Now that spring has sprung, Palmerton residents have been cautioned to watch out for the safety of pedestrians on streets.

Mayor Don Herrmann discussed safety as part of his report at Thursday’s borough council meeting.

Herrmann asked residents to be mindful of increased bike traffic, as well as pedestrians walking and crossing on streets.

Council President Terry Costenbader said recently he was driving on Columbia Avenue when he came across people walking in the street.

That, Costenbader said, can create a safety hazard.

“If you’re going to walk, try and walk on the sidewalks,” Costenbader said. “I don’t want to see anybody getting hurt.”

Pedestrian safety has been a topic of conversation before in the borough.

Rose Smith, of Mauch Chunk Road, asked borough officials in the fall to make an intersection where children cross safer.

Smith told council at the time she works as a crossing guard at Fourth Street and Delaware Avenue and asked council to make the intersection where children cross safer.

Smith said at that time she was concerned when cars turn up Fourth Street and asked if council would consider putting several cones out that would stop traffic from going around and trying to pass them.

She added there’s been a lot of close calls there.

Council thanked Smith for bringing the matter to its attention, and requested borough police Chief Tim Kromer to have an officer out during the problem times.

Costenbader said at that time he believes there was a fatality there that occurred between 30 to 40 years ago.

Costenbader said that during that incident, a woman had been crossing he believes from the bank and there was a car that had stopped west on Delaware Avenue to leave her pass in the crosswalk and a car came around on the right side of that vehicle and killed her.