Maryland Department of Transportation and Town of Ocean City Remind Residents and Visitors to Walk Smart, Bike Smart, Drive Smart!

(June 28, 2017) –  As the Town of Ocean City prepares for one of its busiest holiday weekends – the July 4th holiday – Cheswick the Crab is reminding visitors to: Walk Smart, Drive Smart, Bike Smart!

Ocean City Mayor Richard W. Meehan and Ocean City Police Chief Ross Buzzuro joined Maryland Department of Transportation State Highway (MDOT SHA) District Engineer Jay Meredith along the Sinepuxent Avenue Bike Trail to officially launch the 2017 Ocean City Walk Smart! campaign.  Featuring the iconic crab mascot, who was named Cheswick last summer, the Ocean City Walk Smart! campaign combines engineering, education and enforcement to save lives and prevent injuries on Coastal Highway and other Ocean City roadways.

OC Walk Smart! partners gathered along Sinepuxent Avenue adjacent to a new $92,560 bicycle route make possible with a MDOT Bikeways Grant award to the Town of Ocean City. The new Sinepuxent Avenue bicycle route runs along Sinepuxent Avenue between 130th Street and 146th Street, connecting commercial and residential areas in northern Ocean City.

This summer, the Ocean City Walk Smart campaign is being branded with “Cheswick Says” and “Be Like Cheswick” creative.  Late last summer Cheswick was the winning name in a social media poll contest, and serves as a tribute to Matthew Cheswick, a pedestrian who was tragically killed in Ocean City in 2012.  Cheswick, the crab mascot, is making appearances in Ocean City this summer and is inviting Ocean City visitors and guests to participate in a scavenger hunt.  Find Cheswick and take photographs in prescribed locations, and participants can enter to win a safety prize pack.  Also, this summer, Cheswick can be found in nearly every hotel room and condominium in “Inside Ocean City” and on every pedestrian signal pole along Coastal Highway urging pedestrians to push the walk button.

“The Ocean City Walk Smart! campaign is just one way that the town of Ocean City is committed to keeping its residents and visitors safe,” said Ocean City Mayor Richard (Rick) Meehan.  “Cheswick has become an important part of our work here to help our guests safely navigate our roadways while walking, biking and driving and can be seen inside your favorite shops and restaurants. I’m so proud that so many businesses continue their exceptional support of these efforts.”

“During the summer months, nearly 55,000 vehicles travel Coastal Highway each day, sharing the roads with thousands of pedestrians and hundreds of bicyclists each and every day. When traveling this major eight lane roadway, we cannot let our guards down and that is why the Walk Smart message is so important,” said MDOT SHA Administrator Greg Slater.  “The success of this project is a credit to the unparalleled support of the town of Ocean City our business and community members, as well as other local and state agencies.”

The Ocean City Walk Smart campaign has been credited with overall decreasing pedestrian crashes on Coastal Highway.  Unfortunately, during the Memorial Day holiday this past May, a pedestrian was struck and killed by an impaired driver, underscoring the continued need for Walk Smart and Drive Smart education.

The Ocean City Walk Smart! campaign, sponsored by a task force that includes businesses, law enforcement and traffic safety experts, continues to expand pedestrian and bicycle safety messaging.  Pedestrians are urged to use crosswalks and wait for “walk” signals, while bicyclists are reminded to ride in the direction of traffic, avoid distractions and follow all traffic signs and signals.  Drivers should stop for pedestrians, watch for bicyclists and share the road.

In addition to promoting safety messages, MDOT SHA made engineering enhancements last year including sidewalk and signing upgrades.  MDOT SHA plans to install a dune-style median fence late this fall 2017.

“The Ocean City Walk Smart initiative, which runs Memorial Day to Labor Day and into the fall, is helping to make Ocean City streets safer for bicyclists, pedestrians and drivers,” said SHA District 1 Engineer Jay Meredith. "We can never be reminded too often that we must all partner together in traffic safety."

The iconic Maryland crab lifeguard continues to remind pedestrians to use crosswalks, follow signals and exercise general street smarts with messaging to reach drivers and bicyclists. This year, the crab mascot will make live appearances on the Boardwalk throughout the summer.  Additionally, every pedestrian signal along Coastal Highway will feature a sticker reminding pedestrians to press the walk button. Educational messages appear on Ocean City transit, plane banners, boat billboard messages, television and radio public announcements, and in local businesses. Drivers also must stay alert, stop for pedestrians and travel the posted speed limit.  Bicyclists need to ride with traffic and obey stop signs and red lights.

“Especially as we prepare for the influx of visitors for the July 4th holiday, we recognize the importance of people following the rules of the road when walking, biking and driving, so that our guests can enjoy their vacations and return home safely,” said Ocean City Police Chief Ross Buzzuro.  “We urge pedestrians to use crosswalks and wait for the walk signal at all times; when biking, ride with traffic and stay alert, avoid distractions and earphone use.”  Ocean City Police, Maryland State Police, as well as law enforcement partners in Delaware, will conduct enforcement and education outreach throughout the summer as part of border to border Walk Smart! efforts.

Helpful tips for a safe vacation are available by clicking here. Walk Smart. Drive Smart. Bike Smart.