Pedestrian Safety

Shouting Down Road Diets
In car-dependent communities, road diets and bike lanes can be a tough sell.
Another Use of Motor Vehicle as a Weapon Leaves 10 Dead, 16 Injured in Toronto
A van driver apparently deliberately mowed down pedestrians on sidewalks and intersections in the North York area of Toronto on Monday. The suspect is in custody. The incident is reminiscent of a similar scene last May in Times Square, Manhattan.
Tempe Police Chief: Uber AV vs. Pedestrian Crash May Have Been Unavoidable
After viewing the videos taken by two cameras equipped in the Uber autonomous vehicle that fatally struck 49-year-old Elaine Herzberg on Sunday, the chief concluded the crash was difficult to avoid. Also, lessons on the crash from David Leonhardt.

Uber Car Reportedly in Autonomous Mode Strikes and Kills a Pedestrian
This is likely the first time a pedestrian has been killed by a self-driving car.

Looking Beyond the Obvious in Florida Pedestrian Bridge Collapse
The National Transportation Safety Board is looking for the cause of the horrific collapse of the Florida International University pedestrian bridge collapse on March 15, killing six. people. Angie Schmitt questions why a ped span was needed at all.
Death of Two Children in Park Slope Crash Sparks Protest
New York Mayor Bill de Blasio has been criticized by pedestrian safety activists and, when a driver ran a red light killing two young children, hundreds came out to confront the mayor in person.

California Bill Sets Its Sights on Lower Speed Limits
A proposed bill in the California State Assembly would make it easier for local jurisdictions to set lower speed limits, sidestepping the controversial 85th percentile rule.

California City Bans 'Distracted Walking'
It is illegal to operate a mobile phone to talk, text or listen to music while crossing the street in Montclair, California

On the Life-Saving Potential of Leading Pedestrian Intervals
Giving pedestrians a head start at crosswalks is a simple fix that could save lots of lives. New York City has already seen a significant reduction in fatalities and injuries.

It's that Time of Year Again: Sneckdown Time
Every year, all over the country (depending on El Niño and Polar Vortexes), snow covers roads and traffic patterns and snow removal equipment reveals a safer street design.

New York to Spend $50 Million on 1,500 Protective Bollards
New York City officials, including Mayor Bill de Blasio, are responding to a wave of terrorist attacks and other tragic events with a proposal to build protective bollards around the city.

Vision Zero in Name Only
Many cities say they've adopted Vision Zero, but the numbers show they aren't actually getting any safer.
More Projects Adopt Pedestrian-Friendly Sidewalk Shed
Last year more than 9,000 sidewalk sheds dotted New York streets, protecting public safety and inspiring universal frustration.

Editorial: Ditch the Foolish Distracted Walking Tickets
Crossing the street can be dangerous in the best conditions, but a $500 fine for looking at the phone while crossing the street won't help anything, according to this editorial.

A Vision Zero Success Story in New York
The 300-foot wide Queens Boulevard has been known as the Boulevard of Death. Since 1990, it has claimed 186 lives, 74 percent being pedestrians, including 18 in 1997 alone. A series of safety improvements have brought fatalities to zero since 2014.

University of Pittsburgh Settles for Pedestrian Improvements on Adjacent Street
The university wanted to limit a section of Bigelow Boulevard to pedestrians, but the city pushed for a compromise: better crosswalks and traffic calming features. Now the challenge is finding the funds.

Federal Highway Administration Bureaucrat Says Rainbow Crosswalks Are a Liability
An administrator for the Kentucky division of the Federal Highway Administration informed the city of Lexington that its rainbow crosswalk does not meet federal safety standards.

Walking in the Margins with Streetsblog
Streetsblog USA wants you to use #walkinginthemargins to expose hostile pedestrian environments.

Op-Ed: Planners Could Do More to Encourage Healthy Communities
In many locales, instruments like traffic studies take pedestrian health into little account. According to Lark Lo, healthy communities haven't been much of a priority at all.

Suburban Cycling and Walking Becoming More Dangerous
Chicago-land bikers and walkers are facing increased danger outside the city's center.
Pagination
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