Page 48 - Life in Naples November 2018

taking back our

Streets

lorida continues to lead the
country in bicycle and pedestrian
crashes and fatalities. Despite
F efforts to increase the education of
all road users, improved infrastructure and
signage, and better understanding and
enforcement of laws by police officers, our
roadways can still be a very scary place. 136 feet! (source: Reference.com). Take that up to a vehicle
The most vulnerable road users, those moving at 55 miles per hour and in the most ideal circumstances,
by Michelle Avola, traveling on foot or bicycle, experience it would take 302 feet to stop, which is more than a football
Executive Director, the worst consequences of critical factors field. Now just imagine if the driver is looking down at a phone!
Director of NPC on our streets. By now, most of us have heard the dangers of distracted
Some of the critical factors threatening driving, but too many are ignoring the information. The United
our safety include lack of awareness of rules, rights, and States Department of Transportation notes that cell phones are
responsibilities on the road, automobile-centric roadway design involved in 1.6 million auto crashes each year, and these crashes
that makes retrofitting roads with sidewalks, bike lanes or shared- cause half a million injuries and take 6,000 lives. A study by the
use pathways a challenge, distracted driving, excessive speed, Virginia Tech Transportation Institute reported texting while
driving under the influence, and road rage, just to name a few. driving is up to six times more likely to cause an auto crash than
Let’s consider the need for educating motorists, cyclists and driving when intoxicated.
pedestrians. Did you know that a bicycle is considered a vehicle The news is filled with images of car wrecks brought on by
when on a roadway? Have you heard of the Three-Foot Passing excessive speed, driving under the influence, road rage, and
Law that requires motorists to give cyclists at least three feet distracted driving. At least weekly, we see stories of pedestrians
clearance when passing? Did you know that it is unlawful to ride or cyclists being hit or killed. When are we going to say enough
your bike facing traffic and it is safer to ride with traffic whether is enough? We need to take back our streets! All of us, whether
in a bike lane or vehicle travel lane? Did you know it is legal for a we prefer to get where we’re going on foot, two wheels or four.
cyclist to ride in a vehicle travel lane? Did you know that 32 percent We must make changes in our habits, learn and follow safe
of all pedestrian fatalities occur between 8 p.m. and 11:59 p.m.? practices, and get behind organizations who are actively working
Wide, multi-lane roads are designed to move a lot of cars as to improve our roads for everyone who uses them. Naples
quickly as possible, but they are often treacherous for someone Pathways Coalition is just such an organization and I invite you
trying to cross on foot or those who commute by bike. A healthy to learn more about what we’re doing for our community and
adult walking at an average rate takes five seconds to cross one become a member at www.NaplesPathways.org or email me
lane, so crossing a typical four-lane road at an intersection with directly at Michelle@NaplesPathways.org.
turn lanes can take at least 30 seconds. Someone who is older or
someone pushing a stroller/wheelchair may need significantly
more time to cross. Michelle Avola is the Executive Director of Naples Pathways
Did you know, on dry pavement, a car traveling at just 35 Coalition (NPC), a non-profit organization that works to create safe,
miles per hour is traveling at 51.3 feet per second and needs bikeable, walkable communities in Collier County.
approximately 59 feet to stop? But the perception-reaction For more information or to join, visit the NPC web site at
distance, the time it takes a driver to recognize the need to stop www.naplespathways.org or contact Michelle directly at
and apply the brakes, is 77 feet, making total stopping distance michelle@naplespathways.org.

48 Life in Naples | November 2018