Title
Declaring the first week of August Pedestrian Safety Week in Saint Paul.
Body
Whereas, the Saint Paul City Council is committed to enhancing the livability of the City of Saint Paul by creating a safe walking environment and reducing the number of pedestrian injuries and fatalities; and
Whereas, many people choose to live or work in Saint Paul because of the City’s commitment to ensuring that everyone from age 8-80 can safely and easily walk to their destinations, whether it be work or school, shopping or eating out, for exercise, for recreation, or to get to a transit stop; and
Whereas, in the past 5 years, fourteen pedestrians have been killed in the City; and
Whereas, most pedestrian-vehicle crashes are caused by drivers failing to yield or being distracted, or by pedestrians not paying attention, crossing mid-block or ignoring traffic signals; and
Whereas, state law requires that drivers stop for pedestrians at marked and unmarked crosswalks, and that pedestrians obey all signs and signals at intersections that have them; and
Whereas, Saint Paul’s District Councils, in collaboration with the Saint Paul Police Department, St. Paul Walks, an initiative of St. Paul Smart Trips, and the Metro Area Toward Zero Deaths program, have set aside the first week of August as a time to educate pedestrians and drivers about the law and reinforce the message that pedestrian safety is a shared responsibility; and
Now, therefore, be it resolved that this week be declared Pedestrian Safety Awareness Week in the City of Saint Paul; and
Be it further resolved that the Saint Paul City Council urges all drivers and pedestrians to take responsibility for pedestrian safety by obeying the law, paying close attention, avoiding distractions, and respectfully sharing the road, every day.