TITUSVILLE, Fla. — A local organization is hoping to make it safer for people walking in crosswalks in Central Florida. Bike/Walk Central Florida is expanding its Best Foot Forward program to Brevard, Volusia and Marion counties.

Through crosswalk crackdowns and other initiatives, the program has helped to get drivers to stop for pedestrians at crosswalks in Orange, Seminole and Osceola counties for several years.

“When we first started operations in 2012, in Orange County, our yield rate at the crosswalks we were monitoring was only 1%. Today at the crosswalks we (monitor, the yield rate is) over 50%,” said Best Foot Forward Program Manager Vince Dyer. “So, we’re hoping to bring those same kind of results to Brevard, Volusia and Marion counties as well.”

Dyer says they are starting operations in Brevard and Volusia counties now, and later on this year they’ll bring that program to Marion County.

Through education and enforcement, they are hoping to reduce the number of crashes involving those walking or biking.

“Sometimes you find yourself jockeying for position out in the road,” said RJ Hayes from Titusville’s Ten Speed Drive Bicycle Center.

In 2023, there were 22 cyclist and pedestrian fatalities in Brevard County.

Best Foot Forward also works with road engineers to make recommendations on sign changes and markings.

That means Dyer will be advocating for more flashing beacons at crosswalks.

“We want to see more of that in Brevard County, we want to see pedestrians flocking to those crosswalks because too often they just cross wherever they want to. They don’t think the crosswalk is any safer. So, we want to change that perception for them,” said Dyer.

Best Foot Forward crosswalk crackdowns are coming to Cape Canaveral, Indian Harbour Beach and Viera in February.

Data collectors and law enforcement will be on hand to make sure drivers yield to pedestrians.