The City of Fredericksburg, in partnership with the Pathways Committee, is launching a new pedestrian visibility initiative aimed at improving safety at select crosswalks throughout the community.
According to a news release, the See Me Flag pilot program introduces bright handheld visibility flags at designated crosswalks and trail crossings that lack signals. Pedestrians can carry a fluorescent flag while crossing the street to help increase their visibility to approaching drivers.
The pilot program will run for 12 months and is intended to support pedestrian awareness and encourage safer interactions between drivers and pedestrians.
“The See Me Flag program is a simple and low-cost way to help improve pedestrian visibility while encouraging shared responsibility on our roadways,” Jenny Casarotti, director of parks, recreation and events, stated in the release. “This pilot will allow us to evaluate how the program works within our community and gather feedback from residents and trail users.”
The flags are made from bright fluorescent and reflective materials and are designed to be easy to use for pedestrians of all ages and abilities. The initiative complements existing pedestrian safety practices and traffic control measures.
Flag stations will be installed at the following locations: Princess Anne Street and Canal Path Crossing; Caroline Street/Germania Street and Heritage Trail Crossing; Caroline Street/Forbes Street and Heritage Trail Crossing; Fall Hill Avenue and Canal Path Crossing; Washington Avenue and Canal Path Crossing
Pedestrians are encouraged to grab a flag before crossing, carry the flag while crossing the street and then return the flag to the station for the next user.
During the pilot period, the city will monitor general usage of the flags, driver yielding behavior, community feedback and maintenance and durability of the stations.
Feedback gathered throughout the pilot will help guide future discussions regarding pedestrian safety initiatives and the long-term effectiveness of the program.
Additional information about the See Me Flag initiative can be found here.
