Batavia Organizations Collaborate To Promote Pedestrian Safety

BATAVIA, IL — Four Batavia organizations are coming together to launch a campaign aimed at promoting a safer environment for pedestrians after two were hit by cars on Batavia Avenue last month.

On May 23, a woman on a bike exited Les Arends Forest Preserve to cross Batavia Avenue when a minivan crashed into her. Emily White died three days later, according to her obituary and a GoFundMe page created for her family.

About a week later, on May 31, a GMC SUV crashed into a teenage boy who was crossing Batavia Avenue while biking west on Union Avenue, Patch reported.

By placing signs on their properties, the City of Batavia, Batavia Public School District 101, Batavia Park District and Batavia Public Library hope to "increase awareness and encourage responsible driving behaviors to reduce the risk of crashes involving pedestrians," officials said in a joint news release Wednesday.

RELATED: Batavia Asks IDOT To Take Action After Cyclists Hit On Route 31

"Our hearts go out to the families who have been affected by the recent tragedies on our roadways," Holly Deitchman, communications manager at District 101, said in a statement. "The focus of our awareness campaign is to remind drivers to pass through our community with care. We want our community members to enjoy their summer and spend time outdoors.

She continued: "Whether you are biking our trail system, walking to or from Hall Quarry Beach, or simply visiting our downtown businesses and library, we encourage drivers and pedestrians to take extra caution."

Deitchman told Patch that for now, the four organizations will only produce enough signs for each to "strategically place on their properties and at a couple of high-traffic locations" in Batavia.

As a state route, Batavia Avenue is under the jurisdiction of the Illinois Department of Transportation, which limits what government officials in the city can do to make the road safer. But officials said they asked IDOT to expedite their review of a Route 31 road diet in order to implement it as soon as possible, Patch reported.

A road diet consists of either narrowing travel lanes or shoulders or eliminating some to make room for pedestrians and bicyclists.