Full Notification

High-Visibility Pedestrian Traffic Grant

Wisconsin Rapids, WI – The Wisconsin Rapids Police Department has been awarded a $5,000.00 grant from the Wisconsin Department of Transportation (WisDOT) to operate high visibility pedestrian related traffic enforcement from April to September 2014. The grant will aid the city’s ongoing effort to improve pedestrian safety, awareness of vehicle and pedestrian right-of-way laws, and the quality of transportation for both motorized and non-motorized travelers. The goal of the project is to educate the community on the existing traffic laws and ordinances as they relate to pedestrians, bicyclists and motorists. The grant will assist in efforts to deal with traffic safety problems and reduce the number of persons killed and injured in pedestrian related traffic crashes. While the number of injuries related to pedestrian involved crashes decreased by 44% since 1990; in Wisconsin, in 2011, one pedestrian was injured or killed every 7.1 hours.

Activities that the grant will fund include;
*Traffic enforcement at pedestrian crossings consisting of uniformed and plain clothes officers
*Pedestrian and bicycle crossing enforcement
*Traffic enforcement of behaviors relating to pedestrian crashes (ie. alcohol or drug impairment distracted driving, speeding, fail to stop or improper stop at a stop sign, etc.)

Your Wisconsin Rapids Police Department will be using high visibility pedestrian and vehicle enforcement in areas of the City of Wisconsin Rapids that were determined to be areas of concern as identified by crash data, as well as documented areas of concern from the 2007 and 2012 Walking Audits.

These locations include, but are not limited to;
 W. Grand Avenue
 Baker Street
 E. Grand Avenue
 8th Street South
 Jackson Street

Prior to deploying these additional officers we would like to remind the community of some of the rules and regulations that are specific to motorists, bicyclist and pedestrians;
*Pedestrians are prohibited from suddenly moving into the roadway, interfering with vehicles at a controlled intersection and interfering with vehicles when crossing mid-block.
*Pedestrians and bicyclists shall obey traffic control devices.
*Bicyclists must yield the right of way to any pedestrian on a sidewalk and give an audible signal when passing such pedestrian.
*When riding in the street, bicyclists shall ride with traffic in the same direction, as far right as practicable. The three exceptions are for overtaking and passing another vehicle in the same direction, making a left turn, and when necessary to avoid unsafe conditions in the roadway.
*Bicycling on sidewalks is allowed throughout the city, HOWEVER is prohibited in the downtown business district and the Grand Avenue bridge.
*When crossing, a bicyclist demanding pedestrian right-of-way shall dismount and walk his/her bicycle. If a bicyclist chooses to ride his/her bicycle at a crossing, the bicyclists is subject to bicycle/motor vehicle laws.
*Bicycling at night requires the use of a white front headlight and red rear reflector.
*Bicycle registration is required.
*Motorists shall not interfere with, and shall yield right of way to a pedestrian crossing at a crosswalk (marked or unmarked).
*When required to stop at a stop sign or traffic signal, a motorist shall stop at the stop line; or if there is no stop line, prior to the nearest crosswalk marking; or if there is no crosswalk markings, prior to the stop sign itself.
*Motorists shall not turn right on a red light in front of a pedestrian.

Travel Safely Everyone