Digital Deadwalkers: Distracted Pedestrians

Beth Brainard
Ex Director of NPC

For several years the City of Naples has worked diligently to improve its sidewalk and cycling network. Enormous improvements are evident.

Although the plan is still a work in progress, most of the city features connective routes to get around town, without the need of a motorized vehicle.

With so many people using healthy means of self propelled transportation, we should remind ourselves of the safety tips that we all learned in school and may have forgotten.

PEDESTRIANS

• Always cross at marked crosswalks.c You lose your rights as ac pedestrian by jaywalking
• Obey any pedestrian signals. Then look both ways prior to stepping into the street
• When vehicles approach, make eye contact with the driver and point in the direction of your intended direction.
• Look before walking past stopped vehicles
• Remember, cyclists are NOT considered pedestrians unless they are walking their bikes.

BICYCLISTS

• Yield to pedestrians in crosswalks, or at the curb, as they are starting to cross the road.
• Obey vehicular traffic signals and laws of the roadways. When cycling, the laws apply to you the same as they would to a vehicle. Ride in the same direction as motor vehicles. Be predictable and courteous.•
• Use marked bike paths when provided. NEVER ride against traffic. Only pedestrians can walk against traffic and only when they are walking in the roadway where there are no sidewalks.

MOTORISTS

• Yield to pedestrians in crosswalks and intersections.
• Be prepared to stop at all marked crosswalks, reduce speed when approaching crosswalks.
• Be alert for all other road users – pedestrians, cyclists and skateboarders.
• Come to a complete stop when approaching pedestrians in crosswalks.
• Wait until pedestrians have crossed at least one lane beyond the lane you are in before resuming movement.
• Never pass another vehicle that has slowed or stopped at a crosswalk.

Moving around Naples by foot or self -propelled means can been joyable, healthy and rewarding. Using these simple rules of the road will insure a safe trip and will be appreciated by others sharing the roads.

Beth Brainard is the executive director of Naples Pathways Coalition(NPC), a nonprofit organization that works to create safe, bikeable, walkable communities in Collier County.

For more information or to join, visit the NPC web site at www.naplespathways.org or contact Beth directly at bethbrainard@naplespathways.org.