Gov. Corzine has a 74 million dollar Pedestrian Safety Initiative supporting a variety of programs. Some of them may benefit Barnegat. One of the programs that looks interesting is the "Safe Routes To School Program". Any parent who tries to actually walk their child to school knows that this is a program needed in Barnegat. Grant money is out there -- if only we could get it -- to create safer walkways, bikeways and safer street crossings around schools.

Another interesting program is the "Enforcement of Pedestrian Safety Laws". Everyone should know it is state law to yield to pedestrians in a cross walk. But you take your life into your own hands when you try to cross Rt. 9 in downtown Barnegat. We should not wait for a fatality to do something proactive about this problem. Governor Corzine is providing grant money for local enforcement to address these pedestrian safety laws...so why don't we try to apply for these grants and get the job done?

Also, a new "Driver's Education Curriculum" is being proposed. This will focus on new drivers learning what their responsibilities are regarding pedestrians while they are driving. This is something EVERY driver should know, but it seems few actually do.