FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
November 6, 2006

FOR MORE INFORMATION
Deb Ridgway, Bridging The Gap
(816) 561-1061, ext. 114
(816) 588-4092 cell
deb@bridgingthegap.org

Share the Road Safety Task Force Launches Pedestrian Safety Campaign
13 pedestrians killed in crashes this year

Kansas City, MO –  Share the Road Safety Task Force partners, with representatives from nearly 30 agencies including law enforcement, health care, municipalities, advocacy organizations and business, have come together to raise awareness about pedestrian safety.

Local mayors, Kay Barnes of Kansas City, Sue Frank of Raytown,
Kathy Dusenbery of Parkville and Karen Messerli of Lee’s Summit all adopted pedestrian safety proclamations and hosted events in their communities.

Lee’s Summit will host the final event in this campaign on November 10th from 2:00 to 4:00 PM. Held at Places Restaurant, 1001 NW Chipman Road, on the campus of John Knox Village, community residents are invited to attend an interactive Pedestrian Safety Workshop.

Councilman Ron Williams will be the opening speaker. Other presenters include Sgt. Michael Childs, Lee’s Summit Police Department; Michael Park from Public Works; Tim Bowers, Director of Risk Management from John Knox Village; Aaron Bartlett Bicycle/Pedestrian Planner from Mid-America Regional Council and Deb Ridgway, Alternative Transportation Manager from Bridging The Gap.  Each of the speakers will present issues of pedestrian safety from their perspective. Participants will be led on a walking audit of Chipman and Pryor Roads to assess if any improvements are needed to make those roads safer around the campus of John Knox Village.

Sponsored by the Share the Road Safety Task Force, Pedestrian Safety Month is a comprehensive campaign to promote pedestrian safety and educate the public about important pedestrian facilities designed to protect both drivers and pedestrians.  These devices include crosswalks, pedestrian traffic signals and warning signs. Campaign materials will be distributed at each community event.  The campaign targets both drivers and pedestrians.

According to Michael Briggs, Transportation Planner with Mid-America Regional Council, “On a national basis over 5,000 pedestrians are killed, and 85,000 are injured in roadway crashes every year, resulting in $20 billion societal costs. That’s 200 pedestrians killed or injured every day. Locally, the Kansas City region has experienced 13 pedestrian fatalities on our streets so far this year, costing the region $39 million. Pedestrian safety is a concern everywhere. This campaign is timely and much needed.”

“Pedestrian safety is a two-way street that requires awareness for both pedestrians and drivers,” says Deb Ridgway of Bridging The Gap.  “This campaign addresses both of those audiences,” she added.  Materials were developed by the Federal Highway Administration and adopted for Kansas City and include four television PSAs, six radio PSAs, one poster, two brochures and a lanyard with pedestrian safety tips.

Share the Road Safety Task Force partners include:
American Diabetes Association
Brain Injury Association
Bridging The Gap
City of Lee’s Summit
City of Raytown
City of Parkville
City of Kansas City, Missouri
Destination Safe
Downtown Community Improvement District – Bike Patrol
Induro Cycling
John Knox Village
Kansas City Bicycle Club
Kansas City Department of Parks and Recreation
Leawood Police Department
Localcycling.com
Major Taylor Foundation of Greater Kansas City
Mid-America Regional Council
MiLatino Media Group
Missouri Bicycle Federation
Missouri Department of Transportation – Kansas City Region
National Highway Transportation Safety Administration – Central Region
Platte County
Riverfront Heritage Trail
Rosedale Development Association
Safe Kids Johnson County
Safe Kids Metro KC
University of Missouri – Kansas City

For more information, please contact Deb Ridgway, Alternative Transportation Manager with Bridging The Gap, at (816) 561-1061, ext. 114 or deb@bridgingthegap.org.