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Heads Up for Safety in Downtown Rochester!

Many people don’t think of pedestrian safety until something affects them personally. Let’s flip that mentality and focus on how we can all help make Downtown a safer place to work, live, and play! Here’s your inside scoop on all the free, public events happening for Heads Up! Pedestrian Safety Week happening September 10-14.

Schedule of Events

Monday (evening) – Friday, September 10-14, 7:30 AM – 8:30 AM and 4:30 PM – 5:30 PM (daily): Increase your visibility and relive your childhood! Members of our community will serve as volunteer crossing guards and assist pedestrians crossing the intersection of 2nd St. and 1st Ave. SW.
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Monday, September 10 from 12:00 PM – 1:00 PM, Peace Plaza: Help us kick-off Heads Up! by checking out our press conference featuring an overview of the program, announcement of activities, and events for the week.

We are excited to unveil two new prototypes at the press conference for pedestrian safety:

  1. A glowing crosswalk created by Adam Salmi, owner of Maker Clinic, featured at the intersection of 1st Ave. and 3rd St. SW during Heads Up! event week.
  2. A Pedestrian Leading Interval by Public Works at the intersection of 1st Ave. and Center St. SW starting September 10.

Tuesday, September 11 from 7:00 PM - 8:30 PM, University of Minnesota Rochester, Room 417: Come learn how to become a The People Friendly Driver. This free, public presentation presented by BikeMN and Olmsted County Public Health, is a program for educating all motorists on safe driving behaviors around people who are walking or biking.

Wednesday, September 12, 11:30 AM – 12:30 PM, Rochester Public Library, Auditorium: An encore free, public presentation of The People Friendly Driver presentation presented by BikeMN and Olmsted County Public Health.

Friday, September 14, 11:45 AM – 1:00 PM: Let’s end this week with a celebration! Meet us outside the Mayo Civic Center for a crosswalk march and celebration in Peace Plaza. From the Mayo Civic Center Plaza, we will march west 2nd Street. Once at Peace Plaza the RDA will host a free, community celebration with Adirondack chairs for people to relax in the grassy area. A free, light snack provided (while supplies last)!

Thank you to Olmsted County Public Health, the City of Rochester, the Rochester Police Department, and Townsquare Media for their support!