton block of metal, plastic, and glass, which means you stop slower, go faster and can do much more damage than any walkers on the road. And you’re also the one who’s supposed to yield the right-of-way to walkers… even when they are technically in the wrong.

• Expect the worst. If you see walkers along the side of the road, give them some room, If you are approaching an intersection at the same time as pedestrians or cyclists, be ready to stop. If you’re driving near a school or playground or by a crowded sidewalk, drive as if you expect someone to dart into your path. That way, you’ll be ready if they do, and pleasantly surprised when they don’t.

Safety is a two-way street, something all users have to work at to make improvements. But it’s possible to share the road without inconveniencing any of the users... and, since we’re all pedestrians at some point during the day, the good example you set today behind the wheel could help keep you safer when you step out of your car.

Upcoming events

Running/walking:

• Saturday: River Run 10K, downtown Fort Myers (ftmyerstrackclub.com)
• Sunday: Everyone Runs, JetBlue Park. 5K and half marathon (everyonerides.org)
• Saturday, Dec. 14: Rotary Park 5K, Cape Coral. (flasports.com).
• Sunday, Jan. 5: River Roots and Ruts, half marathon and 5K fun run, Caloosahatchee Regional Park, Alva (ftmyerstrackclub.com)
• Saturday, Jan. 11: Mud Run, to benefit Golisano Children’s Hospital. 3-mile adult run, 0.5- and 1-mile kid’s runs. Red Neck Yacht Club, Punta Gorda (southfloridamudrun.com)
• Sunday, March 2: Hooters Half Marathon, Fort Myers (hootershalfmarathon.com)

Cycling & other events:
 

• Sunday, Dec. 8: Everyone Rides, JetBlue Park. 15-, 30-, 62- and 100-mile rides (everyonerides.org)
• Saturday-Sunday, Jan. 18-19, Tour de Cape, Cape Harbour Resort, Cape Coral (tourdecape.net)
• Sunday, March 16: Royal Palm Classic, organized by the Caloosa Riders, details to come (caloosariders.org)

BikeWalkLee News-Press Article - Pedestrian Safety Facts

Palm Beach Walking Audit

Feel like taking a walk? How about taking a quiz first? It’s about walking, so perhaps it will inspire you (or at least inform you):

1. People who live in neighborhoods with sidewalks are how much more likely to be active at least 30 minutes a day?

A) 13%

B) 29%

C) 47%

D) 73%

E) Doesn’t have an impact

ANSWER: C, according to a study if neighborhood environments in 11 countries published in the American Journal of Preventive Medicine.

2. What makes pedestrians feel the most threatened about walking?

A) Potential for crime

B) Motorists

C) Uneven surfaces

D) Dogs or other animals

ANSWER: B in all three categories – suburban, urban and rural. A is second for suburban areas, while D comes in second for both rural and urban walkers.

3. Based on the percentage of deaths, what’s the most dangerous time to be walking?

A) 4-8 p.m.

B) 8 p.m.-midnight

C) Midnight-4 a.m.

D) 4-8 a.m.

E) 8 a.m.-noon

F) Noon-4 p.m.

ANSWER: B, when 31% of pedestrian fatalities happen… thanks to a combination of less light and more traffic (and perhaps a few adult beverages?). Second is A (more traffic?), followed by C (more tired people?). Your best bet for safety? It’s 8 a.m. to 4 p.m.

4. In the past 10 years, pedestrian fatalities nationwide as a percentage of all traffic fatalities has:

A) Risen

B) Fallen

C) Stayed the same.

ANSWER: A. From 2002 to 2011, pedestrian fatalities have on average fallen in number but increased as a percentage of the total – because the total number of traffic fatalities has dropped even more. Pedestrian fatalities were 14% of total fatalities in 2011 (the last reporting year on file) as compared to 11% in 2002.

5. How often is alcohol involved in pedestrian fatalities?

A) 16%

B) 32%

C) 48%

D) 64%

ANSWER: C when the blood alcohol content (BAC) for both pedestrians and drivers are measured. Interestingly, a high BAC in a pedestrian raises the risk of a pedestrian fatality much more than a driver with a higher BAC

6) Which state had the highest pedestrian fatalities per total population in 2001 (the last reporting year)?

A) Florida

B) South Carolina

C) Arizona

D) Delaware

E) New Mexico

ANSWER: A. Yes, friends, we’re No. 1… unless you throw in Puerto Rico. Who’s lowest? Nebraska and New Hampshire were tied that year.

7) What’s the most dangerous area in the state, when measured using an indicator called the Pedestrian Danger Index?

A) Fort Myers-Cape Coral

B) Miami-Fort Lauderdale-Pompano Beach

C) Tampa-St. Petersburg-Clearwater

D) Orlando-Kissimmee

E) Jacksonville

ANSWER: D. Sorry, we’re only third out of this list – yes, more dangerous than Miami and Jacksonville (which is the only one of these five areas that comes in under the state average).

Some good news: The Lee County Metropolitan Planning Organization (MPO), in conjunction with a broad array of stakeholders, is developing a countywide Bicycle and Pedestrian Safety Action Plan that aims to address many safety issues. The plan will be ready for implementation this fall.

Now, it’s time for that walk… and let’s be careful out there.

BOX:

·         Want a look at what local leaders are planning for bike/ped safety?? Check out what's happening on the MPO Bicycle Pedestrian Safety Action Plan:  http://bikewalklee.blogspot.com/2013/05/mpo-bicycle-pedestrian-safety-action.html

·         Local pedestrian statistics online at www.bikewalklee.org

·         For a considerable collection of pedestrian facts, tips, stories and statistics, check out “Everyone is a Pedestrian” online at http://www.nhtsa.gov/nhtsa/everyoneisapedestrian/index.html

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BikeWalkLee is a community coalition raising public awareness and advocating for complete streets in Lee County—streets that are designed, built, operated and maintained for safe and convenient travel for all users: pedestrians, bicyclists, motorists, and transit riders of all ages and abilities. Information, statistics and background online at www.BikeWalkLee.org.