Pedestrian deaths are on the rise in the US, and it’s no laughing matter. But you know what they say – laughter is the best medicine! So let’s take a humorous look at the facts. Turns out, pedestrians are getting the short end of the stick – or rather, the short end of the car! Pedestrian deaths have gone up 37% since 2000, while motorist deaths have gone down 24%. Looks like the cars are winning, folks!
Sadly, these deaths are happening across the board, but some communities are being hit harder than others. A study by Harvard and Boston University found that Black pedestrians are twice as likely as white ones to be struck and killed by a car. And for Black cyclists, that risk is 4.5 times higher. Yikes! Talk about bad luck!
The problem isn’t just bad luck, though. It’s bad city planning. Poor neighborhoods tend to have fewer safety measures like streetlights, crosswalks, and sidewalks. And oh, how the mighty have fallen! Vacuuming up all that money, a.k.a the ever-sprawling suburbs, has left neglected communities behind.
It’s not just the sidewalks that are crumbling. Vacant buildings and collapsing property values have made walking outside a dangerous activity. One study found that roads without sidewalks are three times more likely to result in a pedestrian crash. It’s enough to make you want to skip your daily walk and just hop on the “struggle bus” instead!
Neighborhoods with high minority populations often have major roads built for speed and high traffic volumes, which makes walking even more dangerous. These roads were designed in the 1950s to accommodate a lot of traffic, and they’ve only gotten worse over time. It’s a classic case of the needs of the many being ignored for the needs of the few. Or in this case, the needs of drivers being prioritized over the lives of pedestrians. Ouch!
Thankfully, there’s hope for change! Vision Zero campaigns have been shown to be effective at reducing pedestrian deaths. The idea is that even a single death is one too many. That’s right – Vision Zero is basically the “squad goals” of pedestrian safety. Other countries have been successful with this approach, and there’s no reason the US can’t follow suit.
The key is investing in safer road design by narrowing streets, reducing space for cars, and enforcing speed limits. It’s important to add trees as well – not only does it look pretty, but it also gives drivers visual cues to slow down. It’s the perfect solution – gazing at trees is a natural relaxant (as anyone who’s taken a stroll in the park can tell you), and it’s good for the environment!
Secretary of Transportation Pete Buttigieg launched a billion-dollar pilot program to redesign roads with a focus on racial equity, and that’s a great start. But we need more than just talk. It’s time for our elected officials to face the facts: the appalling racial disparity in road deaths is happening on their watch, and most of these deaths are preventable. So let’s show them who’s boss – pedestrians of the world, unite!
Serious News: nytimes
