CONTACT: Vickie Pleus, APR
Community Information Manager
(386) 822-5062 ext. 2689
vpleus@co.volusia.fl.us

The Volusia County Council will show their commitment to bicycle and pedestrian safety on Volusia County’s roadways Thursday, June 19, during the County Council meeting lunch break. County Council members will announce the rollout of a new decal developed in part by the Volusia County Metropolitan Planning Organization’s (MPO) Bicycle and Pedestrian Advisory Committee that reminds riders and drivers of safe practices in sharing roadways. The decals will be placed on Votran buses and the county’s fleet of road vehicles.

The decal promotes Florida Statute 316.083 (1) – a 2007 statute that states the driver of a vehicle passing a bicycle or other nonmotorized vehicle must pass the bicycle or other nonmotorized vehicle at a safe distance. This safe distance is measured as no less than three feet between the vehicle and the bicycle or other nonmotorized vehicle.

“The MPO’s Bicycle and Pedestrian Advisory Committee is very safety conscious when it comes to issues involving bicyclists and pedestrians,” said Carl Welzenbach, MPO executive director. “We always are looking for ways to ensure rider and motorist safety. These decals are another way to do that.”

The campaign and its decals are targeted largely toward motorists on the state’s roadways, but bicyclists also are spreading the word about safe riding through cycling groups and bike shops.

“I’m proud that the county will be a leader in sending this message of safety on our roads by putting these decals on our vehicles and buses,” said Jack Hayman, MPO board chair and Volusia County Council district 3 representative. “This campaign is about awareness in what it takes to be safe on the roads – as a motorist, bicyclist or pedestrian. The county is doing its part in spreading that message.”

The public information efforts are being led by the Volusia County MPO, a policy-making board comprised of representatives from local government and transportation authorities that review transportation issues. Decals are available to citizens. For more information, please contact Stephan C. Harris, bicycle and pedestrian coordinator, at (386) 226-0422 ext. 34 or scharris@co.volusia.fl.us.