Crsswalk event verview (Saint Paul) A crsswalk event ccurs when an individual r grup f individuals prmte pedestrian safety by demnstrating the prper use f a crsswalk. During the event, a grup f cmmunity members legally crss in a predetermined crsswalk fllwing the Crsswalk Law. While crssing, tw individuals carry a banner displaying pedestrian safety messages prvided by Share the Rad. This will be visible t pedestrians and mtrists as the banner travels thrugh the intersectin in the crsswalks, prmting pedestrian safety t drivers and passersby. Other individuals can prmte pedestrian safety by fllwing the banner thrugh the crsswalk and passing ut pedestrian safety materials t pedestrians. Hw t rganize a crsswalk event 1. Chse a date, time and lcatin Lcatin Cnsider areas in yur cmmunity t fcus attentin n pedestrian safety. Example lcatins include: busy intersectins with high traffic vlumes intersectins where high prfile crashes have ccurred utside majr venues (e.g. cncert/sprts facilities) near cllege campuses r schls near nursing hmes Time The time f day affects the type f peple wh will see yur event. Cnsider: during mrning r evening cmmute hurs after a cncert/sprting event after schl Events can be as lng r as brief as yu like. One t three hurs is an apprpriate duratin. Date Octber is typically the deadliest mnth fr pedestrians. Internatinal Walk t Schl Day is in Octber. View mre details at www.walkbiketschl.rg. Fall events can raise awareness f these tpics, but pedestrian safety can be prmted year-rund. Hlidays ften bring increased pedestrian traffic in shpping areas. 1
2. Recruit vlunteers, invite fficials, and ntify law enfrcement Yu need at least fur vlunteers t be present thrughut yur crsswalk event. In additin, invite ther lcal dignitaries wh culd attract attentin t yur event: the mayr, lcal safety fficer, city cuncil member, news persnality, schl bard chair, etc. Ntify yur lcal plice jurisdictin in advance with event details. This is als a gd pprtunity t invite participatin frm lcal law enfrcement fficials. The presence f unifrmed fficers generally increases public perceptin f the event s imprtance t safety and it is a great partnership pprtunity between law enfrcement and the cmmunity. Send reminders t all participants and vlunteers a few days befre including instructins, meeting destinatin, time and date. Share event talking pints (see page 5 fr sample). 3. Spread the wrd Cntact lcal rganizatins and grups, business rganizatins, libraries, and schls t participate and help prmte yur crsswalk event. Send annuncements t lcal newspaper, televisin, and radi statins. Prvide the date, time and lcatin f yur walk. Include yur cntact infrmatin. A sample press release is available at www.sharetheradmn.rg. Ask lcal cffee shps, cmmunity centers, schls, restaurants and bars t display Share the Rad psters available at www.sharetheradmn.rg. Cnsider using scial media t publicize yur event. Many neighbrhds have active Facebk grups where yu can pst event details and slicit vlunteers. Anther ptin is t create yur wn Facebk grup t prmte pedestrian safety. Frm here yu can invite peple t events and share phts. Cnsider psting the event details in advance at all crners f the intersectin. Many pedestrians use the same rute regularly and they may be interested in supprting yur event. Encurage participants t dress fr the weather and cnsider light-clred clthing t imprve visibility. 4. Order and print materials The fllwing materials are available t supprt yur event n www.sharetheradmn.rg under the Campaign Materials and Resurces tab: Material Pedestrian safety banner Descriptin f material Order ne f MnDOT s banners t brrw. Visual f material 2
Pedestrian safety pcket card Order a supply f these dubled-sided 2 x 3 cards frm MnDOT t pass ut t pedestrians. Pedestrian safety fact sheet Dwnlad and print as many 8.5 x 11 cpies as yu need. T-shirt artwrk Dwnlad the artwrk and rder yur wn t-shirts t wear during yur event. Pedestrian safety psters Dwnlad and print as many as yu need. These can be psted at businesses near yur crsswalk event. The fllwing materials are available t supprt yur event in Saint Paul n www.smart-trips.rg/fradvcates/abut-st-paul-walks: 3
Material Car magnet Pledge sheet Descriptin f material Car magnets t prvide t thse wh take the pedestrian pledge (cntact emma@smart-trips.rg r visit 55 E 5th St Suite 202, St. Paul, MN) Print cpies f the pledge t be cmpleted by vlunteers at yur event. Visual f material 5. Additinal Materials: Certain materials can help increase the success f yur event if yu have access t them: A flding table is helpful fr rganizing and displaying materials. Clear tape t secure print materials t the table. Water fr participants. Additinal signage can increase the visibility f yur event. Picket-style signs are easy and inexpensive t make. Anther alternative is handheld pster bards. 6. During yur crsswalk event Arrive 15-20 minutes early t yur intersectin. Allw peple t arrive and grup tgether safely n the sidewalk at the determined crsswalk lcatin. Review all ntes belw befre asking vlunteers t enter the radway. Review the Crsswalk Law with vlunteers. Safety is key! N vlunteer shuld ever enter the radway in a manner that is illegal r unsafe. Any materials shuld be distributed nly t pedestrians; d NOT apprach mtrists inside vehicles. Review talking pints (see page 5 fr sample). Highlight general campaign infrmatin and pedestrian safety tips that can be shared with passersby. Prvide instructins fr carrying the banner r ther signs. Emphasize that the pint is t be visible and legal; nt t cause traffic disruptins. 4
Vlunteers shuld stay back frm the intersectin until they plan t crss. When ready t crss, use bdy language t make it clear that yu intend t crss (a gd way t d this is by standing with ne ft ff the curb and directly facing the ppsite side). If a mtrists d nt stp after time is prvided fr them t safely yield, yu may imprve their cmpliance by hlding ut a hand in a "stp" gesture. All crssing event vlunteers must fllw MN Crsswalk Law at all times. Key pints f the law include: Drivers must stp fr crssing pedestrians at marked crsswalks and at all intersectins withut lines, signs, r stp lights. Pedestrians must bey traffic signs and signals at all intersectins that have them. Vehicles stpped fr pedestrians can prceed nce the pedestrian has cmpletely crssed the lane in frnt f the stpped vehicle. Pedestrians must nt enter a crsswalk if a vehicle is appraching and it is impssible fr the driver t yield. There is n defined distance that a pedestrian must abide by befre entering the crsswalk; use cmmn sense. Fr cmparisn, cnsider yur arrival at the crsswalk t be a yellw light fr mtrists. When a vehicle is stpped at an intersectin t allw pedestrians t crss the radway, drivers f ther vehicles appraching frm the rear must nt pass the stpped vehicle. Nte: Share the Rad teaches cmmn sense behavirs and encurages drivers t lk fr pedestrians in the crsswalk, stp fr pedestrians in the crsswalk, and stp fr pedestrians demnstrating the intent t crss. By law, individuals can nly expect drivers t stp when they are within a crsswalk. T start, gather in a grup, with tw peple hlding the banner at the frnt f the grup. Use and bey all traffic signals while crssing each intersectin and crsswalk. Encurage grups t mve the banner thrugh all fur crners f the intersectin thrughut the duratin f the event. If it lks like traffic is becming backed up, encurage vlunteers t take breaks frm crssing and engage with pedestrians arund them. Vlunteers that are nt crssing thrugh the intersectin shuld distribute Share the Rad materials t passing pedestrians. 7. Recrd the psitive effect f yur event Take phts and vides during yur event. Use scial media t distribute these during and after yur event. 8. After the event Return yur banner in gd cnditin t MnDOT. Cntinue t track media cverage in relatin t yur event. Thank yur vlunteers! 5
Sample talking pints General Pedestrians and mtrists are equally respnsible fr pedestrian safety. We ALL must take respnsibility t fllw the law, pay attentin and share the rad. EVERY intersectin is a crsswalk, whether r nt it has lines, signs r stp lights. Traffic fatalities have been steadily decreasing ver the past several years, but the number f pedestrian fatalities remains at abut 40 per year. Pedestrian safety is an imprtant area t fcus n because pedestrians are mre vulnerable than mtrists wh are prtected by the vehicle, seatbelts and airbags during a crash. This campaign relies n cmmunity rganizatins, schls, public fficials and thers t spread the wrd acrss the state. All pedestrian safety materials and infrmatin are available at www.sharetheradmn.rg. Safety Tips Mtrists Stp fr pedestrians at crsswalks EVERY crner is a crsswalk Watch fr pedestrians at all times Scan the rad and sides f the rad ahead fr pedestrians Befre turning right r left, lk in all directins fr pedestrians crssing Avid distracted and aggressive driving Put away cell phnes, fd and make-up When pedestrians are crssing mid-blck r in the wrng, stp fr them t avid a crash. Never pass r drive arund a vehicle that is stpped fr pedestrians Pedestrians Lk befre yu crss Make eye cntact with the drivers and ensure they see yu and will stp Watch fr turning and passing vehicles Make yurself visible t drivers Stand clear f buses, hedges, parked cars and ther bstacles befre crssing 6
Crss in well-lit areas at night and wear bright-clred r reflective clthing Avid dangerus and distracted behavirs Dn t crss mid-blck Remve headphnes and stay ff cell phnes while crssing If intxicated, dn t walk withut assistance a cab ride hme may be a safer ptin Crsswalk law highlights Drivers must stp fr crssing pedestrians at marked crsswalks and at all intersectins withut lines, signs, r stp lights. Pedestrians must bey traffic signs and signals at all intersectins that have them. Vehicles stpped fr pedestrians can prceed nce the pedestrian has cmpletely crssed the lane in frnt f the stpped vehicle. Pedestrians must nt enter a crsswalk if a vehicle is appraching and it is impssible fr the driver t stp. There is n defined distance that a pedestrian must abide by befre entering the crsswalk; use cmmn sense. When a vehicle is stpped at an intersectin t allw pedestrians t crss the radway, drivers f ther vehicles appraching frm the rear must nt pass the stpped vehicle. Nte: Share the Rad teaches cmmn sense behavirs and encurages drivers t lk fr pedestrians in the crsswalk, stp fr pedestrians in the crsswalk, and stp fr pedestrians demnstrating the intent t crss. By law, pedestrians can nly expect drivers t stp when they are within a crsswalk. Crash Facts Mtrist behavirs cause abut half f all pedestrian-vehicle crashes and pedestrian behavirs cause the ther half. Pedestrian-vehicle crash rates are highest during mrning and evening rush hurs. The number f severe crashes spikes at 2 a.m. The majrity f pedestrian fatalities n Minnesta rads are males. We see a spike between the ages f 20-24, but fatalities happen t all ages. The majrity f crashes ccur at intersectins. Of these, the majrity are at signalized intersectins. One-thrid f all mtr vehicles invlved in pedestrian crashes were making a left r right turn. The majrity f crashes ccur n lw-speed radways (35 mph r less) and in urbanized areas, particularly Hennepin and Ramsey cunties. The mst severe and fatal crashes disprprtinately ccur in rural areas cmpared t ppulatin size. Mtrist behavirs that primarily cause pedestrian-vehicle crashes include failure t yield, inattentin and distractin. 7
Pedestrian behavirs that primarily cause pedestrian-vehicle crashes include inattentin, crssing mid-blck, walking alng the radway and ignring sign r signals. 8