Pedestrian, bike safety enforcement

The City of Bradenton ranks in the top 10 Group II cities in accidents related to categories tracked by the Florida Department of Transportation, such as impaired driving, distracted driving, and aggressive driving. Additionally, Bradenton ranks high in accidents related to pedestrians and bicyclists.

Since the fall of 2021, Bradenton Police officers have been working in the targeted areas to educate all road users on pedestrian and bicycle safety. Since the goal of the contract has been to educate road users on safe behavior, supplied educational booklets have been given out to people who were either stopped for infractions or contacted the officers in another way.

Officers will continue to work on the target areas until the end of the contract period on May 13, 2022. The locations that have been selected for enforcement are: 8th Ave W between 12th St W and 14th St W, 14th St W between 9th Ave and 21st Ave W, 1st St W, between 9th Ave and 17th Ave W, and Manatee Ave W between 49th St and 59th St W. These locations were chosen for their volume of pedestrian traffic and the number of accidents involving both vehicles and pedestrians or bicyclists.

By working with the community through education, we hope to see a decrease in crashes, injuries, and fatalities.

If you would like to receive further information about this program, please contact Lieutenant Phillip E. Waller at 941-932-9300 or phil.waller@bradentonpd.com.

Please remember these safety tips:

*Drivers - obey speed limits, never drive impaired, and always watch for pedestrians and bicyclists.

*Bicyclists - obey traffic laws, ride in the direction of traffic, and use lights when riding at night

*Pedestrians - cross in crosswalks or at intersections, obey pedestrian signals, and make sure you are visible to drivers when walking at night.