Groups Start 2021 with their Best Foot Forward

Best Foot Forward (BFF) rolled into 2021 with virtual and socially-distanced, in-person pedestrian and bicycling safety education. Central Floridians – including school bus drivers, Rotarians, business leaders and trail enthusiasts – learned a bit more about how they can do their part to keep our roadways safe for all users. Here’s a glance a some BFF Community Outreach so far this year.

Seminole County Public School Bus Drivers Refresh Safety Knowledge

Seminole County Public School bus drivers started the year with a refresher on keeping children and community members who walk to and around their buses safe. BFF shared a pedestrian safety information presentation with 376 bus drivers on January 5 as students returned to school for the year. SCPS safety manager Bryant Rivera reported that the virtual presentation was well-received by all.

The presentation also coincided with the State of Florida H.B. 37, also known as the School Bus Safety Act, taking effect. Drivers who who illegally pass a school bus could receive a fine for as much as $400. Florida increased the fines on January 1, 2021, for failure to stop for a school bus. Click here to read more on the new law that doubled fines and suspensions.

---

Goldsboro Trail Clean-up, Ribbon Cutting with Health & Safety Information

On Sunday, January 24, the Friends of the Florida Department of Health in Seminole County held their first cleanup on the Goldsboro Trail located in the downtown area of the Historic Goldsboro.  The cleanup was part of the City of Sanford’s Adopt-A-Park Program. The 1.2 mile Goldsboro Trail runs north from Country Club Circle and Oleander Avenue to the Coastline Park trail head located at 900 W. 9th Street. Best Foot Forward was there to share bicycling and pedestrian safety information.

There was a great turnout with the group collecting nearly twenty bags of trash. Also included were:

• Free bicycle helmet fittings (21 patrons fitted)
• Health information/screenings from the Florida Department of Health in Seminole County
• Informational handouts and bike safety gadgets from Florida Department of Transportation’s reThink Your Commute and Best Foot Forward
• HOPR bicycle share rentals.

Mark your calendars for these upcoming feel-good events. Next clean-ups scheduled:

• Sunday, April 25, 2021 from 1-3pm
• Sunday, July 25, 2021 from 1-3pm
• Sunday, October 24, 2021 from 1-3pm

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

---

Rotarians in Osceola County Welcome BFF Virtually and Provide Valuable Insights

Rotary Club members across Central Florida welcomed Best Foot Forward to present about Florida’s driver yield law and pedestrian safety via their virtual meeting platforms. The Kissimmee Bay Rotary and the Rotary Club of Poinciana each logged on for Roni Wood’s BFF presentation during their January meetings.

The Rotarians even provided some valuable feedback about crossings near their communities. One crosswalk in particular at Cypress Parkway & Cypress Branch needed some TLC. BFF staff shared the request with our partners at Osceola County who took some low-cost steps to improve driver visibility of pedestrians crossing there.  It’s all part of being out in the community, whether virtually or physically, and hearing first-hand from residents how we can work collaboratively to make Florida roadways safer for all users.

 

---

South Orlando Business Exchange Learn about PHBs and More

Best Foot Forward’s Roni Wood met with seven members of the South Orlando Business Exchange Meeting in Edgewood. The group discussed pedestrian safety information, and in particular the new pedestrian hybrid beacons (PHBs) recently installed along Orange Blossom Trail. Roni explained that if we can get drivers to stop for people crossing in these crosswalks, then more pedestrians will safely use them. The members agreed to help share the message. See “Educating Drivers and Walkers on New Pedestrian Hybrid Beacons” for more info on the new PHBs and how to use them.