The Miami Foundation - Safer Street Talk: How We will Reduce Pedestrian and Bicyclists Deaths

Back in 2016, I was fortunate to represent Palmetto Bay at The Miami Foundation - Safer Street Talk: How We will Reduce Pedestrian and Bicyclists Deaths. The event was held Thursday, September 15, 2016, and it became part of the goals and policies that drove how I tried to direct policy in Palmetto Bay while mayor. The event topic and projected action plan remains relevant, especially as we focus on whether the current administration will remain committed to "complete streets." This was a discussion about how to make our community more bike and pedestrian friendly.  The panel featured:

•Seleta Reynolds, General Manager of the Los Angeles Department of Transportation, Leader of Great Streets for LA, and Chair, National Association of City Transportation Officials (NACTO)
• Stuart Kennedy, Director of Program Strategy and Innovation, Miami Foundation
•Alice Bravo, Director, Miami-Dade Department of Transportation and Public Works
•The Honorable Jose Felix Diaz, Florida House of Representatives 
•George Navarrete, Deputy Director, Miami-Dade Parks, Recreation and Open Spaces Dept.
•Paul Schwiep, Chair, Citizens Independent Transportation Trust (and Palmetto Bay resident)

What is the SAFER PEOPLE - SAFER STREETS - LOCAL ACTION PLAN?

The following taken from the executive summary - (CLICK HERE).



Speed kills cyclists and pedestrians.

Plan goals include:
1.Adopting a ''Vision Zero'' policy that sets the goal of zero pedestrian and bicycle deaths.
2.Making texting while driving a primary offense to help increase enforcement.
3.Realizing the County's Greenway Master plan of building 500 miles of connected bike trails.
4.Facilitating a culture shift within transportation planning that places a higher value on pedestrian and bicycling needs.
5.Creating a Safety Innovation program to implement new safety strategies using technology.
6.Developing ''Complete Streets'' guidelines to help engineers and planners put moving people above moving cars.
7.Launching a Miami-specific education and enforcement campaign cautioning drivers to consider all users of the road.

This is the start of future discussions in this blog regarding Complete Streets and making our village streets safer for all.  

I look forward to engaging in this topic.