Port St. Lucie is preparing, spreading the word, and helping to educate drivers and cyclists about safety throughout April—a perfect time for drivers and cyclists to ensure they respect each other while following the rules of the road.
Biking is an ideal way to exercise, enjoy the outdoors, and reduce car dependency in the city. However, bike safety has proven to be a national concern. The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration has noted that the number of cyclists killed in traffic accidents increased by more than 35 percent between 2010 and 2021.
The issue is serious in Florida, which is why the city of Port St. Lucie is encouraging cyclists and drivers to do their part to keep residents safe.
To emphasize the importance of bike safety citywide, Mayor Shannon Martin will declare April “PSL Bike Safety Month” on Monday, April 22. This follows Florida’s “Bike Safety Month” in March, leading into “National Bike Safety Month” in May.
To help spread the word about bike safety and address residents’ concerns, staff from the Port St. Lucie Department of Planning and Zoning, with support from the Police Department, Public Works, Parks and Recreation, as well as the Florida DOT (District 4) and the St. Lucie Transportation Planning Organization, have participated and will participate in several events throughout April, including:
Thursday, April 11: An educational “social ride with ice cream” in the afternoon at Lyngate (12 miles), hosted by Treasure Coast Cycle Werks.
Friday, April 19: PSL on the Mic podcast with bike safety tips.
Saturday, April 27: St. Lucie County Safety Festival http://slcsafetyfest.com/—The City of PSL will participate in the largest safety event in South Florida, the 10th annual St. Lucie County Safety Festival. The Police Department will host a bike rodeo, while the Planning and Zoning Department will provide educational materials, safety gear (bike lights and illuminated wristbands) for all ages, and an online quiz from the Florida Bicycle Association developed specifically for PSL.
According to the Florida Department of Transportation, there were 22,447 crashes involving cyclists and pedestrians in 2023. Of those, 995 were fatalities, and 2,285 resulted in serious injuries. The city of Port St. Lucie has seen a similar trend, with reported bike accidents rising from 28 in 2022 to 56 in 2023.
From September 2023 through May 2024, the Port St. Lucie Department has been participating in the FDOT’s High Visibility Enforcement program to educate motorists, cyclists, and pedestrians about Florida traffic laws to improve safety on local roads. This included deploying additional officers to patrol specific corridors with a high incidence of cyclist and pedestrian crashes.
The NHTSA suggests the following safety tips for cyclists:
Obey all traffic laws and signals, including riding in the direction of traffic.
Ride predictably and avoid weaving in and out of traffic.
Be visible by wearing bright clothing and using front and rear lights.
Use hand signals to indicate turns.
Carry a bell on your bike to ring quickly and easily.
Ride defensively and anticipate others’ actions.
Wear a properly fitted helmet every time you ride.
Drivers can also do their part to ensure cyclist safety.
Watch for cyclists, checking both ways at intersections.
Share the road, leave enough space when passing, and yield to cyclists with the right of way.
Avoid distractions while driving.
Avoid blocking crosswalks and stopping in the stop bar area.
Be patient and allow extra time to stop when approaching cyclists.
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