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HomeMy WebLinkAboutStreet Smarts - September City of Edina • 4801 W. 50th St. • Edina, MN 55424 Contact: Jennifer Bennerotte, Communications & Technology Services Director Phone 952-833-9520 • jbennerotte@EdinaMN.gov • www.EdinaMN.gov FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE ‘To the Left, To the Left:’ City Reminds Residents of Left-Hand Turn Safety Edina, Minn., Sept. 1, 2015 – The City of Edina reminds residents to look “To the Left, To the Left” on local streets. Recently, a shift has been occurring in the way the City of Edina’s residents, workers and visitors think about streets, the way they have been designed, and how (and by whom) they are used. The community has been moving toward becoming one that is more active and “livable,” with streets that are more “human-centered.” Living Streets are designed and engineered to be safe and convenient for everyone – not just drivers, but also bicyclists, transit riders, the disabled and pedestrians of all ages and abilities. Living Streets are designed to improve residents’ health and quality of life while enhancing a neighborhood’s social and economic vitality. To educate street users about safety, the Engineering and Police departments recently launched the “Edina Street Smarts” campaign. Each month of the spring, summer and fall, the departments will remind street users of ways to be safe and respectful of others. This month, the message is “To the Left, To the Left. Be aware when turning left.” Motorists are reminded to look for cyclists when making a left-hand turn. Cyclists who are crossing straight through the same intersection in the opposite direction may be going faster than you think. Like operators of all vehicles, bicyclists must obey right-of-way laws and be alert when proceeding through an intersection. Make eye contact, if possible, with oncoming motorists who may be turning left in front of you. “All vehicles – whether motorized or bicycles – must yield to oncoming through traffic when turning left,” said Transportation Planner Mark Nolan. “Bicyclists must take care in these situations because they are so much more vulnerable than cars and trucks; this is why making eye contact is so important.” For more information, visit www.EdinaMN.gov or contact the Police Department at 952-826-1610 or Engineering Department at 952-826-0371. -30-