USF Bulls Walk and Bike Week Returns

University of South Florida students plan to do their part to raise awareness about biking and walking safety during the annual USF Bulls Walk and Bike Week.

Returning to the Tampa campus Sept. 2-5, the third annual campaign is supported by the Florida Department of Transportation as a way to remind others to “walk wise, bike smart, and drive carefully,” according to an email from Kelly Douglass of the USF Center for Urban Transportation Research.

The campaign kicks off with an event Sept. 2 featuring USF President Dr. Judy Genshaft, FDOT and Hillsborough County officials. At 12:30 p.m., Genshaft will lead participants on a walk around the Tampa campus.

The awareness campaign is meant to help lower the number of pedestrian and bicycle accidents, injuries and fatalities in Florida and the Tampa Bay area.

Florida was ranked No. 1 in pedestrian fatalities per capita in the United States in both 2010 and 2011, according to the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration. In 2012, the state logged 14,683 pedestrian- and bicycle-related crashes. Hillsborough County alone had more than 539 pedestrian and 470 bicyclist injuries in 2012 with 33 pedestrian and 13 bicycle fatalities reported.

Do you do anything special to watch out for pedestrians and bicyclists when you’re behind the wheel? Tell us about it by commenting below!