Ocean City reminds residents and visitors to Walk Smart

Cheswick the Crab is reminding visitors and residents alike to 'Walk Smart, Drive Smart, Bike Smart' as the July 4th holiday approaches.

Ocean City Mayor Richard W. Meehan and Ocean City Police Chief Ross Buzzuro joined Maryland Department of Transportation State Highway District Engineer Jay Meredith along the Sinepuxent Avenue Bike Trail to officially launch the 2017 Ocean City Walk Smart! campaign Wednesday afternoon.

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. 

"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 Ocean City Walk Smart! campaign is continuing to expand pedestrian and bicycle safety messaging. 

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.

Safety Ambassadors Stacy Ernst and Tracy Garner say the best ways to stay safe on the roads are for pedestrians to wear bright clothes at night, always use the crosswalk, and for drivers to always pay attention to the road.