The safety of pedestrians and cyclists is of great importance to the City of Lancaster, and is the focus of the City’s new bicycle and pedestrian safety education program. The California Office of Traffic Safety (OTS) has provided a $55,000 grant, which will fund the design and production of 19 signal box wraps. These wraps will be located along Lancaster Boulevard, from Division Street to 30^th Street West, and designed to educate and engage youth and adults regarding traffic rules, as well as their rights and responsibilities as pedestrians and cyclists.

“The safety of our community members is paramount to myself and the Lancaster City Council,” said Mayor R. Rex Parris. “It is not enough to improve infrastructure, we are also offering informational resources to our residents in order to improve quality of life, by making Lancaster a safer place to walk and bike.”

Over the course of the next year, the City of Lancaster will collaborate with stakeholders from local school districts and law enforcement to develop the signal box wrap design. The community can expect to see the wraps along The BLVD corridor beginning fall of 2019. Prior to the unveiling of the informative wraps, the City will conduct educational outreach activities via traffic safety fairs and community events, such as National Walk to School Day, National Bicycle Safety Month, California’s Pedestrian Safety Month, and the City’s annual National Night Out event.

The need for such safety programs is seen in state-wide data which shows that bicycle and pedestrian fatalities account for 29 percent of all roadway deaths in California. Data from the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration shows 1,014 bicyclists and pedestrians across the state were killed in 2016, a nearly 30 percent increase from 2012. This equates to nearly three bicycle and pedestrian mortalities in California every day.

Educational efforts funded by this OTS grant will promote safe behaviors by pedestrians, bicyclists, and drivers, including: being vigilant of parked cars that may be pulling out or opening a door; making oneself visible by wearing bright clothing during the day and reflective materials at night; and avoiding distractions like cell phones. Informational components on bicycle and pedestrian safety will be especially geared toward children and older adults.

“Bicycle and pedestrian safety responsibilities go both ways,” said OTS Director, Rhonda Craft. “Understanding the rules of the road behind the wheel, on foot, or on two wheels helps all roadway users arrive at their destination safely.”

Funding for this bicycle and pedestrian safety education program was provided by a grant from the California Office of Traffic Safety, through the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration. For more information, contact the City of Lancaster’s Development Services Department at (661) 723-6047.