Posted: April 13, 2008

My pedestrian safety bill (HB 89) is making progress in the Florida House. It has received the full support of the Committee on Infrastructure and the Economic Expansion and Infrastructure Council. Last month, it passed the senate unanimously. House Bill 89 addresses Florida’s growing pedestrian safety crisis by clarifying current crosswalk laws. We are consistently ranked among the most dangerous in the nation in pedestrian fatalities. According to the annual Mean Streets report, Florida cities (with Tampa Bay being the worst) make up three of the five most dangerous communities to walk in. Encouraging walking as an alternative mode of transportation also helps us to address much bigger concerns regarding the environment and personal health. Furthermore, with a large senior population, Florida should be a leader in making our streets safe to cross and therefore protecting our most vulnerable citizens.