Mayor Rich Walker
A Message from Mayor Rich Walker
As early as 5:00 a.m., runners and bikers assemble for Saturday morning and weekday runs and bike rides throughout the City of Parkland. This group of athletes and triathletes, who are all at different levels, assemble at the crack of dawn to train and practice physical fitness, challenge personal records, and support each other.
As runners and bikers, they often have a perspective of the road that is much different from that of motorists, and they see things others do not detect. Over the summer, I met with members of some of these athletic groups who shared their perspectives on road safety with me. I came away thinking of the bigger picture: As a community, we should be mindful of how motorists, bikers, runners, those who use wheelchairs, children walking to school, and more, can more effectively share our sidewalks and roads.
For the past couple of months, the City of Parkland and Parkland-BSO have focused on this bigger picture via social media messaging on sidewalk and road safety, beginning with our involvement in the national Walk Bike & Roll event on October 4. During the event, City of Parkland City Commissioners and staff greeted elementary students arriving at school and handed out toys and safety tips for children getting to school on foot, bikes, scooters, and more.
Throughout the month of October, the City also focused on heightening awareness of Florida’s bike safety laws. A number of TikTok challenges out there are causing serious safety issues for teens, especially. The BSO-Parkland District stressed the importance of bike and electric scooter safety education and the huge role parents play in the way their teenagers adhere to the laws.
This month, the City’s social media will highlight the importance of sharing the road—something that will benefit all groups, whether younger children, teens, adult running and biking groups, or motorists. I think it is important to remember that the bikers who get up at the crack of dawn and ride in the bike lanes are our neighbors or family members, and the teens and younger kids who ride scooters and bikes through the neighborhood are our children. We are all part of this community, and once we are able to see ourselves and our children as participants in each of these groups, we will truly be sharing the roads in the City of Parkland.
If you would like to share your thoughts on bike and pedestrian safety, or if you have questions or comments you would like to share, I would love to hear from you. I can be reached via e-mail at rwalker@cityofparkland.org or via cell phone at (973) 390-1453. Of course, I am frequently available monthly at Parkland businesses and love to talk with residents there. I encourage you to visit the City’s website cityofparkland.org, and click on the social media icon that you prefer, to ensure that you stay informed on events and helpful information.
Rich Walker
City of Parkland, Florida
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