By Bill Zeeble, KERA News
http://stream.publicbroadcasting.net/production/mp3/kera/local-kera-940048.mp3
Dallas, TX – Dallas officials are beefing up safety on the Katy Trail and other city paths. KERA's Bill Zeeble reports on unfolding initiatives following a jogger's accidental death last October.
After jogger Lauren Huddleston died from a collision with a cyclist last fall, citizens and Dallas staff met to increase trail safety. Willis Winters, with the city, briefed a council committee on some measures.
Winters: On the Katy trail we're going to work on safety striping, street crossing and intersections. We're getting more police presence during peak hours, to remind bikers and walkers and joggers of all of safety and etiquette that everyone needs to be aware of.
Winters says the first meeting of the new Dallas Trail Safety Advisory Committee meets this Friday. A safety ad campaign will out city wide in April. Council member Pauline Medrano, who chairs the Quality of Life Committee, says safety initiatives must involve not just police, but citizens using common sense.
Medrano: We just have to be more aware of the things that are happening. And have people more alert, of either what they're doing themselves or what other folks are doing on the Katy Trail.
Medrano says establishing safety measures on the trails is a work in progress. Officials, for example, could impose a bike speed limit, but enforcing it would be tough. The entire Dallas city council could consider trail safety initiatives 3 months from now.