Grant to Keep Pedestrians, Bicyclists and Drivers 'Mindful of One Another'

The Reading Police Department recently was awarded a grant that is geared towards making the roads in town safer for pedestrians and bicyclists.

According to a press release, the town was awarded a $3,000 grant by the Executive Office of Public Safety and Security. That money was provided out of a larger sum of $192,000 from the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration.

Reading was one of 48 police departments to receive the grant. According to police, from 2006-2011,  there have been 1,544 pedestrians injured in crashes, 375 of which were killed. In the same time frame, police added that 586 bicyclists were injured in crashes and 45 were killed.

Money from the grant will go to target police equipment such as decoy patrols, breakaway signs and crosswalk reflective tape. According to the press release, a variety of techniques will be used to analyze and crack down on not just drivers, but also pedestrians and cyclists who do not share the road appropriately.


“Bicyclists and pedestrians are particularly vulnerable road users because they may not be immediately visible to drivers and unlike those in vehicles, nothing protects them from impact,” said Chief James Cormier in the press release. “All users need to learn to share the road safely and be mindful of one another and the law. We’ll use the grant for education, enforcement and outreach we believe will help protect our pedestrians and cyclists from injuries and fatalities.”