Crashes Involving Students Rise with Summer Temperatures  As summer temperatures rise, so do crashes involving school-age children - especially those who walk and ride bikes.  In fact, a recent five-year study by ODOT reveals crashes involving school-age children (ages 5-18) make up nearly 40 percent of all pedestrian and bicyclist crashes - with June through August combining for more than 3,500 crashes, the largest three-month total.  To help reverse this trend and improve roadway safety for all travelers, ODOT is launching its new "Share the Road Ohio" safety campaign - with the goal of reducing roadway fatalities by 5 percent by 2015.  ODOT safety experts say the increase in crashes during the summer months is due to a combination of factors.  The first being the beginning of summer for students, which means there is an influx of kids who are playing and engaging in recreational activities.  The second factor is that many school-age kids get around by either walking or riding a bike and are unfamiliar with biking and pedestrian traffic laws. 
This summer, ODOT is mobilizing a grassroots statewide effort to distribute roadway safety information via tip cards, events, public service announcements, web videos, a safe driving simulator and partnerships with law enforcement agencies.  Bicycle, pedestrian, motorcycle and motorist advocacy groups and clubs will also play a pivotal role in communicating the safety message.  For "Share the Road" safety tips visit www.dot.state.oh.us and the link can be found on the right hand side of the page.  

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Bellaire-Puritas Wins Grant to Study Lorain Avenue Redesign  The Bellaire-Puritas Development Corporation (BPDC) was recently awarded a grant from the Northeast Ohio Areawide Coordinating Agency (NOACA) to undertake a design study to enhance pedestrian connections and right-of-way improvements that will promote walking, biking and transit usage.  The study will include both sides of Lorain Avenue between the RTA rapid station at West 143rd Street all the way to West 130th Street.  NOACA's $55,000 award will be matched by other community development funds so that the project will total over $65,000.  An architectural firm will be hired to oversee the study and design work.  BPDC will convene at least two public meetings to solicit opinions from residents about what they would like to see happen in the Ward 18 portion of Lorain.  The grant calls for the West 140th and Lorain Avenue intersection - as the major hub of the study area and just a few blocks north of the new John Marshall High School - to be a major focus of design improvements.  The design study will be launched sometime this fall and will take six months to a year to complete.

A Night In Rio  On Saturday, July 23rd from 7-11 pm join the Cleveland Restoration Society as they showcase the award-winning restoration of one of Fairmount  Boulevard's most historic home and garden settings.  Your Night in Rio includes a guided home tour and garden highlights, strolling buffet supper featuring exotic flavors of South America, wine, beer, and Caipiroska cocktails, basket raffles, mambo lessons, dance demonstrations and Latin Jazz by Los Gatos.  Tickets start at $175/pp and VIP reservations are also available.  Please RSVP by July 18th to Felicia Hall at 216-426-3110 or visit www.clevelandrestoration.org.