The Mayor Verner along with council members Waldref and Snyder and others helped kick off Pedestrian Safety Week this morning at the Saranac building in downtown Spokane. Here’s the press release from the city:
Traffic Awareness & Pedestrian Safety Week Set for April 9 – 18
Help improve public safety by participating in the 12th annual Traffic Awareness & Pedestrian Safety Week, April 9 to 18. Hosted by the Community Assembly’s Pedestrian, Transportation and Traffic Committee, this week will be kicked off by Mayor Mary Verner and members of the City Council at an event at the Saranac Building, 25 W. Main Ave., at 9 a.m. on Friday, April 9.
During the week, drivers are reminded to slow down, obey speed limits, and become more aware of pedestrians, thus making Spokane neighborhoods safer and more livable.
To notify motorists of the speed limit on neighborhood streets, many residents will post yellow and black signs with the phrases, “Neighbors Drive 25” and “Heed the Speed 30.” The Committee is also reminding residents that all intersections are considered legal crosswalks and should be treated as such, whether marked or not.
This year’s events included for the first time a Walkability Audit Workshop hosted by the City’s Office of Neighborhood Services & Code Enforcement (ONS) and the Bicycle Alliance of Washington to train neighborhood leaders on how to complete a walkability audit. These audits are a tool to help evaluate the safety and effectiveness of the built environment and can be used to apply for federal grants that fund the repair and construction of our streets and sidewalks. Neighborhoods are encouraged to host a walkability audit during Transportation Awareness and Pedestrian Safety Week. For more information on how to participate, contact ONS & Code Enforcement at 625-6730.
For questions regarding Traffic Awareness and Pedestrian Safety Week, please contact Roland Lamarche, Chair of the Pedestrian, Transportation and Traffic Committee, at 981-7964 or Rod Minarik, of the City’s Neighborhood Services Office, at 625-6737.
