City Promotes Traffic Safety Through Civil Streets Initiative

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FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

April 8, 2014

For more information, please contact:

Jacqui Bauer, Sustainability Coordinator, City of Bloomington Economic and Sustainable Development Department, 349.3837, bauerj@bloomington.in.gov

Vince Caristo, Bicycle and Pedestrian Coordinator, City of Bloomington Planning Department, 349.3423, caristov@bloomington.in.gov

City Promotes Traffic Safety Through Civil Streets Initiative

Bloomington, Ind. - As the weather warms each spring, more and more people walk and bike for transportation or recreation. To encourage the safety of all road users during this time, the City of Bloomington's Civil Streets initiative will boost education and enforcement activities aimed at reducing crashes and unsafe traffic behaviors.

"We are using a variety of ways to increase awareness of basic rights and responsibilities on the roadway, which encourages a culture of common courtesy and respect and improves traffic safety for everyone," said Vince Caristo, Bicycle and Pedestrian Coordinator.

Throughout the month of April, messages encouraging safe and legal roadway behaviors of motorists, pedestrians and bicyclists will appear throughout the city on posters, stickers, social media outlets and bus advertisements. Informational materials will also be distributed on the subject of traffic laws and safe practices. From April 7 to 12, the Bloomington Police Department will increase the enforcement of traffic safety laws throughout downtown Bloomington.

Volunteers are needed to help distribute informational and other outreach materials on Thursday, April 10 from 4 p.m. to 7 p.m., and on Saturday, April 12 from 9 a.m. to 1 p.m. Interested individuals can sign-up to volunteer [on the website|/civilstreets], or by contacting Jacqui Bauer at baurj@bloomington.in.gov.

The Civil Streets initiative began in the fall of 2013. Project partners include the City of Bloomington Planning Department, City of Bloomington Economic and Sustainable Development, City of Bloomington Police Department and Bloomington Transit.

For more information, visit [the web site|/civilstreets] or contact Bicycle and Pedestrian Coordinator Vince Caristo at caristov@bloomington.in.gov or 349.3423.

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