Letter: Pedestrian safety workshop slated

Walk Bike Glendale expresses its deep condolences to the family of Antranik Melkonian, the 86-year-old Glendale resident who was struck by a car and killed while crossing North Glendale Avenue last week. In just the first few months of this year, our city has already experienced three auto-related pedestrian or bicycle deaths. Our concern for pedestrian and bicycle safety increases with each of these unfortunate and preventable incidents.

As a community of people who walk, bike and drive, we can do more to end preventable deaths like these. In addition to being very aware of our surroundings while on our streets, we also need to design safer streets that discourage high-speed driving and encourage safe walking, biking and driving behaviors.

To take part in a community-wide solution, we encourage everyone who uses our streets to take part in a pedestrian safety workshop that will be held on April 17, from 6 to 8 p.m., at the Glendale Central Library. Hosted by the city of Glendale, in collaboration with UC Berkeley’s Safe Transportation Research and Education Center, the workshop will bring together community members and traffic safety professionals to develop strategies to increase safety for pedestrians. Details are available on our website at walkbikeglendale.wordpress.com.

We invite and encourage everyone who walks, bikes or drives in Glendale to attend this workshop. Together, we can increase safety for all who live in or visit our Jewel City.

Katie Kurutz
Glendale

Editor’s Note: The writer is chair of the Walk Bike Glendale Steering Committee.