Pedestrian Safety

Traffic Safety Solution: Design, Not Enforcement
Alon Levy argues that the best path to traffic safety is through design rather than traffic law enforcement.

Bill Introduced to Relieve Congestion—on Sidewalks
New York City has come a long way since the Giuliani days, when sidewalk barriers were placed at intersections to facilitate turning vehicles, thus prohibiting pedestrians from crossing the street.

Engineers Scramble for Pedestrian Safety in Los Angeles and Santa Monica
A "good news" story for pedestrians emerges from the streets of Los Angeles and Santa Monica. Traffic signals at heavily used pedestrian intersections have been reengineered to add a 'scramble phase' and the results are startling.

Safety Gets Top Priority in San Francisco Street Reconfiguration
Pedestrian safety and transit performance won out over parking concerns on San Francisco's Taraval Street.

Crowds of Pedestrians Prompt Lombard Street Study
San Francisco is looking for ways to manage—and protect—the masses of tourists who want to walk "the World's Crookedest Street."

Indianapolis: Where the Streets Have No Lights
The IndyStar shines a light on the city of Indianapolis' neglect of its infrastructure.

Florida DOT Taking a New, Data-Driven Approach to Pedestrian Safety
The Florida Department of Transportation is trying to change the state's status as the most dangerous in the nation for pedestrians, with 5,100 people killed while walking between 2003 and 2010.

Bike and Pedestrian Advocates Rejoice: 'Contributory Negligence' on its Way Out in D.C.
A new law with the support of the mayor and an initial approval by the D.C. council will make it easier for bicyclists and pedestrians to collect insurance after a crash with a motor vehicle.

New York Launches New Pedestrian Safety Plan
The New York State Pedestrian Safety Action Plan will invest $110 million to improve pedestrian safety in the state of New York.

Boston Lowers Speed Limits to 20 MPH—Columnist Sees Opportunity for Satire
A Boston Globe columnist met the news that the city would reduce speed limits to 20 mph on some residential streets with scorn and snark.
New Jersey Considering Fines for Distracted Pedestrians
Having launched a pedestrian safety campaign focused on education, legislators may go a step further to tackle another 'E'—enforcement. But rather than drivers, pedestrians looking down at their smart phones will be the targets.

Op-Ed: Prohibit Right Turns on Red Lights
A writer suggests an end for one of the many conveniences available to drivers: the right turn on a red light.

Edinburgh Sets 20-mph Speed Limit
Citing pedestrian and cyclist casualties, the Scottish capital will reduce speed limits on 80 percent of its streets to a mere 20 mph. Backers are pushing for additional complete streets improvements.
Efforts to Increase Pedestrian Safety Take Hold in Nevada and Kentucky
With a new Governors Highway Safety Association report estimating that the number of pedestrian fatalities jumped 10 percent in 2015, the highest ever, we look at efforts in Nevada and Louisville, Ky. to increase pedestrian safety.

Bicyclists on Sidewalks: Why They're Not Going Away, and What We Can Do About It
Simply banning bikes from riding on sidewalks does more harm than good. A better understanding of why people choose to ride bikes on the sidewalk will be necessary to create safer environments for all users.
Report: Pedestrian Deaths Climbed 10 Percent in 2015
Pedestrian safety is a growing problem across the country, according to a new report from the Governors Highway Safety Association.

Re-Examining the Safety of Colorful Crosswalks
There has been no shortage of responses to the story about St. Louis letting decorated sidewalks fade away after encountering federal policy that recommends more subdued colors.

New York City's Sidewalk Shed Epidemic
A 1980 law protecting pedestrians from falling debris has spawned a labyrinth of sidewalk sheds: the covered walkways that often support scaffolding. Many of these "temporary" structures linger for years.
One Simple Way to Anger Pedestrians: Give Snow Removal Priority to Cars
A large backlash followed a large winter storm on the East Coast.
12 Seattle Schools to Get the Safe Routes to School Treatment in 2016
The Urbanist takes a close look at the first of 12 Safe Routes to School projects scheduled for Seattle schools this year.
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