Pedestrian Safety

Statistics Show NYPD Enforcing Vision Zero Pedestrian Safety Initiative

The law enforcement results are in from the first year of Vision Zero policy in New York City.

January 27, 2015 - StreetsBlog NYC

Street With No Sidewalk

Should a Residential Street Ever Lack Sidewalks?

You're probably familiar with the sight of a long, quiet residential street unadorned by sidewalks, pushing pedestrians, pets, and kids on bikes onto the street. Is there ever a good reason for such a typology?

January 22, 2015 - Greater Greater Washington

New York MTA Buses to Alert Pedestrians When Turning

Following the lead of programs in Los Angeles, Portland, and Baltimore, a pilot program by the New York Metropolitan Transportation Authority will install warning systems to alert pedestrians to turning buses.

January 2, 2015 - New York Daily News

Busy Crossing Street

Big Cities Make Pedestrian Safety a Priority

New data released Dec. 19 by NHTSA shows increased safety for those traveling by car, but pedestrian fatalities are 15% higher than in 2009. Plans by San Francisco, Los Angeles, New York, and Chicago to increase ped safety are described by the WSJ.

December 22, 2014 - The Wall Street Journal

Parisian Traffic, Air Pollution Reduction Plan Caught on Political Snag

Parisian clean air politics turn out to be something of a class issue, even for a socialist mayor. The plans are seen as penalizing low income Parisians while benefiting elitist city dwellers who dislike traffic, overshadowing public health benefits.

December 16, 2014 - The New York Times

Explained: How Protected Bike Lanes Improve Pedestrian Safety

An article in Treehugger explains the public safety benefits of protected bike lanes by appealing to common sense.

December 9, 2014 - Treehugger

Paris Expands Big Car Reduction Plans

Paris Mayor Anne Hidalgo made a game-changing announcement in the name of clean air and walkability

December 9, 2014 - Streetsblog USA

San Jose Enacts 'Pedestrian Safety Zone'—Bans Bikes from Sidewalks

The city of San Jose has responded to concerns of seniors in the community by banning bikes from sidewalks a large swath of downtown near the convention center, City Hall, and San Jose State.

December 4, 2014 - San Jose Mercury News

Pedestrian Intersection

Intersection Designs that Prioritize Pedestrian Safety

Following the idea that pedestrian safety takes its cues from planners, Rachel Dovey's article on pedestrian safety lists six intersection designs that "actually prioritize pedestrians."

October 20, 2014 - Next City

LADOT Releases 'Great Streets for Los Angeles' Strategic Plan, Sets Vision Zero Goal

Following a year when 80 pedestrians were killed by cars in the city, the Los Angeles Department of Transportation has proposed a new strategic plan that sets Vision Zero goals for pedestrian fatalities and reflects new priorities for the city.

October 2, 2014 - Los Angeles Daily News

The 'Rule of Two' that Allows Drivers to Kill

An op-ed column by Dana M. Lerner, a New Yorker whose 9-year-old son was struck and killed by taxi while crossing the street earlier this year, explains the legal precedent that lets drivers get away with murder.

October 1, 2014 - New York Times

Cops Crackdown on Speeding Cyclists after Second Pedestrian Death in Central Park

For the second time in as many months, a cyclist crashed into a pedestrian in Manhattan's Central Park with fatal consequences to the pedestrian. On September 18, Jill Tarlov, 58, was hit by Jason W. Marshall, 31, riding a racing, brakeless bike.

September 25, 2014 - New York Times

Mayor de Blasio Claims Early Pedestrian Safety Success for Vision Zero

Is it too soon for New York City Mayor Bill de Blasio to tout the success of Vision Zero?

September 9, 2014 - Capital New York

Survey Finds Chicago Drivers Failing to Yield for Pedestrians

A study finds that most drivers disregard for the rights of pedestrians to cross the road. Visual cues, however, provided by street design, greatly increase the likelihood that drivers will yield.

September 8, 2014 - Chicago Tribune

Sidewalks Left Out of Nashville Development Fee System

Josh Brown reports for the Tennessean on the unintended consequences of a fee waiver meant to encourage infill development—developers are readily choosing to pay the fee instead of building sidewalks.

August 27, 2014 - The Tennessean

As Crashes Go Unreported, Boston's Pedestrians Lose Out

The refusal of the Boston Police Department to report crashes to the state's Registry of Vehicles means that the city misses out on state funding to improve pedestrian and traffic safety.

August 20, 2014 - The Boston Globe

Pedestrian Safety Suffers in Low-Income Areas

Focusing on street safety conditions in Miami as a case study of larger findings, a Governing magazine analysis finds that pedestrians are much more likely to be killed by cars in impoverished neighborhoods.

August 5, 2014 - Governing

Busy Crossing Street

Crosswalks Not Included for New Silver Line Stations in Tysons Corner

The Silver Line's intended impact on Tysons Corner in Virginia has been described as the "Great Suburban Retrofit." It looks like the retrofit will have to start with crosswalks near the line's new stations.

August 1, 2014 - Greater Greater Washington

College Town Proposes Median Barriers as Solution to Pedestrian Deaths

State transportation officials, the president of the University of Maryland, and a local city councilmember agree: a barrier on the median of Route 1 in College Park is the way to curtail a tragic rash of pedestrian deaths on the corridor.

July 14, 2014 - WTOP

In Progress: London's 'Pedestrian Safety Action Plan'

Like cities in the United States—most notably, New York City—London is working to improve walkability while reducing pedestrian fatalities. The policy that will direct London in these efforts, the Pedestrian Safety Action Plan, is still taking shape.

July 14, 2014 - Living Streets

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.

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