BURLINGTON, Vt. - After two hit and runs injured area residents last fall, area groups, businesses and public officials formed the Safe Streets Collaborative to increase the safety and civility on Burlington's streets.

A key component of the Collaborative's work is a new comprehensive education campaign. Designed by Champlain College students, the "Give Respect, Get Respect" campaign will use bus ads, brochures, coupons, and web videos to reach a broad audience.

"This season we'll be stepping up traffic education and enforcement efforts for all modes - walking, bicycling and driving. Everyone is responsible for making our city a safe place to travel," says Lt. Bill Ward of the Burlington Police Department.

Mayor Bob Kiss and others will unveil the campaign on June 1.

Safe Streets Campaign Launch
Monday, June 1 @ 10:30am
Main Street and South Winooski Ave. intersection
Burlington, VT

At the launch, the Collaborative will announce new efforts including a ‘Report Recklessness' hotline, a hands-free cell phone promotion, and a call for residents to be ‘Safe Street Ambassadors'. As part of the launch, volunteer residents and police will also conduct an ‘intersection education effort' at the Main Street and South Winooski Avenue intersection.

For more information, contact Chapin Spencer, chapin@localmotion.org . The campaign is funded by the Chittenden County Metropolitan Planning Organization and the City of Burlington. The collaborative hopes to expand the reach of this campaign beyond Burlington in 2010.