Op-Ed: Houston Should Try to Kill Fewer Pedestrians

In Houston, politicians continue to prioritize moving cars, trucks and trains quickly, over pedestrian safety, argues an editorial in the Houston Chronicle. The piece claims that, despite a long history of danger, the city continues to ignore the problem.

"Our city streets grow deadlier with every passing year. Car crashes, cyclist deaths and pedestrian accidents increased 10 percent between 2014 and 2015. The Houston region ranks in the top 15 for the most dangerous communities for pedestrians, according to a study by Smart Growth America's National Complete Streets Coalition," the piece contends.

While some may call the problem a natural consequence of having a sprawling city, the Chronicle argues the city has missed opportunities to improve, not just in some trouble spots, but in new construction and all around the city. "Even dense, walkable neighborhoods like downtown and Midtown suffer from a lack of bike lanes, unsafe pedestrian crossings and an excess of curb cuts that interrupt sidewalks with dangerous driveways," the Chronicle points out.