City of Lancaster to Host Community Pedestrian and Bicycle Safety Event

In honor of Pedestrian Safety Month, the City of Lancaster will join the California Office of Traffic Safety (OTS), UC Berkeley SafeTREC, and California Walks to engage residents through a community Pedestrian and Bicycle Safety Training (CPBST) on Thursday, September 26. As California and the rest of the country grapples with how to address the rising number of pedestrian injuries and fatalities – Lancaster seeks to create a safer and more pedestrian and cyclist-friendly city. Through research conducted as part of the See and Be Seen campaign, the City of Lancaster has identified that 60% of all pedestrian and bicycle injury collisions inside city limits between 2013 and 2017 occurred within a 3-mile radius of Monte Vista Elementary. Therefore, the CPBST will be focused on this community and include the following three components: Part 1 4-5 p.m. Walking/Biking Assessments Participants take part in a walking/biking assessment of nearby streets. Part 2 5-6 p.m. 6 E's Educational Activity Participants then take part in an activity to discuss the 6 E's and how they relate to observations made during the walking/biking assessments. Part 3 6-7 p.m. Table Talks Activity In smaller groups, participants reconvene to plan for infrastructure projects, community programs, and actionable next steps for their community. This joint event will take place from 4 p.m. to 7 p.m. at the American Heroes Park Community Building (642 West Jackman), and will include training and skill-building in pedestrian and bicycle safety, as well as opportunities for collaboration among community members and local officials. In an effort to create an inclusive learning environment for all residents, the training will include English to Spanish interpretation, food and refreshments, and childcare. This event will conclude the City’s See and Be Seen signal cabinet wrap grant project with the California OTS, which designed 35 wraps throughout the City to educate the community about traffic rules, as well as the rights and responsibilities of pedestrians and bicyclists. For more information about the See and Be Seen campaign, and to RSVP, visit www.cityoflancasterca.org/SeeAndBeSeen or call (661) 723-6047. Funding for this bicycle and pedestrian safety education program was provided by a grant from the California Office of Traffic Safety through the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration. To learn more about safe ways to get around, visit gosafelyca.org.