I've been working on transportation policy for months, but the issue hit home last weekend when I learned that my neighbor's nephew was struck and nearly killed by a speeding car.
The young man, who planned to join the military, was in a crosswalk near the Brandon Town Center mall when a car ran a red light and struck him while going 60 miles per hour. Normally, his brother picks him up from work. But this week, his brother’s car was in the shop, so he decided to walk home. How could he know that decision would compromise his dream of serving his country, due to the multiple injuries he sustained from the accident? The surgeons at Brandon Regional Hospital tell his family it's a miracle he's alive.
I already knew Tampa Bay was the second most dangerous metropolitan area for pedestrians, but this tragedy made that statistic personal. Pedestrian safety is an issue that most of us might not think about until it impacts our personal life.
However, we should all be aware that funding for pedestrian safety is in jeopardy. Believe it or not, our own Florida Rep. John Mica, as chair of the House Transportation Committee, proposed a transportation bill that slashes federal funding for pedestrian and bicycle safety. It’s unbelievable that Mica, who represents the most dangerous city for pedestrians in America - Orlando, and the suburbs of the third most deadly city, Jacksonville - would eliminate an important element of transportation funding.
That's right; according to a recent report, Florida is home to America’s top four most dangerous metropolitan areas for pedestrians. Miami is the fourth.
I suspect that most Florida drivers do not expect to see many pedestrians crossing crosswalks -indeed, walking on Florida roads can be dangerous, so most people avoid it. That’s no excuse for ignoring pedestrian safety. We must make Florida roads safer for people who want to walk.
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Complete Streets in Charlotte, N.C.
Not everyone can afford a car. In this tough economy, many families like mine are considering selling a car to eliminate a monthly car payment. And not every teenager can afford to buy a car - especially in today’s job market. So how do we expect our teens get around in our vehicle dependent region?
There’s a national movement to make our streets safer called “Complete Streets.” States, cities, and towns are asking their planners and engineers to build road networks that are for everyone – young or old, motorist or bicyclist, walker or wheelchair user, bus rider or shopkeeper. The movement is gaining momentum. Just this month, the Ft. Myers City Council adopted the Complete Streets resolution initiating the process to establish a Complete Streets program.
Florida roads are designed for cars, yet this may not be the best thing for our quality of life. Is Tampa Bay missing out on opportunities for better health, for safety, and for economic growth because of our car-dependent culture and community?
Nobody likes traffic. In other cities, there are transportation options. People have the freedom to take light rail, to walk, or to bike to their destination. When it’s safe and convenient to walk in your neighborhood, more patrons are outside shopping, eating, and visiting with each other.
America’s infrastructure is crumbling – a study by the Urban Land Institute identifies $2 trillion in necessary repairs. As we plan for the future, we should invest in alternative methods of transportation and design walkable, livable communities. Tampa Bay residents deserve to have a choice so they do not feel forced to spend hours in traffic or walk across dangerous roads.
As Congress debates the reauthorization of the transportation-funding bill over the next six months, I encourage you to write your U.S. Representative and express your support for complete streets, pedestrian safety and public transit options.
From The Streets is a series written by members of the community that looks at transportation in the Tampa Bay area. The writer, Melissa Baldwin, is the Florida organizer for the Florida Conservation Alliance, the state chapter of the League of Conservation Voters.