There are some roadways in San Diego that are the most dangerous for pedestrians and bicyclists.
The County Health and Human Services Agency (HHSA) will be working with community groups and organizations to make these areas safer thanks to a new grant from the California Office of Traffic Safety.
The $120,000 grant will be used to implement the Walk n’ Roll program in these areas, which aims to encourage residents to walk or bike to school or work. The funds will also pay for pedestrian and bicycle safety events for children, including “Walk This Way” events where students practice pedestrian safety and bike rodeos, where they practice how to ride their bikes safely.
“Our goal is to make it safer for people to walk or ride their bike in their communities,” said Chairman Ron Roberts, County Board of Supervisors.
The City of San Diego has one of the highest pedestrian collision rates in the region. On average, about 1,000 pedestrians and bicyclists are hit by cars and seriously injured each year. These incidents happen at a higher rate in low-income communities.
HHSA will work with Circulate San Diego, a local nonprofit focused on transportation and land use. Circulate will collaborate with local residents who are engaged in community improvement projects that address identified pedestrian and bicycle safety issues in their neighborhoods.
They will focus their efforts on six schools in the City of San Diego and educate about one thousand students on pedestrian and bicycle safety. They will also be training members of the Resident Leadership Academy groups in Linda Vista and Southeast San Diego. The Resident Leadership Academy is a 10-week specialized, comprehensive curriculum empowering residents to make improvements to their communities that will encourage healthy eating, physical activity and safety.
“Cycling and walking are great ways to be active and healthy,” said HHSA Director Nick Macchione. “But safety is a priority, and we are working these communities to make them safer for these types of activities.”
This effort will help advance the vision of Live Well San Diego, which aims to create healthy, safe and thriving communities in San Diego County.
Circulate San Diego, which is the region’s leader for the Vision Zero effort to eliminate all traffic deaths by 2025, will conduct the Walk n’ Roll program. For more information, call Circulate San Diego at (619) 544-9255.