PARCS Department Receives Grant For Pedestrian and Bicycle Safety

The City of Fresno’s Parks, After School, Recreation and Community Services (PARCS) Department has been awarded a $120,000 grant from the California Office of Traffic Safety (OTS) for a year-long Pedestrian and Bicycle Safety Program that will include classroom training, community events, and presentations at City neighborhood and community centers and school sites.  Best safety practices will be shown to promote a reduction in fatalities and injuries in crashes involving pedestrians and bicycles.  The PARCS Department will use the funding as part of the city’s ongoing commitment to keep our children and families safe and improve the quality of life through the educational presentations.

“The safety of children and families are of utmost importance, and this grant promotes awareness, allowing participants to learn the rules of the road, and gain confidence,” noted Parvin Neloms, PARCS Director.

Particularly alarming for Fresno is the number of pedestrian and bicycle fatalities that happen every year, along with the growing dangers of distracting technologies.  The grant funding will provide opportunities to combat these concerns.

“Pedestrian and bicycle crashes are rising at an alarming rate,” said OTS Director Rhonda Craft.  “The City of Fresno PARCS Department, with assistance from the Office of Traffic Safety, will use these tools this grant provides to help increase the safety of Fresno residents.”

Activities that the grant will fund include:

• Educational presentations on bicycle and pedestrian safety
• Bicycle Rodeos and safety courses
• Special Events
• Community Outreach
• Distribution of bike helmets, headlights, and pedestrian safety equipment

Funding for this program is from the California Office of Traffic Safety through the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration.