Street Safety

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

Bike land and pedestrian lane marked with white paint on grey asphalt

The Best New Complete Streets Policies, Ranked

After a pandemic hiatus, Smart Growth America has resumed creating an annual list of cities that are making the strongest commitments to improving street safety and making roads accessible and comfortable for everyone.

May 25, 2023 - Governing

Coronavirus Streets

Video: The Athletic Feats Required to Navigate NYC

A video from Transportation Alternatives highlights the infrastructure failures that can make getting around the city an Olympian feat.

August 10, 2021 - StreetsBlog NYC

New York Bike Signage

Can I Be a Libertarian for Bike Lanes?

Discussing the trade-offs between making government leaner and making traffic safer.

April 25, 2021 - Michael Lewyn

Traffic in Manhattan New York

Cars Still Rule the Road. Is Change Possible?

The dominant narrative is that streets are for cars and infrastructure that accommodates driving is necessary for cities to grow. But cities ended up this way because of decisions that make other modes secondary.

September 25, 2019 - The Outline

Portland Street

'No Crossing' Signs in Portland Limit the Public Way, Say Critics

In Portland, Oregon, transportation advocates are questioning the justifications for crosswalk closures in the city.

September 17, 2019 - BikePortland

Ghost Bike

Op-Ed: Street Safety Is a Matter of Race

What do traffic safety and gun violence have in common? A lot, as it turns out. In both cases, hard-hit neighborhoods tend to have suffered from historical disinvestment along racial lines.

September 1, 2019 - Brookings

Manassas Street Memphis

Memphis Street Goes on a Road Diet

Separated bike lanes and new pedestrian infrastructure have replaced traffic lanes on a mile of Manassas Street in Memphis.

June 4, 2019 - The Field (ASLA)

Los Angeles Protected Bike Lane

Less Paint, More Barriers, Make for Better Urban Cycling

New research from the University of Colorado Denver and the University of New Mexico sheds light on how to make cities safer for cyclists and other road users and refutes some assumptions about bike safety, such as "safety-in-numbers."

June 3, 2019 - CU Denver Today

Car Bike Lane

Using Gas Tax Revenue to Remove Traffic Lanes Adds to Road Diet Debate

Reducing the number of traffic lanes to improve bike and pedestrian safety can be inherently controversial when auto travel times are increased, and it can upset motorists further when they learn gas taxes are funding those safety improvements.

May 31, 2019 - Los Angeles Times

Red Light Camera

Gov. Cuomo Signs Street Safety Legislation For New York City on Mother's Day

Gov. Andrew M. Cuomo took his mother to work on Sunday so she could join him in a panel where he signed life-saving, street safety legislation to reinstate and expand the school zone speed camera program in New York City.

May 13, 2019 - Office of Governor Andrew M. Cuomo

Washington D.C. Street

D.C. Transportation Bills to Move Vision Zero Plan Closer to Reality

Washington, D.C., is not meeting its Vision Zero goals. Three proposed bills would put requirements in place to make traffic safety a priority.

May 13, 2019 - Greater Greater Washington

Queens Boulevard

The Negligence Law Revolution That Wasn't

In 2017, New York's highest court held that cities could be held liable for failure to adopt traffic calming policies. Why hasn't this ruling led to safer streets?

March 3, 2019 - Michael Lewyn

New York Department of Sanitation

Private Garbage Collections a Deadly Business for Employees and Pedestrians

Tired drivers working long hours in damaged trucks makes private garbage collection a dangerous business.

January 8, 2018 - Pro Publica

Adams Morgan District

Neighborhood Commission Wants a Car-Free Street in D.C.

A popular neighborhood in Washington, D.C. is looking for ways to make its main drag more pedestrian friendly.

August 2, 2017 - Greater Greater Washington

Bike and Ped Safety Signs

Safe Streets for Whom?

An equity strategist offers advice on creating safe streets programs that address systemic racism.

July 29, 2016 - Streetsblog

Complete Street Vancouver

Florida Backs Miami Complete Streets Initiative

The Florida DOT has approved Miami's plan to rework busy Biscayne Boulevard. In the spirit of Complete Streets, vehicle lanes will be reduced and pedestrian/bike spaces expanded.

April 9, 2015 - Miami Today

Vote for America's 'Least Crossable Streets'

We were told to look both ways before crossing the street—not walk two miles, uphill both ways, in the snow before crossing the street.

May 21, 2014 - Streetsblog USA

Is Lowering the Speed Limit the Best Way to Improve Street Safety?

In the aftermath of recent pedestrian fatalities, a lot of attention has been placed on lowering speed limits across New York City to improve safety. But the city's former traffic commissioner argues that other approaches would be more effective.

January 30, 2014 - New York Daily News

Small sneckdown at Hampshire and Elm in Cambridge, MA

Sneckdowns: Nature's Street Safety Pilot Project

It's hard to imagine how the wintry mess blanketing cities across midwest and northeast could improve street safety. But recent snows provide one benefit being touted by safety advocates: temporary curb extensions or "neckdowns" caused by snow banks.

January 25, 2014 - BBC News

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