How the Media 'Walk-Shames' Pedestrians

Innocent until proven guilty—unless you're a pedestrian in the court of opinion.

1 minute read

September 17, 2015, 6:00 AM PDT

By James Brasuell @CasualBrasuell


No Walking

Rhonda Roth / Shutterstock

"Media outlets frequently shame walking in the way they cover issues related to walking, and these tactics contribute to a culture where death and destruction are accepted as unavoidable byproducts of our auto-oriented mobility norms," according to the argument of a recent article by Matt Steele.

To help members of the media be more deliberate in their presentation of the issues and politics surrounding walking, Steele goes on to highlight several examples of "walk-shaming," including:

  • Misunderstandings about crosswalks. Victim blaming, according to Steele, is especially easy when crosswalks are so poor in so many cities. In Minnesota, for example, every corner is a crosswalk—even when unmarked. That doesn't stop the media from implying the fault of the pedestrian when struck and killed or injured when crossing the street legally.
  • The use of the word "accident," which, according to Steele, "serves to entrench the fatalistic concept that, in the absence of intent, carnage is merely an occurrence of chance."
  • Walk-shaming advertisements.

Each of the above examples, and the others mentioned in the article, include recent, specific examples of the media perpetrating a walk-shaming narrative. 

Wednesday, September 16, 2015 in Streets MN

portrait of professional woman

I love the variety of courses, many practical, and all richly illustrated. They have inspired many ideas that I've applied in practice, and in my own teaching. Mary G., Urban Planner

I love the variety of courses, many practical, and all richly illustrated. They have inspired many ideas that I've applied in practice, and in my own teaching.

Mary G., Urban Planner

Cover CM Credits, Earn Certificates, Push Your Career Forward

Logo for Planetizen Federal Action Tracker with black and white image of U.S. Capitol with water ripple overlay.

Planetizen Federal Action Tracker

A weekly monitor of how Trump’s orders and actions are impacting planners and planning in America.

July 16, 2025 - Diana Ionescu

Green vintage Chicago streetcar from the 1940s parked at the Illinois Railroad Museum in 1988.

Chicago’s Ghost Rails

Just beneath the surface of the modern city lie the remnants of its expansive early 20th-century streetcar system.

July 13, 2025 - WTTV

Blue and silver Amtrak train with vibrant green and yellow foliage in background.

Amtrak Cutting Jobs, Funding to High-Speed Rail

The agency plans to cut 10 percent of its workforce and has confirmed it will not fund new high-speed rail projects.

July 14, 2025 - Smart Cities Dive

Worker in yellow safety vest and hard hat looks up at servers in data center.

Ohio Forces Data Centers to Prepay for Power

Utilities are calling on states to hold data center operators responsible for new energy demands to prevent leaving consumers on the hook for their bills.

July 18 - Inside Climate News

Former MARTA CEO Collie Greenwood standing in front of MARTA HQ with blurred MARTA sign visible in background.

MARTA CEO Steps Down Amid Citizenship Concerns

MARTA’s board announced Thursday that its chief, who is from Canada, is resigning due to questions about his immigration status.

July 18 - WABE

Rendering of proposed protected bikeway in Santa Clara, California.

Silicon Valley ‘Bike Superhighway’ Awarded $14M State Grant

A Caltrans grant brings the 10-mile Central Bikeway project connecting Santa Clara and East San Jose closer to fruition.

July 17 - San José Spotlight