HomeMy WebLinkAbout2005 DAC Public Hearing on Snow & Ice - Pedestrian Awareness - Summary of Recommendations Ithaca's Disability Advisory
Council to Hold Public Hearing
on Snow and Ice Problems
6 Event:
Public Hearing sponsored by the City of Ithaca
Disability Advisory Council (DAC)
Purpose:
To gather information from residents about problems
they encounter during the winter because of snow and ice
1-9 on sidewalks and curb ramps.
�( Date &Time:
Wednesday,June 1st, at 12:15 p.m.
Location:
City Hall, 108 East Green Street, Common Council Chambers.
The DAC is interested in hearing from people with disabilities and older
►, people; others, however, may give testimony.
We know that it is difficult to get around the city in the winter,and we want to change
that. We are interested in hearing about personal experiences and the barriers that people
encounter;we want to hear suggestions for making things better. The DAC will then
report the testimony to the Mayor,to Common Council,to the public and to City staff.
The public is invited to the hearing. It would be helpful to register to give testimony.
Please call the City Clerk at 274-6570. If you have a disability that will require special
(01-9 arrangements to be made in order for you to fully participate in the meeting,please
contact the City Clerk at least 48 hours before the meeting.
The Disability Advisory Council(DAC) advises the Mayor,Common Council,and City
staff as to the rights and needs of residents with disabilities. The majority of the
membership is comprised of people with disabilities.
For more information, contact Greg Gizewski,
DAC Vice Chair at 272-7570 ext: 119.
PtA
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Pedestrian Awareness Committee— Summary of Recommendations
2 May 2005
l8Jan:
We agreed that we should also have representation(at least on call)from: Building Department,City
Attorney/Prosecutor's Office,Ithaca College, Senior Citizens Council
BPAC and PAC should jointly sponsor any public hearings on pedestrian issues to elicit public input.
4. Actions:
A. Crosswalk enhancements: Yield to Pedestrian signs, markings, and/or signals.
Recommendation: The specific crosswalk requests should go to the BPW for action and not be discussed by PAC.
C. Sidewalk clearing(snow, overgrown hedges, cars). PARTLY DISCUSSED
Is it possible to issue tickets similar to traffic violations?
F. Educational campaign for motorists, bicyclists, and pedestrians as to their respective rights and responsibilities to insure
the safety, attractiveness, and convenience of walking in the City.
Leaflets,Enforcement,Media-campaign.
Needs to be ongoing and comprehensive or it will die.
Public service announcements: different messages every week.
Doug W will check on the availability of state monies for enforcement/education campaign
Lois Chaplin will distribute information of an RFP that is due out soon soliciting grant proposals.
24Jan:
Question: Can fine money be specifically earmarked for an educational campaign?
B. Ideas for Educational/Enforcement Campaign
i. What crosswalk"hot spots"to focus on?Two options of"hot spots": (a) High volume intersections with signals
and striped crosswalks where there are frequent violations such as downtown intersections. (b) Dangerous well-used
intersections without painted crosswalks and/or signs as in the BPAC list.
ii. Do we want to focus on safety or walkability.
1.education/enforcement campaign aimed at crosswalks
2.(do serially)start heavy educational/enforcement campaign,infrastructure(easily obtrainable); major infrastructure
3. something can start immediately—weekly communication issue. What mechanism?
4. bring to BPW request asking for funds from sidewalk program as seed money for educational campaign.
5. remarks at every CC meeting into the TV cameras(and hopefully the reporters notebooks)?
6. people should know that BPAC exists
7. DPW maintains a log of sidewalk problems (Lynn Yost)
8. central complaint line?
9. use internet reporting? This is currently being considered by the City's computer people.
10.Accessibility(walkability)issues versus safety.
11.Other sources of state funds—must go thru TC Traffic Safety Board due 15 May. David will contact them.(Lois C found
the names of John Beach and Barbara Blanchard.
12.coordinating educatgional/enforcement campaign with ICSD,CU,IC
13.Needs to be ongoing and comprehensive or it will die.
14. Public service announcements: different messages every week.
7Feb:
There was the suggestion of hiring underemployed young people to shovel snow and be part of sidewalk repair crews.
Sidewalk program:
1. How can we make the assessment side work more smoothly?
2. How can we reduce the time spent by city engineers in discussions with property owners about the sidewalk work?
Currently this is about 1/3 of Lynne Yost time spent on the sidewalk program.
3. Explore the city taking over responsibility for sidewalks.
The issue of pedestrian signal timing was discussed. Since we now have no traffic engineer to answer related questions or to
initiate actions we will postpone future discussions until there is(at least)a temporary traffic engineer.
The issue of enforcement of cars parked on sidewalks was brought up. Police enforce this.Police also enforce the
odd-even parking regulations during the winter but are hampered by city law that makes towing difficult(Michelle will look
into changing the law).Some expressed the view that we should find a way to encourage people to walk(and thus leave their
cars parked)while still allowing the plows to clear the road.
Michelle introduced her idea of holding focus groups of speeders and pedestrians to see what ideas and information
might arise. There was encouragement of this idea from the group.
14Feb:
2. We started our discussion of Lois'and Jennifer's draft report.
Committee members are requested to come up with re-wording of the sections that need expansions or possible
changes.
Recommendation:
PAC is recommending policy but some city employees will need to carry it out.How will be the allocations of city resources?
Consensus: The mayor should ask each department concerned(DPW,BD,IPD,PDD)to commit to contribute to pedestrian
awareness say 5-10 hours of staff time per week. There was a discussion of having part-time commitments from various
departments versus one full time person with responsibility for pedestrian issues–the consensus was for the part-time
commitments from various departments.
Recommendation: Can we have groups of"sub-w e1:?)(youth,underemployed)be a taskforce to do jobs like snow
removal,cut hedges,and so forth—the idea is for these to be people(or organizations)who are contacted when work is
needed much the same way the city calls a tow company to tow an illegally parked car. The problem is how to arrange the
financial aspects. This could be a way to give jobs(though only piece-meal)to youths and other underemployed city citizens.
Recommendation: Institutionalize the inlcusion of Disability Advisory Council along with BPAC in(particularly public
works and planning)decisions affecting pedestrians,at the point(s)in the decision process when their recommendations are
most effective.
From draft:
Situation
Decision makers often seem unclear about what priority the City puts on walkability and pedestrian safety(and specific steps
to support these goals).
Immediate action
Include/add a clear commitment to walkability and/or pedestrian safety in City guiding documents(for example,
comprehensive plan, mission statement, etc.)to back up decisions that improve our pedestrian facilities. Consider using the
following phrase: "The City of Ithaca recognizes bicycling and walking are valuable, important and desirable modes of travel
for transportation, recreation, health and wellness."
Recommendations of committee:
How does this differ from existing policy statements? We should only make a statement if we can follow up(if we have the
resources to follow up). We should ask the mayor to make this a criteria of performance expectations,assessment and
evaluation of department heads and then in turn for their departments.
Situation
Existing zoning and design guidelines produce inconsistent pedestrian facilities, and, also, are unevenly enforced
Recommendation: Wait for Joann Cornish visit to PAC–we hope this will happen at our next meeting 28 Feb.
Evaluate immediate possibilities for changing the responsibility for sidewalk maintenance and construction on private
property.
Advantages for city take-over: little complaints,sidewalk costs to homeowners would be tax-deductible
Situation
Current enforcement of vehicle and traffic law within the City has not produced a satisfactory level of compliance vis a vis
pedestrians. The City sees targeted enforcement as an efficient way to use IPD resources, as well as to pursue other funding
(Governor's Traffic Safety Grant).
Question: Is targeted enforcement effective?
28Feb:
PAC Recommendation: We recommend that BPAC and DAC be a regular part of all site plan review processes.
l a. (Tom)Hiring of possible intern.
PAC Recommendation: The intern should be based in the Mayor's office. David will send request to the mayor.
Laura will send the job announcement to Cornell programs with interested students. The intern would prepare reports,web-
research of documents and campaigns from other cities,write minutes,and so forth.
3. (David H)Report of meeting with Deputy Police Chief and City Prosecutor about publication and enforcement of
pedestrian/vehicle laws.
The police and prosecutor had no problems with the press release and webpage since they quoted the DMV Drivers Manual
and the Vehicle and Traffic Law. David also asked them about the following enforcement issues:
It seems clear that pedestrians or drivers can be ticketed(and prosecuted)if they disobey a traffic signal(red light,"Don't
walk").But I have been told that some laws are not ticketable(or enforceable)unless there is an accident,and some laws
serve to set liability. My questions are:
1. Can a driver who turns at an intersection into the path of pedestrians(legally crossing in a painted crosswalk)be ticketed
and prosecuted if the pedestrian is not hit? What if the pedestrian was forced to stop or slow by the motion of the vehicle?
What if the vehicle was close enough that the pedestrian could touch it?
2. Can a driver be ticketed and prosecuted if a pedestrian clearly indicates their intention to cross at a crosswalk and the
driver has plenty of time to stop but does not slow or stop to allow the pedestrian to cross. Does it matter if the crosswalk is
marked or unmarked at an intersection? Does it matter is there is a sign marking the crosswalk? Does it matter is there is a
sign saying"State Law:Vehicles Yield to Pedestrians"
3. Can a driver be ticketed and prosecuted if he/she passes a vehicle stopped to allow a pedestrian to cross on a crosswalk
(marked or unmarked)when there is no collision? Does it make a difference if there is a sign?
4. Can a pedestrian be ticketed and prosecuted if he/she crosses in mid-block(without a crosswalk)and causes a vehicle to
swerve or slow down--but there is no accident?
In each of these four cases the VAT(on my reading)states that the above actions are illegal--the question is can they be
ticketed and prosecuted? Also,in each case can the police set up a"sting"--for example,plainclothes policeman crossing in
crosswalks.
The response from the city prosecutor and police was that all of the above are possible,BUT that ticketing and prosecution is
easiest when there is painted crosswalk and signs.
4. (Vikki) "Wait for Walkers"campaign.
"I wait for walkers". There were suggestions that the campaign should ALSO include a slogan for pedestrians,such as"Be
Seen to be Safe"and/or"Watch for Vehicles".
Suggestion: Set pedestrian signals so that the default is the signal are off(no hand or person)and only the red/green lights
relate to pedestrians until a pedestrian who wants extra security crossing the street pushes the pedestrian button. When the
button is pushed then the"Don't Walk"signal will appear until at the appropriate point in the cycle a"Walk"signal will appear
that signals the pedestrian to walk AND prohibits all conflicting vehicle traffic. Vehicle traffic conflicts can be prohibited by
either have the"Walk"cycle give all vehicles a red light,or only prohibiting the conflicting turns.
14Mar:
j2-
Recdmmendations:
1. Do not give warning letters—ticket immediately on first inspection; but with the first ticket in each winter not
counting(as with parking tickets). (This will save staff time in BD and lead to more compliance.)
2. Fines that accumulate and increase and are significantly higher than cost of shoveling.
3. Have community service officers(in addition to Lowman)write tickets and give the ticket to Building
Department to mail and process. (This will save staff time in BD and lead to more compliance.)
4. Have a list of outside contractors(landscape firms,YES,and so forth)and neighborhood association volunteers
(through Tim Logue).
5. The city should devise a coherent policy on the clearing of snow from curbcuts(the snow that the city snow
plows push into the curb cut.
6. The city should devise a coherent policy for clearing brush and hedges that obstruct the view of traffic signs,
and the view of pedestrian and drivers of each other.
7. When sidewalks are cleared asked to be cleared it is important the full width be cleared.
2. (David McElrath, DAC)Suggestions on snow removal.
David proposed a public service announcement that urges people to clear the full width of their sidewalks not just one
shovel's width.The committee approved David's working.
4. (David H) Symmetric summary of pedestrian/vehicle laws. Is this clear, complete and accurate?
David H.distributed an updated version of his symmetric summary of pedestrian/vehicle laws. There was no
consensus reached on the summary,with some members feeling that PAC should be in the business of making such a statement
("leave it to the professionals")while others felt that consensus on such a statement was crucial for our continuing discussions
of education/enforcement. It was also suggested that instead of concentrating on summary of laws we should concentrate on a
summary of what we view as the problems.
It was agreed that we would look at summaries from education/enforcement campaigns at other localities.
There was also consensus that at least one of our goals is to have pedestrians and drivers treat each other with respect
and awareness.
28Mar:
Recommendation: In Ithaca,only about 3 hours per day dedicated to traffic. Need enforcements from all patrols.
With decoys can target both pedestrian and vehicle enforcement.
3. (3am) City Clerk Julie Holcomb
City will have video conferencing capabilities soon and hopefully facilities for interactive website.
List of phones or e-mails for complaints can be put on city cite if Julie is given the information.
Public Information Officers and participate in education campaigns when there is no immediate emergencies being dealt with.
Recommendations: Ad campaign as opposed to press releases that are edited by the media. PSA's at peak travel times.
Channel 15 short spots or full programs. Messages with utility bills every 3 months(1/3 of the city each month).
Use Public Service Officers to give tickets for sidewalks and trash and so forth.
y Flyer with water bill about snow clearing with penalties and organization that wilds provide sholveling when needed.
Need couple of weeks to be sanctioned by officials.
4Apr:
Recommendation: The city needs to do whatever it takes(higher salary,hire a traffic technician)to hire a traffic
engineer. The technician can do some of the routine duties related to traffic such as laying out crosswalk for striping
and performing traffic counts.
Recommendation: To do more and better job of striping,clearing snow,the Streets Department needs more person-
power(most important)and some more equipment. Set more realistic expectation for the public(that every thing can
not be done at once and needs to be prioritized).
‘)`0,S-
•
11Apr:
The city is looking to the possibility of reorganizing and pooling internal manpower resources,including the involvement of
sharing expertise between DPW and Planning DD.The idea is to integrate with trails,bicycles,public transit,sidewalks,and
land-use with traffic.
There is consideration of parallel tracks for replacing the Traffic Engineer: New integrated approached and old traffic
engineering position.
How do we keep highly trained people in the city staff? The employee needs to feel valued. We need to create an inclusive
environment. Salary can help but is not the only factor.
HR provides the process to make changes happen&consults. The departments makes the decision.
Recommendation: Support the idea of the integration approach.
We need a deeper technical staff to make it all work.
Recommendation: Establish procedures so that the advisory councils(BPAC,CAC,DAC)will have timely and
effective input at the design phase of all relevant DPW projects. �, ,•\�
Recommendation: Need walking facilities to the SW development,Elmira Road,Floral Avenue.
Force owners to install sidewalks where they do not exist.
Recommendation: need more unified process for trash clearing,brush cutting. Stricter enforcement.
Draft
Symmetric summary of state law(quotations are from the wording of the V&T law)
"Drivers"includes persons on bicycles, skateboards, and in-line skates.
"Pedestrians"includes persons"in a wheelchair"and strollers.
Drivers and pedestrians"shall exercise due care to avoid"collisions, at all times.
Drivers and pedestrians shall not"suddenly"enter a street when others are"so close that it is
impractical for"them to yield.
Pedestrians and drivers shall not proceed against"Don't Walk" signals or red lights.
Drivers"shall yield the right of way, slowing down or stopping if need be,"to allow a
pedestrian to cross the street, whenever the pedestrian is:
o crossing with a green or"Walk" signal, or
o "within a marked crosswalk", or
o within"any unmarked crosswalk at an intersection"(with no signals or underpass), or
o in a parking lot or on a sidewalk.
Pedestrians"shall yield the right of way"to driver to proceed along the street without being
forced to slow down,whenever the driver is:
o in the street not at an intersection or marked crosswalk, or
o in an intersection where there is a pedestrian bridge or tunnel.
DRAFT
Walk Signal Recommendations:
Problems: If walk signals do not stop conflicting vehicular traffic,then they give a false sense
of security to the pedestrian and the driver. Sometimes it is objectively safer for the pedestrian to
cross against"Don't Walk"(when there are no vehicles coming)than it is to wait for the"Walk"
signal when there are vehicles anxiously waiting to turn across the crosswalk. At times now,
walk buttons are blocked by snow or otherwise inaccessible because of mud or some such so that
a pedestrian(especially those in wheel chairs)can not easily reach the button—when this
happens the pedestrian's only recourse is to cross illegally.
PAC recommends that:
1. The default condition for walk signals should be"off'—no signal. Then the pedestrian travel
is controlled only by the RYG traffic signals.
2. When a pedestrian desires additional safety,the pedestrian pushes the walk button,then the
"Don't Walk"/"Walk" signals will light up and cycle is such a way that when the"Walk"-signal
appears the signals for vehicles prohibit any conflicting vehicular traffic. Examples: (a)All
traffic has a red light. (such as Cayuga/Green); (b) The N-S "Walk" is on and the N-S green
straight ahead arrow is on.
3. All walk buttons be adjacent to the sidewalk so the pedestrian(including those in
wheelchairs) can push it without leaving the sidewalk and without backtracking.
DRAFT
Sidewalk Repair:
Problems:
1. The current sidewalk repair program has difficulties because of the current funding
structure and because it entails considerable engineer time to deal with complaints from
property owners.
2. Those who have no sidewalks in front of their houses do not pay for sidewalk repair but
do benefit from the use of sidewalks.
3. In some locations, (for example the abandoned sidewalk along Prospect St behind the
houses on Pleasant St) it is unreasonable for the property owners to maintain(which they
haven't been)the sidewalks in back of their homes.
4. In some areas(because of difficult terrain—steep hill, rocks, and so forth)it is very
expensive to install and repair sidewalks. The decision(and cost)for such sidewalks
should be a public responsibility.
5. Because of the added liability, construction, repair, and maintenance obligations many
property owners resist the construction of new sidewalks, even where they are needed by
the public.
PAC Recommendations:
1. The city takes over all repair and construction of sidewalks in the city with expenses
shared by all taxpayers.
2. During the transfer of sidewalk responsibility to the city the following fees will be
accessed or payment made:
a. For sidewalks in"average"condition: The city takes over responsibility with no
payments or charges.
b. For sidewalks in"above average" condition: The city makes to the property owner a
payment equal to the value that the sidewalk is above the average.
c. For sidewalks in"below average" condition: The city accesses the property owner
the amount equal to the value that the sidewalk is below the average.
d. For properties with no(or partially missing) sidewalks the owner should be accessed
an amount based on the average (across the city)per foot cost of new sidewalk.
The amounts in b and c should be arranged to roughly balance each other out. The
amount collected in d should be put into a special fund earmarked only for new sidewalk
construction.
Advantages:
1. Reduced engineer time.
2. Property owners pay for sidewalks through taxes (which are deductible for state and
federal income taxes). If possible,the assessments above should be designed so that they
are also tax deductible.
3. The city can prioritize construction and repairs of sidewalks according to the public good
and as a public resource.
4. The overall cost to taxpayers will decrease.
DRAFT
City of Ithaca PAC
Draft of ideas(and format)for a report to the Mayor(and to others?)
Lois Chaplin and Jennifer Dotson
draft/outline 2/2/05
Introduction
Education
Situation
The public is not aware of their rights and responsibilities as motorist and pedestrian users of our roadways. This decreases
pedestrian safety, and makes enforcement of laws more difficult.
Immediate action
Use focused"tips of the week"(produced by PAC while it exists)directed at the media,to generate awareness of the City's
concern for safety and accessibility for all.Recruit Common Council members to help with this immediate awareness
campaign.
Longer-term action
Develop and implement an ongoing community-wide public awareness campaign.(See Appendix for outline.)
Policy/Organization
Situation
The current system for pedestrian concerns is cumbersome and confusing, both for the public to report concerns, and for the
City to smoothly resolve(or address)concerns in a coordinated way. Many pedestrians become discouraged and stop
attempting to report concerns, or, even worse, stop walking.
Immediate actions
As possible,take steps to immediately streamline staff/department responsibility(and allocate dedicated staff time)for
pedestrian issues.
Set up a central"Pedestrian Hotline"(and web page,if possible)to receive and sort concerns to the appropriate staff member
or department,and minimize confusion for the public.
Institutionalize BPAC's inclusion in(particularly public works and planning)decisions affecting pedestrians,at the point(s)in
the decision process when their recommendations are most effective.
Improve system for enforcing snow and ice removal(and shrub trimming)along pedestrian ways(including sidewalks,curb
ramps,bus stops,and pedestrian buttons).Consider including positive reinforcement aspect(a"Golden Shovel Award").
Longer-term actions
Evaluate streamlining,consolidation,or reorganization of departmental responsibility for sidewalks(and other pedestrian
ways)to ensure the best possible system of pedestrian facilities.Include snow,ice,and shrub clearing enforcement,as well as
other PAC recommendations,in this streamlining.
Establish a City Pedestrian(and Bicycle)Program Coordinator staff position.Secure ongoing,durable funding for this
position.PAC sees this position as the primary liaison between the walking public and BPAC and city agencies,boards,and
departments,and possibly director or coordinator of other projects significantly affecting pedestrians(and bicyclists)in the
City(including the community-wide public awareness campaign recommended under"Education").
Situation
Decisionmakers often seem unclear about what priority the City puts on walkability and pedestrian safety(and specific steps to
support these goals).
Immediate action
Include/add a clear commitment to walkability and/or pedestrian safety in City guiding documents(for example,
comprehensive plan,mission statement,etc.)to back up decisions that improve our pedestrian facilities.Consider using the
following phrase:"The City of Ithaca recognizes bicycling and walking are valuable,important and desirable modes of travel
for transportation,recreation,health and wellness."
DRAFT
DRAFT
Situation
Existing zoning and design guidelines produce inconsistent pedestrian facilities, and, also, are unevenly enforced
Immediate action
Create easy-to-use checklist(s)for pedestrian facilities for Building Dept.and Planning and Development Board members(and
staff)to use in approving building permits and site plans and in issuing certificates of compliance.
Longer-term action
Evaluate land use policy to insure that major traffic generators(shopping centers,stores)provide adequate pedestrian facilities
(sidewalks,crosswalks between storefronts and parking lots).
Situation
Adults frequently use wheeled vehicles on City sidewalks, in violation of current law. The public is not aware of relevant safety
issues, and it's not clear that City code is appropriate in this instance.
Action
Establish(or designate)a committee to investigate this issue and recommend action(including public awareness efforts and/or
code changes).
Engineering
Situation
Pedestrians frequently encounter hazards(incomplete pedestrian facilities and obstacles)in using the City's roadway system.
Recent City budgets have not allowed the City to undertake(or facilitate)thorough upgrading of all pedestrian facilities on all
roadways throughout the City.
Immediate actions
Institutionalize"model behavior"in maintenance of City-owned sidewalks(and in other pedestrian facility-related actions by
City staff).
Establish system for positive reinforcement for great sidewalk/crosswalk construction and repair for businesses and others(like
the"Golden Shovel Award").
Develop easy-to-use guidelines and/or checklists for the following situations(and others?).(Update these guidelines/checklists
as other recommendations are implemented.)
• Work zones(on both public and private property)
• Traffic signals
• Crosswalk striping
• Curbcuts and skirts
• Sidewalk repairs(both City-owned and private)
• New sidewalk construction(both City-owned and private)
Establish attainable(and,also,ideal)standards for"complete streets"for pedestrian(and bicyclist)use,applicable to all
roadways in the City system.
Resource: "complete streets"website, others?
Develop a mapped network of priority"PARs"(pedestrian accessibility routes). Incorporate into City comprehensive plan.
Improve crosswalks and intersections for pedestrians based on existing BPAC recommendations(as possible in the immediate
term)for general guidelines and for priority locations.
Evaluate immediate possibilities for changing the responsibility for sidewalk maintenance and construction on private property.
Longer-term actions
Further improve crosswalks and intersections for pedestrians,and plan for larger intersection and crosswalk improvements,
based on existing BPAC recommendations for general guidelines and for priority locations.Regularly update a plan for
DRAFT
DRAFT
ongoing intersection improvements.
Implement"complete streets"(at least to attainable standards,and where possible,to ideal standards)on all City roadways.
Prioritize improvements on PARS.
Establish a system for updating mapped PAR network regularly.
Evaluate longer-term possibilities for changing the responsibility for sidewalk maintenance and construction on private
property.
Enforcement
Situation
Current enforcement of vehicle and traffic law within the City has not produced a satisfactory level of compliance vis a vis
pedestrians. The City sees targeted enforcement as an efficient way to use IPD resources, as well as to pursue other funding
(Governor's Traffic Safety Grant).
Immediate actions
Identify and locate readily available data on crashes,ticketed violations,vehicle and pedestrian counts,vehicle speeds,and
population density.
Use this data to identify a few types of violations(laws,circumstances,locations,times of day)where violations have a larger
impact on pedestrian safety.Consider actual safety(from crash data)and perceived safety(because of its effect on walkability).
Where possible with current resources,target enforcement to these situations.
Increase IPD force education regarding traffic law as it impacts pedestrian safety.
Support public awareness campaign efforts(both immediate and longer term).
Longer-term actions
Pursue funding(both for particular efforts and ongoing)for targeted enforcement efforts as described above.
Work with other departments(and agencies)on coordinated public awareness campaigns and efforts.
Appendix: Public Awareness Campaign
Goals:
1. Educate public about their legal responsibilities.
2. Encourage walking
Key audiences and message for each
Public officials—messages could include
> city employees who drive as part of their job–sensitivity training in share the road concepts
> policy makers–elements in creating a walkable and safe community
➢ law enforcement–enforcement and education,an integrated approach
Motorists—messages could include
> pedestrians' legal rights when crossing streets
➢ the hazards of speed
> stop at traffic control devices
➢ bicyclists' legal rights on the street
Pedestrians—messages could include
> use crosswalks whenever possible
> walk left when no sidewalk
➢ wear light-colored clothing at night
Bicyclists—messages could include
DRAFT
•
DRAFT
➢ riding predictably
➢ riding with traffic
➢ use lights at night
> courtesy to passing motorists
Strategy:
• Develop outreach network to reach desired audiences(community groups,etc.)
• Develop radio and TV PSAs,display ads for newspapers and bus advertising.
• Maps—walkability,walking times between popular destinations
• Develop notion of"hot spots"that would be focus of education/enforcement outreach.
• Incorporate incentives in a public awareness effort to get more people walking for fitness and transportation.Pedometers
can be a promotional/awareness gimmick to bring attention to walking.Reflective leg bands can help promote the Be Seen
message.
• What about the"Walk Ithaca"brochure/route? Is that still available?Or up for revision?
• Continue Mayor's walk or bike ride tradition,to garner attention.
• Focus on one or more special events,such as walk/bike to work/school day.Collaborate with Curb Your Car Coalition on
a spring event.Take advantage of autumn"back to school"time for a focused event,especially considering Ithaca's large
student population.
Resources:
• Share the Road Campaign(use VT proposal as template?)
• Safe Routes to School(national model available)
• The Walk for Science project from Florida has some educational/encouragement merit.
DRAFT