Pedestrian Safety

Man in wide-brimmed hat walks through nondescript concrete freeway underpass.

Omaha Adopts Vision Zero Plan

The city aims to eliminate traffic fatalities by 2025.

November 16, 2023 - Omaha World-Herald

New York City street with painted bike lane and crosswalk flanked by brick buildings.

Report: Narrow Traffic Lanes Improve Safety

Narrowing lanes can improve road safety and reclaim space for other uses.

November 13, 2023 - Johns Hopkins Bloomberg School of Public Health

Marked bike lane on wide asphalt street with palm trees and Los Angeles mountains in background.

How Sun Belt Cities are Improving Road Safety

Often car-centric, these cities in the South and West are working to make their roads safer for pedestrians, cyclists, and transit riders.

November 2, 2023 - Smart Cities Dive

Yellow school crossing sign with two figures and brick buildings in background.

Crosswalks Near NYC Schools More Dangerous Than Average

A child and a crossing guard were killed in school crosswalks within one week as the NYPD cuts crossing guard jobs.

October 31, 2023 - Curbed

View of palm tree-lined boulevard in Miami, Florida with white PT Cruiser driving by.

Florida to Adopt ‘Safe System’ Traffic Safety Approach

The concept focuses on road design and policy that reduces the likelihood of severe injuries and deaths.

October 27, 2023 - WUSF

White and red Cruise self-driving vehicle on a San Francisco street.

Feds To Investigate Autonomous Car Crashes

The NHTSA has opened an investigation into Cruise self-driving cars after four separate incidents that injured pedestrians in San Francisco.

October 19, 2023 - Smart Cities Dive

Aerial view of downtown Milwaukee, Wisconsin at sunset

A Look at Milwaukee’s Vision Zero Efforts

The city is making slow but steady progress on reducing traffic deaths. Some advocates say changes aren’t being implemented fast enough to save lives.

October 17, 2023 - WUWM (Milwaukee Public Radio)

View of Boston skyline from Longfellow Bridge with cyclist riding in bike lane and pedestrian on sidewalk.

Progress Report: Boston Strong on Street Safety, Slow to Reduce Emissions

A new report assesses the city’s progress halfway through implementation of the ‘Go Boston 2030’ long-range transportation plan.

October 16, 2023 - Streetsblog Mass

Green parking-protected bike lane in Philadelphia with old church in background

Philadelphia Traffic Calming Initiative Pays Off

City officials say serious crashes are down by 34 percent on streets that were the target of Complete Streets projects.

October 12, 2023 - The Philadelphia Inquirer

"No turn on red" sign

San Francisco Moves to Ban Right Turns on Red

The policy is common in many countries, New York City, and other dense urban areas with high numbers of pedestrians and cyclists.

October 9, 2023 - Streetsblog San Francisco

Aerial view of vehicles on city street with superimposed graphic arrows indicating autonomous cars.

Maintaining Livability in the Age of Autonomous Cars

How do self-driving cars fit into ‘livable streets?’

October 5, 2023 - Streetsblog USA

View of street in front of Arlington National Cemetery with ornate neoclassical building on hilltop in background.

Arlington Updates Crosswalk Laws to Align With State Law, Vision Zero

The county will now require drivers to come to a full stop when encountering pedestrians in a crosswalk.

September 25, 2023 - Arl Now

View of empty brick crosswalk in shopping district in Greenwich, Connecticut

Connecticut Launches Complete Streets Standards

The new policy calls for sidewalks, bike lanes, and crosswalks on state roads and state-funded road projects.

September 14, 2023 - Roads and Bridges

View of two trucks on asphalt two-lane road in Vapa Valley with vineyards along side of road

A Vision Zero Plan for Napa Valley

The regional transportation agency released a Vision Zero that will guide a ‘Safe Systems’ approach to improving road safety.

September 12, 2023 - Napa Valley Patch

Aerial view of Sheboygan, Wisconsin

Sheboygan Developing Complete Streets Plan

Local efforts kickstarted by a federal grant are culminating in a Vision Zero plan.

August 24, 2023 - Sheboygan Press

Traffic light on overhead pole with traffic camera and "Photo Enforced" sign

Seattle To Expand Traffic Camera Program

The new cameras are designed to reduce travel time for buses and limit speeding at dangerous intersections.

August 16, 2023 - The Urbanist

Worker in yellow safety suit holding up orange SLOW sign on road

Reforms Are Coming to American Road Design

The federal manual governing road design is getting an update. Will it encourage real progress toward road safety?

August 16, 2023 - National Association of City Transportation Officials (NACTO)

View from middle of street with streetcar rails and high-rise buildings on either side in San Francisco, Bay Bridge visible in background

San Francisco Will Lower Speed Limits on 23 Streets

A 2021 state law allows cities to reduce speed limits next to ‘business activity districts.’

August 3, 2023 - SF Gate

Protected bike path with raised curb in Indianapolis, Indiana

What's Incomplete About Complete Streets?

Although hundreds of states and local governments have adopted Complete Streets policies, American streets keep getting more dangerous for walkers and cyclists. What's missing from Complete Streets policies?

July 10, 2023 - Michael Lewyn

Pedestrians crossing a busy crosswalk on New York City street with tall buildings in background

Study: Streets With High Foot Traffic Also See High Driving Speeds

A detailed study of where people walk reveals that driving speeds on many of the streets most used by pedestrians in U.S. cities are higher than recommended speeds, putting pedestrians at higher risk for serious injuries and death.

June 27, 2023 - Streetsblog USA

Urban Design for Planners 1: Software Tools

This six-course series explores essential urban design concepts using open source software and equips planners with the tools they need to participate fully in the urban design process.

Planning for Universal Design

Learn the tools for implementing Universal Design in planning regulations.

Top Books

An annual review of books related to planning.

Top Schools

The definitive ranking of graduate planning programs.

100 Most Influential Urbanists

The who's who of urbanism, according to Planetizen readers.

Urban Planning Creators You Should Know

A short list of voices on social, video, and podcasting platforms.