Police describe Nov. 28 pedestrian strike; Bethany Beach subcommittee maps enforcement, crosswalk and outreach steps

At the Bicycle & Pedestrian Subcommittee’s first meeting of 2026, Police Chief T. Foley described a Black Friday (Nov. 28) collision in which an older man walking legally in a crosswalk in front of DeFios was struck by an SUV. Foley said town video and a witness showed the driver did not stop; officers later arrested the driver on DUI and first‑degree vehicular assault charges.

"There was a vehicle legally traveling westbound on State Route 26 ... did not slow down, did not break for two active pedestrians," Chief Foley told the committee, recounting the department's review. Foley said a witness followed the driver and the Bethany Beach Police Department responded quickly. He described enforcement and community outreach as parallel parts of the response.

The collision prompted a wider discussion of visibility and safety at town crossings. Committee members and bus drivers noted restaurant employees who wear dark clothing at night and J1 seasonal workers can be hard for drivers to see. "It's on you to make the effort to make sure that you're safe," Foley said, urging pedestrians and cyclists to act defensively while the town pursues engineering and enforcement solutions.

Committee members reviewed recent and planned infrastructure work aimed at reducing risky crossings: a completed sidewalk running from the northwest corner of Garfield Parkway and Coastal Highway through Gibson that will link to a new active ("piano keys") crosswalk; planned improvements to a four‑way intersection, raised mid‑block refuges for two new Garfield crosswalks, and a targeted pedestrian walkway at Kent and Garfield being developed with DelDOT and town engineers. Members said the goal is to have key crosswalk and sidewalk work completed ahead of the summer season.

Julie, reporting on outreach, said post‑season survey results showed most bandstand visitors arrive by car ("75% are by car") and that awareness of the Wave safety initiative is growing (61% of respondents said they were aware). The committee discussed Wave 3.0 tactics — short videos, trolley ride‑alongs, concert announcements, staffed crosswalk presence with positive reinforcement signs, handouts listing bike‑checkpoint dates, and business outreach encouraging reflective clothing for employees — aimed at reinforcing safer behavior among drivers, pedestrians and seasonal workers.

Mike of the ABC bike ministry offered continuing support: "We will participate in the bicycle safety checks," he said, and volunteered materials and volunteers used successfully in prior summers.

The subcommittee agreed to continue refining plans this winter and to promote a March learning‑and‑sharing event meant to bring representatives from neighboring communities and state agencies together for short, focused presentations and tabled conversations with DelDOT and DNREC representatives. Members also discussed creating a near‑miss reporting channel and using the town's existing administrative email to capture community safety reports.

Procedural notes: the committee approved the modified agenda and accepted the Oct. 23 meeting notes (written comments from Bill and Anne will be attached to the record), then adjourned with a unanimous vote.

The subcommittee will flesh out Wave outreach materials, seek coordinated timing with DelDOT for engineering work, and circulate details and invitations for the March event as the committee refines the agenda.