ATLANTIC BEACH, Fla. — Atlantic Beach city leaders are focusing on cutting down on traffic deaths and serious injuries.
A safety action plan open house Tuesday gave community members a chance to share some of the areas they're most concerned about.
“My concern is for the bicyclists pulling through the parking lot," said owner of Atlantic Coast Appliance Anna Gray.
Gray’s store is nestled in at the busy intersection of Atlantic Boulevard and Seminole Road.
With no sidewalk through the parking lot, she says her employees constantly have to worry a cyclist or a runner will cut through right behind their cars as their pulling out.
The issue is so common, her employees have taken safety measures into their own hands.
“We ask that our employees back in versus just pulling in for the safety of the bicyclists," Gray said.
She’d like to see something done to direct people away from the parked cars, but at the same time doesn’t want to restrict access to the businesses or limit parking.
“More sidewalks, but again, it is a small, congested corner," Gray said.
The Atlantic Beach Development Director says that intersection is already on a list of a few problem spots they've identified prior to Tuesday's meeting.
She says engineers are also looking at Sherry Drive and Atlantic Boulevard, where a building blocks the view of cars turning onto Atlantic and cars "stack up in the middle" waiting to merge into the Eastbound lane.
The Royal Palms Drive curve is another spot the development director says causes conflicts, with a lack of sidewalks.
Seminole Road and East Coast Drive are also on the city’s radar, trying to fix odd angles at the intersection.
Last, but certainly not least, she expects the five way stop in front of the police department and possible signage or realignments will always be a topic of conversation any time they look to address pedestrian safety.