SANTA ANA, Calif. – The City of Santa Ana’s Public Works Agency received a $100,000 grant from the California Office of Traffic Safety (OTS) to fund a year-long program aimed at improving the safety for pedestrians and bicyclists.
The grant period is from October 1, 2019, to September 30, 2020, and funds a variety of educational programs for youth and adults to learn best safety practices walking or riding a bike.
“More than half of Santa Ana residents do not have access to a motor vehicle. Because of the large number of pedestrians and bicyclists, safety is a priority in the City of Santa Ana,” said Mayor Miguel Pulido.
Grant funding will be used to conduct bicycle training classes and educational workshops for youth and older adults on bicycle and pedestrian safety, as well as educating the public on the importance of safety equipment like reflective armbands, leg bands, headlights, taillights, reflectors and helmets. The funding will also be utilized to participate in national education campaign events and programs such as National Walk to School Day, Bicycle Safety Month and California’s Pedestrian Safety Month.
Bicycle and pedestrian-related collisions have been on the rise the past five years. In 2016, 867 pedestrians were killed on California roads, a nearly 33% increase from 2012. In 2016, 147 bicyclists were killed in crashes on California roads, a 14% increase from 2012. In 2018, seven pedestrians and one bicyclist were killed, and 164 pedestrians and 124 bicyclists were injured in vehicle collisions in the City of Santa Ana.
“No matter which way you get around, you play a part in roadway safety,” OTS Director Barbara Rooney said. “These grant programs are intended to educate residents on ways they can make themselves and those around them safe when they walk or bike.”
Funding for this program was provided by a grant from the California Office of Traffic Safety, through the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration.
A big part of the problem is bicyclers who ride with no lights, against traffic, running thru red lights and stop signs, and wearing dark clothes with nothing that reflects light. The problem is not “education” but, rather, the lack of enforcement of traffic laws on bicyclists.
1- There should be a law requiring Front & Rear lights on all new bicycle sale as a first step in the right direction ( just like car & motorcycle )
2- These lights must be powered with rechargeable battery ( just like a cell phone )
Bicycle safety is common sense.
No matter how much $ you cannot teach common sense.
They used to teach this in school to primary grades.
$100k for “bicycle pedestrian safety education” is another waste of taxpayer funds.