BIKE: Most Dangerous Cities For Walking

[Kevin Corry]

Noticed this article in today's statesman about which cities in the US are the 
most dangerous for pedestrians. Not suprisingly, Florida seems to take top 
billings. Unfortunately, Texas doesn't seem to be mentioned, but I'm guessing 
we're more on the dangerous side than the safe side.

Kinda grim that almost 10,000 people died in two years just by walking along 
busy streets.

-- 
Kevin Corry
kevincorry


http://www.statesman.com/news/content/shared-gen/ap/National/Pedestrian_Deaths.html

South, West Most Hazardous for Pedestrians

By LESLIE MILLER
Associated Press Writer

WASHINGTON — Cities in the South and West are the most dangerous for 
pedestrians, with four in Florida earning the dubious distinction of being 
the deadliest of all.

A private study released Thursday concluded that sprawling, newer cities in 
the South and West tend to be built with wide, high-speed roads that are 
especially dangerous for walking.

"So much of our transportation system is designed for cars and only cars," 
said Anne Canby, president of the Surface Transportation Policy Project, 
which issued the report. The group advocates balanced transportation.

The report found that the 9,746 walkers who died in 2002-2003 were more likely 
to be killed on busy streets without crosswalks. Nearly 40 percent died where 
crosswalks weren't available.

"Wide roads, speeding traffic and a lack of crosswalks or sidewalks can make 
walking a deadly activity," the report said. "There simply are not enough 
pedestrian facilities."

Regional differences in walking safety are stark. Twice as many walkers die in 
traffic accidents in New Orleans, San Diego and Phoenix than in Minneapolis, 
Milwaukee and Boston.

People are three times more likely to be struck and killed on streets in 
Tampa-St. Petersburg-Clearwater, Fla., Orlando and Miami-Fort Lauderdale than 
they are in Cleveland, Cincinnati and Columbus, Ohio.

Tampa-St. Petersburg-Clearwater, characterized by traffic speeding along 
eight-lane boulevards, was ranked first for its dangerous roads, with 3.69 
deaths per 100,000 people in 2002-2003.

Tampa Mayor Pam Iorio was announcing plans Thursday for improving pedestrian 
safety on Bay Shore Boulevard, one of the city's main thoroughfares. Iorio 
was responding to public concern over a young female jogger who was killed in 
February by a speeding motorcyclist while she tried to cross the busy 
boulevard.

Tampa City Council member Linda Saul-Sena, head of a new "Walkable Roadways" 
committee, wants drivers to recognize that city streets are for people, not 
for speed.

"It's changing the culture so the person in the SUV on the cell phone knows 
that it's their responsibility to stop and respect the pedestrians," said 
Saul-Sena.

Tampa can take heart from Salt Lake City, which STPP gave poor marks for 
protecting its walkers shortly after Rocky Anderson was elected mayor in 
2000.

As new mayor, Anderson, who campaigned on making the city more walkable, saw a 
hit-and-run accident that injured a pedestrian on a downtown street. The 
victim survived, but Anderson vowed he would make the city's pedestrians more 
visible in a city where long blocks and very wide streets make walking 
dangerous.

The city put red flags in containers that pedestrians can carry across 
intersections and wave at drivers. Overhead lights that pedestrians can 
activate were installed at intersections. Undercover police ticketed drivers 
who failed to yield to pedestrians in crosswalks.

Salt Lake City also promotes walking around downtown by making it a better 
experience. Outdoor dining is now encouraged, ordinances were changed to make 
signs more interesting, artists and performers are allowed on public 
sidewalks.

As a result, accidents involving pedestrians fell 36 percent, to 114, in the 
first 11 months of 2004, from 177 in 2001.

The STPP ranked Salt Lake City the most improved city for pedestrian safety.

"It's about creating a more interesting, vibrant community, and it's working," 
Anderson said.

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On the Net:

Surface Transportation Policy Project site: http://www.transact.org