While officers in the Tampa Bay area are out enforcing bicycle and pedestrian traffic laws, they often surprise those bikers and walkers stopped for a violation by providing them free bike lights or fluorescent backpacks. This action is part of a bigger program in the Tampa Bay area, FDOT’s High Visibility Enforcement (HVE), which in its first phase focuses on educating pedestrians and bicyclists on how to walk and bike safely on the street and around intersections.

Often the pedestrians and bicyclists not following the law can’t afford safety equipment required by law so officers are doing their part by providing these small safety add-ons and helping citizens install them. The program helps create safer roadways and helps improve the relationship between law enforcement and bicyclists and pedestrians. During HVE, officers are out on the street as often as six days a week, stopping pedestrians and bicyclists and educating them on how travel as safely as possible. Through positive relationship building, and improved education, HVE is making a difference.