Student video contest aims to increase bike safety

CAPE CORAL, Fla. — Students are being given a chance to create a moving message — in more ways than one.

The City of Cape Coral’s BikeWalkSafely2Live video contest invites Lee County students to make public service announcements that create awareness about bicycle and pedestrian safety laws.

A group of Oasis High School students put together a video focusing on cyclists not taking the necessary precautions and drivers’ lack of awareness.

“Conversations like these really save lives,” Oasis student Oriana Troche said.

Only 9 percent of Cape Coral roadways have sidewalks and only 4 percent have bike lanes.

The city is considering a proposal to spend $63 million to change that, with $18 million going toward sidewalks, $37 million toward bike lanes and $8 million toward multi-use paths.

“There’s a lot of bikers and a lot of commuters who use bikes to go to work, school, wherever,” Oasis junior Lucas LeBlanc said. “We just need those pathways and those sidewalks for the bikes so these things, like in our PSA, don’t happen.”

The deadline for the contest is Nov. 18 and the winning school will receive $1,000.

For more information on the program, click here.