Safe Streets

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

Vividly colored orange and red autumn trees along sidewalk in Nashville, Tennessee

Court Rules Against Nashville Sidewalk Ordinance

The city can no longer require developers to pay for or build sidewalks.

May 15, 2023 - Courthouse News Service

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

How Cities are Spending Safe Streets Funds

New federal grant programs are injecting millions of dollars into road safety projects in an effort to stem the alarming growth of traffic deaths on U.S. roads.

May 10, 2023 - Governing

Man crossing crosswalk with seeing eye dog and cane

Opinion: Make Safe, Slow Streets the Default

For people with disabilities or limited mobility, a lack of safe infrastructure can cause significant disruptions, delays, and safety hazards.

October 12, 2022 - Next City

New York City Pedestrians

Which Road Safety Interventions Work Best?

Data from New York City show that traffic safety projects that give pedestrians the most space are the most effective in reducing fatal crashes and injuries.

September 19, 2022 - Governing

Vision Zero

How Communities Can Leverage Federal Vision Zero Funding To Make Streets Safer

Two safe streets advocates give their recommendations for how to effectively use the $1 billion in annual funding available through a federal grant program.

August 10, 2022 - Streetsblog USA

Delivery Services

How Does Freight Fit Into Complete Streets?

As home delivery of everything from groceries to furniture becomes more popular, policymakers must evaluate how to keep streets safe and accessible for pedestrians and other vulnerable users.

March 28, 2022 - NJfuture.org

Los Angeles and Coronavirus

Proposed Ballot Measure Would Require L.A. To Enforce Own Mobility Plan

The city's 2015 mobility plan was hailed as one of the nation's most ambitious, but progress toward its goals has been less than impressive.

March 8, 2022 - USC Annenberg Radio News

Florida Pedestrians

Opinion: Road Safety Data Should Include Close Calls

Even in the absence of lethal collisions, the experience of repeated near-misses can discourage pedestrians from walking and degrade public perception of road safety.

January 25, 2022 - NextCity

Complete Street

Safe Streets 'Champions' Announced

Smart Growth America and the National Complete Streets Coalition announced a new initiative designed to help cities achieve the potential of a new approach to street design.

October 11, 2020 - Smart Growth America

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

Cincinnati

Opinion: It’s Time for Cincinnati to Embrace Vision Zero

Pedestrian fatalities are rising, and one city council candidate has had enough.

May 14, 2019 - Cincinnati Enquirer

Bill Would Make California's Urban State HIghways Safer for Non-Motorists

Sen. Scott Wiener introduced legislation to make state highways that run through villages, town, and cities, often acting as main streets, accommodate the safety needs of walkers, cyclists, and transit users when undergoing capital improvements.

January 19, 2019 - Streetsblog California

Los Angeles

If You're Ignoring Transportation, You're Not Much of a Climate Mayor

Encouraging compact land use by allowing density, building near transit, and eliminating parking minimums can have a powerful effect on the emissions a city generates.

May 13, 2018 - Streetsblog

One Way Sign

Vision Zero in Name Only

Many cities say they've adopted Vision Zero, but the numbers show they aren't actually getting any safer.

January 2, 2018 - Streetsblog USA

Bollards

Saving Lives: Including Sidewalk Bollards in Street Design

Countless lives were likely saved by a strategically placed bollard on W. 45th Ave. which stopped a motorist who had driven three blocks on city sidewalks, mowing-down as many pedestrians as possible, from entering the Times Square pedestrian plaza.

May 31, 2017 - The New York Times

A Deadly Crash Is an Accident Because it Isn't Terrorism

Cable news networks interrupted broadcasts on Thursday morning with breaking news: a vehicle had just driven three block on the sidewalks in Times Square, New York, resulting in massive casualties. Anchors asked, "Was it terrorism or an accident?"

May 21, 2017 - Daily News

Ahead of Schedule: Detroit Wrapping Up Installation of 40,000 LED Streetlights

In perhaps the brightest sign yet of recovery, the Detroit Public Lighting Authority has made incredible progress on a project to install 40,000 LED streetlights around the city's residential neighborhoods.

June 16, 2015 - The Detroit News

Two Brothers Walk to School

How Developers Can Help Make Streets Safe for Children Again

It will take a broad coalition of interests to once again make it safe for "free-range kids" to walk and bike on the streets of American communities.

May 14, 2015 - Patrick L. Phillips

Bumblebee Bike

The New Wonder Drug? Cycling, Some Advocates Say

Cycling has positive impacts both for cyclists and non-cyclists alike, helping to reduce pollution and congestion and improving health and economic factors with just two wheels.

October 28, 2014 - Urbanful

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Urban Design for Planners 1: Software Tools

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Planning for Universal Design

Learn the tools for implementing Universal Design in planning regulations.