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March 2004, #18
Our Hats Are Off...
For over three years, Pedestrian Friendly Alameda and Bike
Alameda have been working with city officials, the Police
Department, Public Works, PTAs and community groups to collaboratively
make Alameda a safe community for walking and bicycling.
We are pleased that the numbers are now showing that those
efforts have been successful and are making a difference.
For example, pedestrian/auto accidents have dropped from 49
in 2001 to 39 in 2003. Bicycle accidents have been reduced
from 42 incidents in 2002 to 36 in 2003. Traffic accidents
and injury accidents have also dropped significantly.
Three components contributed to this success: Enforcement:
increased speeding citations, on-going pedestrian-decoy operations,
greater police presence around schools during opening and
closing times, frequent use of speed trailers reminding motorists
of their speed, and support of crossing guards and their important
contribution to safeguarding children.
Engineering: Public Works has installed new high visibility
school zone signs throughout the city, pedestrian in-pavement
signs at many crosswalks, count-down clocks at some intersections,
repainted school crosswalks and upgraded crossings to high
visibility status.
Education: the Keep Kids Alive. Drive 25 Program has been
introduced, Walk & Roll to School Day is approaching its
4th year, signage at the city entrances emphasizing enforcement
of pedestrian laws, partnerships with local businesses, the
school district and the PTAs, and this column.
There is never a magic formula for making change and it comes
from respectful, thoughtful, collaboration and keeping focused
on the outcome – in this case, those outcomes have been
the safety of all community members. These positive changes
could not have been accomplished without the support of the
citizenry - motorists, pedestrians, and bicyclists - in paying
close attention to the community’s safety needs.
We want to live in a town where you can lace up your shoes
for a walk to the store or to the beach, put on your helmet
for a ride around town, get your cane or walker and stroll
around the block, know there are curb ramps for your wheelchair
to comfortably maneuver, and to let your children walk or
bicycle to a friend’s knowing that motorists will be
paying attention.
None of us travels in just one mode: at different times we
are all motorists, walkers, bicyclists. When we have one hat
on, let’s not forget the others! Every citizen plays
a role in developing a safe community – and the success
of the past three years shows how we can all take a bow for
a job well done.
We will continue with the three E’s – Enforcement,
Engineering, Education – and not allow complacency to
set in. Our goal is to continually see these numbers drop
and ensure that Alameda will always be an inviting walkable
community.
Mark your calendars as April 2 is National Walk to Work Day.
If it’s not possible to walk, make a point to take a
walk wherever you happen to be!
Jeff Swatman is the Alameda Police Department Traffic
Sergeant. If you have questions regarding pedestrian/bicycle
safety, please call him at 748-4508 extension 3342. John Knox
White and Audrey Lord-Hausman work with Pedestrian Friendly
Alameda (www.pedfriendly.org)
and BikeAlameda (www.bikealameda.org).
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