***Barriers divide the walk way and the bike lane from eachother. The bike lane would still be on top of traffic. We know this but even still, a barrier could have prevented the car from sending Cole over the side of the bridge and he may have survived his injuries. Some form of pedestrian safety measure is long overdue on this bridge.***

On September 27th, 2014, 16-year old Cole Coppola was struck and killed by a drunk driver while riding his bike in the bike lane of the 17th street bridge, also known as the Alma Lee Loy Bridge as of 2012. The impact propelled him into the Indian River Lagoon, where his body was recovered hours later. The Merrill P. Barber Bridge, which has been open since 1995, has cement barriers on both sides ensuring the safety of the many people that use it for walking, jogging and riding bikes. Although the Alma Lee Loy Bridge has been open since 1979 there is no reasonable explanation as to why the same precautions and safety measures haven't been applied. Unfortunately drivers can be dangerous day or night, sober or not. This horrible tragedy should have never occurred, but we need to make sure nothing like this happens again.

http://www.wptv.com/news/region-indian-river-county/vero-beach/cole-coppola-teenager-killed-when-hit-by-car-while-riding-bicycle-in-vero-beach