WalkWise Tampa Bay

A grassroots initiative is providing innovative pedestrian safety education  to the citizens of Tampa Bay.  Pedestrian safety is an issue that affects everyone.  We are all pedestrians at some point during our day.  Whether walking through a parking lot after shopping, walking from home or work to a vehicle, walking for exercise or simply walking to enjoy a beautiful Florida day, you are a pedestrian. 

Now is the time to learn pedestrian skills that will help increase the safety of our entire community.  Join our efforts and request a free Pedestrian Safety Presentation for your business, association, church, school or group.  The WalkWise campaign provides an informative and conversational free 15-minute presentation with time for discussion to anyone living or working in Pasco, Pinellas and Hillsborough Counties.  Each attendee will receive a WalkWise Tampa Bay reflective bag after the presentation.  After taking the WalkWise pledge, each individual is named to our growing list of WalkWise Ambassadors. 

WalkWise Tampa Bay is managed by the Center for Urban Transportation Research (CUTR) at USF and funded by the FDOT District 7.   

WALKWISE IS IN THE NEWS! 

• WalkWise featured in the St. Petersburg Times, November 3, 2011.  Hometown Pasco
• WalkWise featured on Tampa Bay’s Channel 10 Studio 10.  Watch Julie Bond and Jason Jackman from the Center for Urban Transportation Research at USF talk about the WalkWise program.  Click on “Walking Wise”.
• WalkWise featured on Tampa Bay’s Channel 10 Studio 10.  Watch Dave, Jeanette, and Kristen from FDOT District 7 talk about the program!  Click on “Sobering Statistics”.
• Click here to watch the FDOT WalkWise Safety PSA
• Watch WalkWise on Bay News 9.

TAMPA –  by Chuck Henson, Bay News 9
The State of Florida has double the national average in the number of pedestrian fatalities. A new program by the D.O.T. And USF hopes to put an end to that statistic. Kris Carson, a spokesperson for the Florida Department of Transportation, says they are trying to reach out to the community with the new Walk Wise Program.

“We’re trying to do 400 community presentations, basically going out to the community schools, business groups, giving them safe pedestrian tips,” Carson said. Like many drivers, Carson says that pedestrians also need to be more aware of walking distractions.

The National Highway Traffic Safety Administrator, David L. Strickland, was in Tampa on Monday, August 16, to observe law enforcement personnel as they worked to educate the public on the responsibilities of pedestrians and motorists during the early morning rush hour in downtown Tampa.  Administrator Strickland viewed our Grassroots Safety Presentation and took the pledge to become a WalkWise Ambassador!  Julie Bond and Jason Jackman had the opportunity to discuss the program with Administrator Strickland. 

The WalkWise team is busy making presentations throughout Hillsborough, Pasco and Pinellas Counties.  Recently, WalkWise Ambassador, Jason Jackman visited the Wiamauma and Ruskin Senior Centers.  The attendees enjoyed learning about Pedestrian Safety and they were excited to receive their free reflective bags.  The presentation is available to all groups including business, government, community, seniors, colleges/universities.  Many of the attendees became WalkWise Ambassadors and will be named to the growing list.

To request a free Pedestrian Safety Presentation, complete the WalkWise Tampa Bay request form.

Members of the Barrier Islands Governmental Council voted unanimously July 28 to pass a resolution supporting a new pedestrian flag program along Gulf Boulevard.  The flags, which will be in a container at all crosswalks, are to be deposited in another container once pedestrians cross the street.

Read the full story here.

Take the WalkWise Pledge and join the list of people who believe that pedestrian education and safety is important for both pedestrians and drivers.  Together we can help to make our communities safe for everyone.

THE PLEDGE: 

Pedestrian safety is an issue that affects all of us.   Whether it’s a stroll around the corner, to a friend’s house or a walk to work, or simply as exercise, Tampa Bay residents and visitors love to walk and should do so safely.  Walking is not just an exercise, it affects our health, it’s good for the environment, and it improves our quality of life.  We are all pedestrians as some point during our day. We can all work together to make our communities safe and enjoyable for everyone.

Therefore, I pledge to WalkWise and spread the word about the importance of pedestrian safety to my friends, family, neighbors, colleagues and others who cross my path.

Be Alert: Watch for Pedestrians at all Times

• Scan the road and the sides of the road ahead for potential pedestrians.
• Before making a turn, look in all directions for pedestrians crossing.
• Don’t drive distracted or after consuming alcohol or other drugs.
• Do not use your cell phone while driving.
• Look carefully behind your vehicle for approaching pedestrians before backing-up, especially small children.
• For maximum visibility, keep your windshield clean and headlights on.

Be responsible:  Yield to pedestrians at crossings

• Yield to pedestrians in crosswalks, whether marked or unmarked.
• Yield to pedestrians when making right or left turns at intersections.
• Do not block or park in crosswalks.

Be patient:  drive the speed limit and avoid aggressive maneuvers

• Never pass/overtake a vehicle that is stopped for pedestrians.
• Obey speed limits and come to a complete stop at STOP signs.
• Use extra caution when driving near children playing along the street or older pedestrians who may not see or hear you.
• Always be prepared to stop for pedestrians.

Be safe and be seen: make yourself visible to drivers

•Wear bright/light colored clothing and reflective materials.
•Carry a flashlight when walking at night.
•Cross in a well-lit area at night.
•Stand clear of buses, hedges, parked cars or other obstacles before crossing so drivers can see you.

Be smart and alert: avoid dangerous behaviors
•Always walk on the sidewalk; if there is no sidewalk, walk facing traffic.
•Stay sober; walking while impaired increases your chance of being struck.
•Don’t assume vehicles will stop; make eye contact with drivers, don’t just look at the vehicle. If a driver is on a cell phone, they may not be paying enough attention to drive safely.
•Don’t rely solely on pedestrian signals; look before you cross the road.
•Be alert to engine noise or backup lights on cars when in parking lots and near on-street parking spaces.

Be careful at crossings: look before you step
•Cross streets at marked crosswalks or intersections, if possible.
•Obey traffic signals such as WALK/DON’T WALK signs.
•Look left, right, and left again before crossing a street.
•Watch for turning vehicles; make sure the driver sees you and will stop for you.
•Look across ALL lanes you must cross and visually clear each lane before proceeding. Just because one motorist stops, do not presume drivers in other lanes will stop for you.
•Don’t wear headphones or talk on a cell phone while crossing.