Be Safe, Be Seen
Key to being safe while walking, biking, or behind the wheel of a car is being seen. Being seen is especially important during Seattle’s dark months. Look both ways before crossing is always a good start, but these days you also need to put the phone away, take the ear buds off, look over your shoulder for bikes passing and remember to ring your bell or communicate when passing people walking.
Check out be seen tips from Pedestrian Safety in Washington State
Here is a starting list for being seen:
- Stay out of the driver’s blind spot
- Make eye contact with drivers when crossing busy streets
- Wear bright colors or reflective clothing if you are walking near traffic at night
- Carry a flashlight when walking in the dark
- Do not let kids play near traffic or cross the street by themselves
- Make sure you keep your pets close, better get reflective gear for them too when you are out walking them. Sometimes it’s difficult for people on bikes to see them.
- In bad weather, take care that your umbrella or raincoat does not prevent approaching vehicles from seeing you
Tools for Safer Streets
- Seattle City Light operates 84,000 streetlights to help drivers and pedestrians stay safe at night. Report problems and outages online or call 206-684-7056.
- Seattle Public Schools updates Walk Zone Maps for every public school every year.
- Damaged Street Signs, Sidewalks, Traffic Signals? Report them online or call 206-684-ROAD (7623).
- Got Potholes? Report them online or call 206-684-ROAD (7623).
- For Street Maintenance Emergencies at All Hours of the Day call 206-386-1218
- Find It, Fix It, Service Request Mobile App “Find It, Fix It” is a smartphone app offering mobile users one more way to report selected issues to the City of Seattle. With Find It, Fix It, reporting an issue is as easy as snapping a photo with your smartphone, adding detailed information, and hitting submit. The map’s “drag and drop” feature or the phone’s own technology can be used to pinpoint the location.
Neighborhood Resources
Vision Zero asks: what would be an acceptable number of traffic deaths for my family? The answer is zero. You wouldn’t even think twice about it. Now take that to the next level – what’s an acceptable number for your neighborhood? For our city? That is Vision Zero in a nutshell. Vision Zero has helpful resources you can order for your neighborhood like yard signs reminding people to slow down. Visit here for more information.
Your Voice Your Choice: Parks & Streets is a participatory budgeting initiative in which Seattle residents democratically decide how to spend a portion of the City’s budget on small-scale park and street improvements. Residents can participate in the district where they live, work, go to school, receive services, or volunteer.