City Receives Grant for Bicycle and Pedestrian Safety Education

Published on November 01, 2021

The Public Works Department of the City of Culver City has been awarded a $75,000 Grant from the Office of Traffic Safety (OTS) for Bicycle and Pedestrian Safety Education.

Traffic safety is a valued Culver City goal. The Public Works Department has just completed its first Local Road Safety Plan, which includes safety education. 

This grant will assist the City in developing and deploying a comprehensive traffic safety education program for community members of all ages and physical abilities. The program runs through September 2022.

“Our roads are increasingly riskier for people who walk or ride their bike,” OTS Director Barbara Rooney said. “The goal of this funding is to reverse the growing trend of bicyclist and pedestrian-involved crashes by educating the public on safe road behaviors.”  

Grant funds will pay for a comprehensive safety program that will teach valuable skills for all types of road users:

• Community bicycle and walk “audits” of streets with a high rate of pedestrian and/or bicycle fatalities and serious injury crashes.
• Walking Field Trips that educate youth on safe walking habits.
• Partnerships with health care providers and senior centers to promote pedestrian safety measures among seniors.
• Development of safety educational materials to be distributed during community and classroom presentations on best bicycling/walking practices.
• Pedestrian and Bicycle safety presentations that educate youth, and community members of all ages and physical abilities.
• Conduct community bike rides and bicycle rodeos, and incorporate bicycle safety skills.
• Participate in “Open Streets” events promoting alternate transportation options.
• Helmet fitting inspections and distribution of helmets and other pedestrian and bicyclist safety equipment to those in need.

Funding for this program was provided by a grant from the California Office of Traffic Safety through the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration.