Bike Walk CT Urges Mayors & First Selectmen to Join USDOT’s Challenge for “Safer People, Safer Streets”

West Hartford, CT (January 30, 2015) – Since last fall’s Pro Walk/ Pro Bike/ Pro Place conference, US Transportation Secretary Anthony Foxx has been clear that bicycle and pedestrian safety is his signature issue as the head of US DOT. 

As a former mayor, Foxx is well aware of the rising numbers of people who want to get around by bike and on foot, and the uptick in pedestrian and cyclist deaths and injuries.

So at last week’s U.S. Conference of Mayors Winter Meeting, Foxx challenged those officials to help us help them make America's streets safer.

The US DOT’s “Mayors' Challenge for Safer People and Safer Streets” invites mayors and local elected officials to take significant action to improve safety for bicycle riders and pedestrians of all ages and abilities over the next year. The Challenge will showcase best local practices to improve safety, share tools for local leaders to take action, and promote partnerships to advance pedestrian and bicycle safety.  Participants will attend the Mayors' Summit for Safer People, Safer Streets in March 2015.

Here’s what Foxx challenges mayors to do:

1. Join the Mayors Challenge at http://www.dot.gov/content/join-challenge.
   
2. Issue a public statement about the importance of bicycle and pedestrian safety.
   
3. Form a local action team (if a bike/pedestrian task force isn’t already in place) to advance safety and accessibility goals, then take local action through the following Mayors Challenge activities during the next year to improve pedestrian and bicycle transportation safety in their communities.
   

• Take a Complete Streets approach.
  
• Identify and address barriers to make streets safe and convenient for all road users, including people of all ages and abilities and those using assistive mobility devices.
  
• Gather and track biking and walking data.
  
• Use designs that are appropriate to the context of the street and its uses.
  
• Capture opportunities to build on-road bike networks during routine resurfacing.
  
• Improve walking and biking safety laws and regulations.
  
• Educate and enforce proper road use behavior by all.
  

How individuals can get involved:  

1. Call or email your mayor or first selectman or send them (and copybikewalkct@bikewalkct.org)
   
2. Tell them that bike and pedestrian safety, complete streets, and educating the motorists, cyclists and pedestrians on their responsibilities for sharing the road are issues that matter to you.
   
3. Urge them to sign on to the challenge. Share this link so they can learn more: http://www.dot.gov/mayors-challenge 
   
4. Offer to serve on your town’s bike/ped task force for local action.
   

What we’re doing:  Bike Walk Connecticut urges Connecticut’s chief elected officials to participate in the challenge and engage their residents in carrying out. These actions in the Mayors Challenge  go to the heart of Bike Walk Connecticut’s mission, and we applaud Foxx’s leadership.