Bike Walk Central Florida asks Deltona to join Best Foot Forward pedestrian-safety program

Emily Bush, executive director of Bike Walk Central Florida, presented the Best Foot Forward pedestrian-safety program and asked the Deltona commission to consider participation and program funding. Her presentation described a three-part approach of enforcement, education and targeted low-cost engineering that program evaluations have shown can increase driver yield rates at crosswalks and reduce serious pedestrian injuries.

Bush described how the nonprofit partners with local law enforcement, public works and health agencies to collect baseline yield-rate data at crosswalks, run high-visibility enforcement and pursue low-cost engineering changes such as gateway signage, stop bars and leading pedestrian intervals. She said the program has expanded to nine counties and more than 30 law-enforcement partners, and that Deltona had not participated in the program in the previous two years.

Commissioners asked questions about how the city could participate and whether the commission should bring the item forward for formal discussion and potential funding. Multiple commissioners requested the item be placed on a future agenda for a full discussion; the commission agreed to return the presentation as an agenda item for consideration.

Why it matters: Pedestrian safety is a local transportation and public-health issue; staff said the program provides data and low-cost options that can be prioritized by the city. The program's combination of enforcement, targeted engineering and public education aims to change driver behavior at marked crosswalks.

Next steps: Staff will place the Bike Walk Central Florida presentation on a future commission agenda for formal discussion about Deltona's participation and potential funding or pilot locations.