St. Paul Launches Campaign To Keep Cyclists, Pedestrians Safe

ST. PAUL, Minn. (WCCO) – The city of St. Paul is launching a big campaign to help keep pedestrians and cyclists safe on the roads.

The push for the campaign comes after another pedestrian was killed this week.

On Tuesday, a 24-year old Crystal woman was killed and her mother was injured after they were hit by an SUV while walking in a crosswalk. The driver of that SUV did stop and was cooperating police.

St. Paul police said this continues a gruesome trend in the city, and they want to put a stop to it.

Police said so far in 2016 there have been 38 incidents where a driver has collided with either a pedestrian or a cyclist. That's why they have launched the "Stop For Me" campaign across the city.

Thursday was the first of several events the department has planned where police and volunteers will be out in different intersections with highly visible clothing and signs.

They said the effort is unique because they are educating both drivers and pedestrians, and making sure they are both looking out for each other.

Police said every year, at least 150 people are hit by drivers in St. Paul alone.

"The number of crashes we are seeing is, on average, there is one crash every other day where a pedestrian is getting hit, or a bicyclist is getting hit in St. Paul. So, it's a huge issue. It has a huge impact on our community. The people that are getting hit by cars, it has a life-long impact on them," officer Jeremy Ellison said.

Last year, six people died after being hit by a vehicle in St. Paul.

Statewide, nearly 950 people were hit by a vehicle. Of those 950, 40 of them died and six were in St. Paul.

When you consider St. Paul, police said one person is hit at least every other day. That makes up a lot of those crashes.

Police said if they catch drivers failing to stop for pedestrians in crosswalks they will ticket them.