Pedestrian safety initiative kicks off in St. Petersburg

ST.PETERSBURG, Fla. (WFLA) – The St. Petersburg Police Department is participating in a statewide initiative to increase pedestrian and bicyclist safety. The operation starts Wednesday and will continue on the city’s busiest stretches of road through May 2025.

The department participated in a similar effort in 2022. At the time, leaders with SPPD explained, “The biggest problem that we have is we want to have pedestrians using crosswalks. Pedestrians are crossing midblock in the evening time they’re not wearing bright clothing they’re using their cell phones, so they’re distracted as they’re crossing these intersections.”

According to data from the department, so far this year, officers have responded to seven deadly pedestrian crashes and four bicyclist fatalities. Pinellas is among the top 25 most dangerous counties in the state for pedestrians and cyclists.

A $67,629 contract will allow SPPD to conduct ‘high visibility enforcement operations’. Drivers will notice extra patrols along the following roadways:

• 34th Street North and South
• 4th Street North and South
• 18th Avenue South
• 16th Street South
• 3rd Street North
• US-19/5th Avenue North
• 49th Street North

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