Gainesville police to increase presence around heavy-bicyclist, pedestrian areas

Nora O'Neill
·2 min read

Gainesville residents should think twice before they try to roll through a stop sign in the coming months, as an increased police presence may mean a higher chance of getting a traffic ticket.

Gainesville Police Department announced Friday it will have additional officers on patrol near sites with heavy pedestrian and bicyclist crashes as part of a Florida Department of Transportation High Visibility Enforcement Program.

The move comes just a couple of weeks after Gainesville and Alachua County commissioners vowed to fund a public education campaign promoting traffic safety in the county. Officials defined the uptick in pedestrian and bicyclist deaths from moving vehicles as a local "crisis."

“Whether you are on foot, behind the wheel, or on a bike, you have a responsibility to share the road safely,” said Sgt. Valdes of the GPD Traffic Unit in a news release. “Understanding the rules of the road helps ensure we all arrive at our destination safely and makes our streets safer for everyone.”

Bicyclists cross Williston Road at the dangerous Hawthorne Trail crossing in Gainesville on Jan. 16. Several accidents have occurred at this crossing, including a woman who was seriously injured while jogging last month.
Bicyclists cross Williston Road at the dangerous Hawthorne Trail crossing in Gainesville on Jan. 16. Several accidents have occurred at this crossing, including a woman who was seriously injured while jogging last month.

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The program will run through May and is focused on increasing awareness about the frequent injuries on roads in Alachua County, according to the release.

Officers will issue warnings and citations for reasons such as speeding, failing to stop for pedestrians, phone usage while driving and more. GPD will receive increased funding to account for overtime hours for officers involved in the High Visibility Enforcement Program which will include special training.

Data shows the trend of pedestrian and bicyclist traffic deaths in Gainesville are increasing.

In 2022, 11 pedestrians and cyclists were killed by vehicles compared to one in 2013. So far in 2013, there have already been at least three pedestrian deaths, including a 75-year-old woman in northwest Gainesville. In January, a woman was arrested for a hit-and-run crash that killed a man in November along South Main Street.

Earlier this week, the city also received $8 million in funding from the U.S. Department of Transportation to redesign University Avenue amid concerns about pedestrian and bicyclist safety.

This article originally appeared on The Gainesville Sun: Gainesville police launch program to protect pedestrians, bicyclists