Bend entities receive transportation safety grant

A state safety grant of almost $10,000 has been awarded for enforcement, education, and outreach in Bend to:

• Raise awareness of safe pedestrian, bicycle and motorist behaviors.
• Identify high pedestrian crash locations and recurring unsafe behaviors in our region.
• Conduct enforcement operations by Bend Police between July and September.
• Promote an integrated program of public awareness that reminds all road users that they are responsible for the decisions that could save their life and the lives of others.

The Bend Metropolitan Planning Organization (MPO) has been awarded an ODOT Transportation Safety Division grant. This funding will be used to implement a project that will provide safety outreach about unsafe behaviors and police enforcement to drivers, bicyclists and pedestrians at identified high crash locations. Work on this project will extend through September.

Enhanced police enforcement will be funded by this grant to enforce safety laws with motorists, bicyclists and pedestrians safety laws at identified high crash locations.

Enforcing traffic laws for pedestrians, motorists, and other roadway users is a key element for ensuring a safe and healthy walking and biking environment.

Enforcement programs can be used to educate roadway users about the traffic laws that govern them; serve as periodic reminders to obey traffic rules; encourage safer behaviors; and monitor and protect transportation system users. Enforcement can also help reinforce and support the corresponding educational programs and messages that will be provided by Commute Options.

Commute Options will host several outreach events. If you interested in having Commute Options join your group for an educational event on safe driving, biking and walking, please contact Brian Potwin at Commute Options for more information.

Examples of targeted behaviors may include;
• motorist failure to yield to pedestrians;
• motorist overtaking a stopped vehicle at a marked or unmarked crosswalk;
• awareness of surroundings for all road users, such as distracted driving;
• Bicyclists wrong way riding;
• Driving or riding while under the influence of drugs or alcohol.

This grant will be administered through the Bend Road User Safety Task Force (RUSTF). The mission of RUSTF is to improve motorist-bicyclist-pedestrian safety by educating and encouraging all users to share the road responsibly. More about this group can be found at http://www.bendoregon.gov/index.aspx?page=117.