GREEN BAY, WI (WTAQ-WLUK) -The Green Bay Police Department is joining in the effort to help pedestrians stay safe.
Officials say pedestrain and bicycle crashes can be prevented with the right training and enforcement, and is more than just looking both ways before crossing the street.
Green Bay Police Traffic Operations Lieutenant Brad Strouf says a recent grant will get the ball rolling.
“Ironically, how pedestrian and bicycle crashes happen, most of them, are very predictable and preventable,” explained Peter Flucke, President of WE BIKE, etc. LLC, an organization specializing in pedestrian and bicycle safety.
He also provides training for law enforcement agencies.
“They typically don’t get any training on this. Cops won’t enforce the laws they can’t defend,” Flucke said. “And they certainly can’t defend laws they don’t know, the training takes care of that.”
Flucke says the goal is provide officers with the tools needed to keep bicycles and pedestrians safe.
It’s a training, Green Bay Police Traffic Operations Lt. Brad Strouf says his department will soon take part in.
“If the officers feel comfortable that what they’re telling people is supported by Wisconsin state statue and Green Bay ordinance,” said Lt. Strouf. “They’re going to make those contacts more confidently.”
Along with learning more on pedestrian laws and regulations, the department also plans to have additional officers present at crosswalks.
“We’re going to be watching the crosswalks, we’re going to be taking enforcement action,” continued Strouf. “And at the same time educating drivers.”
Strouf says it is a part of a grant the department was recently awarded, “The grant itself came from the bureau of transportation safety. It provided us with money to put extra deploys for pedestrian and bike safety.”
The Green Bay Police Department is scheduled to host the training’s May 31st and June 1st.
