Pedestrian Safety

15 MPH speed limit sign

Virginia Set to Pass Bill Lowering Minimum Speed Limit

The Virginia General Assembly has passed a bill that would allow localities to set speed limits as low as 15 miles per hour.

March 17, 2021 - The Virginia Mercury

Portland Cycling

Oregon DOT Studies Impact of Race and Income on Road Safety

The findings of a recent memo highlight the disproportionate effects of unsafe road conditions on low-income people and BIPOC communities.

March 17, 2021 - Bike Portland

Traffic Safety Advocates

Zero Traffic Deaths Isn't as Far Fetched as It Sounds

Even supporters of Vision Zero—a goal to eliminate traffic fatalities from roadways adopted by cities and states all over the United States—doubt that such lofty ambitions are possible. But there are plenty of reasons to believe in the cause.

March 15, 2021 - Angie Schmitt

Kids on the Street

Pedestrian Safety Still Not a Priority in the United States

Dangerous by Design 2021 quantifies the transportation sector's ongoing neglect of the health and safety of people performing that basic human action of taking a walk.

March 10, 2021 - Smart Growth USA

Pedestrian Safety

Against Victim Blaming

One common scapegoat for rising pedestrian death rates is "distracted walking." But there is little reason to believe that smartphone-wielding pedestrians are a major cause of roadway carnage.

March 9, 2021 - Michael Lewyn

Burnside Street, Portland, Oregon

Portland had an 'Unusual and Tragic' Year for Traffic Deaths

The Portland Bureau of Transportation's annual traffic crash report highlights the city's slow progress towards its Vision Zero goal.

March 4, 2021 - Bike Portland

Bollards

Opinion: 'Performative' Pedestrian Improvements Need Deeper Scrutiny

Minor pedestrian-oriented improvements alone won't improve walkability if infrastructure still prioritizes fast-moving vehicles, according to this article.

February 1, 2021 - City Observatory

Both Ways

Jaywalking Legalized in Virginia

Beginning in March, police will no longer be able to stop people for crossing the street outside of a crosswalk, a small component of reform intended to protect BIPOC from the historically discriminatory application of traffic laws.

December 25, 2020 - The Virginia Mercury

Pedestrian Crosswalk

U.S. DOT Releases First-Ever Pedestrian Safety Plan

Record numbers of pedestrians have been killed by drivers in recent years. The federal government says a "team effort" will be necessary to stop the carnage.

December 2, 2020 - Smart Cities Dive

Jaywalking

Pedestrian Safety Experts: Decriminalize Jaywalking

Angie Schmitt and Charles T. Brown make nine arguments against the criminalization of jaywalking.

October 22, 2020 - Bloomberg CityLab

Children Walking To School

'Pedestrians First' Measures Walkability for Babies, Toddlers, Caregivers, Everyone

The ITDP's new Pedestrians First tool describes why and how to improve walking conditions, and provides comprehensive analysis of walkability for 1000 cities.

October 16, 2020 - Pedestrians First

Uber Autonomous Vehicle

Back-Up Driver of Autonomous Vehicle Charged With Negligent Homicide of Pedestrian

The broader safety implications of the death of Elaine Hertzberg after being struck by an Uber autonomous vehicle in Tempe is still being litigated. Last week, the back-up driver of the vehicle was charged with negligent homicide.

September 21, 2020 - NPR

New York City Pedestrians

How to Produce Equitable Pedestrian Plans

The majority of pedestrian master plans consider how to make equitable walking infrastructure. Less than half of plans implement strategies to address the fact that people of color are disproportionately represented in pedestrian fatalities.

August 27, 2020 - Streetsblog USA

14th Street Traffic

20 Is Plenty in D.C., Starting Today

Speed limits in Washington, D.C. are safer for everyone.

June 1, 2020 - The Washington Post

Atlanta Scooter

Atlanta Lowers Speed Limits Citywide

Vision Zero arrives in one of the country's most car-centric big cities.

April 29, 2020 - Atlanta Intown

Pedestrians

State Legislation Responds to Pedestrian Safety Failures in Connecticut

So far in 2020, drivers have killed 15 pedestrians on Connecticut roads.

March 10, 2020 - Hartford Courant

Houston

Refugees Learn to Survive as Pedestrians on Houston's Dangerous Streets

For one refugee family, living in Houston has meant facing a host of new challenges as they traverse the city’s roadways without a car.

February 20, 2020 - Texas Monthly

Orlando Street

Lessons From the Most Dangerous Pedestrian Environment in the Country

The city of Orlando, Florida is examined as the worst example of the nation's pedestrian safety crisis.

January 28, 2020 - Curbed

Seattle Speed Limits

Seattle Expands Speed Limit Reductions

After an initial wave of speed limit reductions in 2016, the city of Seattle will embark on a major expansion of speed limit reductions over the next 18 months.

December 11, 2019 - The Urbanist

Beacon Hill Intersection

School Proximity and Speeding Tickets: Still Can't Win Safety Improvements

A loss for traffic safety advocates in Seattle.

December 7, 2019 - The Urbanist

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