JACKSONVILLE, Fla. — The League of American Bicyclists says Jacksonville ranks 3rd in the nation among major cities for deadly bike crashes. This news surfaced just as the nation celebrates National Bike to Work Week. Here in Jacksonville, today is Bike to Work day.
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The city and Florida Department of Transportation want to keep all cyclists safe.
Jax has averaged 7.9 fatal bicycle crashes per million residents between 2017 to 2021. That’s an increase of 25% from 2012 to 2016.
Gidget Bennett is one of many bicyclists around Jax participating in today’s bike to workday – The city and Florida Department of Transportation gave riders like Gidget free helmets to help as a safety measure.
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“My love for bikes comes from the form of exercise, I’m all about trying to stay fit,” Bennett said.
For bike to workday Bennett pedaled across the new Fuller Warren bicycle and pedestrian bridge. It was built and recently opened to give San Marco and Riverside residents a safer way to cross over the St. Johns River. Now they don’t have to use pedestrian paths on the Acosta and Main Street bridges.
“Cars don’t often understand the rules that cyclist have because we do have laws and are allowed to be on the road just like they are,” Bennett said.
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According to the Florida Highway Safety and Motor Vehicles there are 116 bicycle crashes in Duval county this year. For the Northeast Florida region as a whole, there have been a 193 bicycle crashes, 184 resulted in injuries and 4 were fatal so far this year.
“When you see signs that say bike lanes be fearful and aware of cyclist on the road. Share the road,” Bennett said.
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Action News Jax reached out to Mayor elect Donna Deegan inquiring about what her administration’s plans were to help decrease the number of bicycle crashes and fatalities in Jacksonville.
Here is her statement:
“It is unacceptable that Jacksonville is one of the most dangerous cities in America for pedestrians. My administration will focus on making critical infrastructure investments that intentionally create more walkable and bikeable areas while improving the connectedness of our city. The Emerald Trail is an important start, and we’ll look at more dedicated bike plans, sidewalks, and protected pathways. We will also ensure that crosswalks, countdown timers, road diets, and reconfigured traffic lanes improve safety at intersections. All in all, we need to rethink pedestrian safety and that is exactly what we’ll do.”
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