Pedestrian Safety

TABLE OF CONTENTS
Abstract………………………………………………………………………………….2
Introduction……………………………………………………………………………..2
Pedestrian and bicyclist accident statistics…………………………………………….3
The main contributors to pedestrian crashes…………………………………………..4
Possible safety measures……………………………………………………………..5
Role of the community on pedestrian and bicyclist safety……………………………6
Works Cited…………………………………………………………………………..7
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Pedestrian Safety
Abstract
As the town manager of Arcadian Garden in East Orange, I am worried by the many cases of road crashes affecting pedestrians and cyclists. In a period of one year alone, in the East Orange community, at least three bicyclists and five pedestrians have been involved in accidents with cars. The federal government in conjunction with state governments have managed to put in place measures that have greatly reduced passenger car accidents, but the issue of pedestrian safety has been largely ignored leading to rising cases of bicyclist and pedestrian accidents. For this reason, the safety of people on bicycles and those on foot needs to be improved by use of a raft of measures. Once this happens, people will feel confident to cross the streets and allow kids to enjoy riding bicycles. That is why I came up with this resident guide, backed by research to help enhance pedestrian safety by suggesting additional safety measures alongside those established by the federal government.
Introduction
Walking and cycling are healthy and sustainable modes of transport.

Considering the increased calls by different stakeholders to conserve the environment, more people are opting to cycle or walk to school, work or for leisure. City councils can no longer ignore pedestrians and cyclists in the integrated city transport programs. What is more, these two modes of transport are not only lifestyle choices, but they are also inevitable in the transport chain since everyone must walk at some point. Walking and biking can also foster the economic and social growth of the people of the town. A safe, cheap, and easily accessible mode of transport implies that community members are better allied to each other, social amenities, and employment opportunities (“Pedestrian & Bicycle Safety” 1). Unfortunately, these modes of transport are the most vulnerable to accidents since a pedestrian, or a cyclist can be easily run over by a fast moving car or train. Therefore, we need to delve into this issue to understand what the real problem is? What can be done? And the role of the community in enhancing pedestrian safety.
Pedestrian and bicyclist accident statistics
As recently as 2014, close to 5,000 pedestrians and close to 800 bicyclists lost their lives due to collisions with motor vehicles. This translates to an average of 12 lives being lost in each calendar day. Equally, approximately 80,000 people around the country picked injuries resulting from these accidents. National statistics also show that the trend was not any different in earlier years. For instance, in 2009, 630 bicyclists and 4,092 people on foot died due to road accidents. Also in 2009 close to 60,000 pedestrians and approximately 50,000 bikers got injuries due to traffic crashes. In that year the two groups accounted for almost 15 percent of the total traffic deaths in the US and 5 percent of total injuries. The problem could be worse considering that some cases are not reported especially those happening in private streets (“Pedestrian & Bicycle Information Center” 1).
It is believed that poor or lack thereof of facilities is the major cause of crashes and injuries. The table below from one of the resource centers shows the six major triggers of injury and their percentages.
Six most common sources of injury percentage
Tripped on a rough/ cracked sidewalk 24
Tripped/fell 17
Hit by a car 12
Animals involved 6
Tipped on stone 5
Stepped on hole 5
Source(“Pedestrian & Bicycle Information Center.” Pedestrian & Bicycle Information Center, www.pedbikeinfo.org/data/factsheet_crash.cfm.)

The main contributors to pedestrian crashes.
As experts rightly argue, proper recognition of factors that lead to pedestrian and bicyclist safety challenges is the first step in tackling the problem. If the causes are not carefully identified, the wrong policies may be put in place thus escalating the problem. In this regard, lack of sidewalks or paths for bikers and pedestrians is one of the factors that contributes to traffic fatalities and injuries. The available sidewalks stretch for only a few meters. Moreover, most of these facilities or paths are narrow hence no enough space for bicyclists or people on foot to pass freely. Also, as seen in the above chart, poor grounds are the leading cause of accidents at 24 percent. Most surfaces in the town are bumpy, cracked or covered with soil. Some paths also have huge potholes making it problematic for bikers to use the roads (Sandt, et al. 6).
Another factor is that the state of most bus stops is bad. It is not only difficult to access the bus stops, but it is also unsafe to cut across the streets. Additionally, the bus stop facilities such as waiting seats are very close to the bus lanes. Some drivers are also fond of disobeying traffic rules, which exposes pedestrians and bicyclists to dangers. Such habits include over speeding and ignoring the traffic lights. Some drivers also drive while under the influence of narcotics and alcohol. The habit of texting or making a phone call while driving also puts the safety of the driver and the pedestrians at risk. However, some bicyclists and pedestrians are also to blame for some traffic crashes. They engage in behaviors such as not taking precautionary measures before crossing the roads. Some ignore designated areas marked for pedestrian or bicyclist crossing and try to cross amid traffic.
Possible safety measures
Road safety experts suggest that there should be an overhaul in the physical designs of streets and freeways. The new road designs should have wide sidewalks and bicycle paths. This will reduce congestion and at the same time the roads will be more visible. Safe crossing areas for pedestrians, people living with disabilities, bicyclists should be increased. Signs and traffic lights should also be placed in areas where they are visible to motorists. Signs are particularly important at intersections and locations that experience an influx of pedestrians and bicyclists during peak hours. The colors used to make signs or to demarcate crossing areas should be bright enough so that they are visible to motorists (Karsch, et al. 5). Such changes should be integrated into the city plans.
Also, the city council should work to reduce barriers to accessing bus stops. For instance, some bus stops may be relocated to areas with enough space to enhance pedestrian and bicyclist safety. The distance from the sidewalks to the bus stops should also be reduced as much as possible so as to reduce the number of pedestrians who cut across the streets. The city council should also maintain the standards of the pedestrian and bicyclist facilities. The sidewalks, signs, and bus stops need to be up to standard always. Cleaning of the sidewalks should also be done on a regular basis to avoid piling up of trash and soil. As we saw earlier, the poor state of roads is one of the factors causing traffic accidents thus maintaining standards will eliminate this problem. Others measures include educating pedestrians and drivers alike on the importance of obeying traffic rules, increasing bumps on the roads, and giving pedestrians the right of way.
The role of the community in pedestrian and bicyclist safety.
The local community also plays an important role in ensuring that pedestrian and bicyclist safety is enhanced. For instance, it is the role of the community to educate young children on the importance of being careful while biking or walking on the footpaths. Volunteers can also work with the police and law enforcing agencies to ensure that motorists comply with traffic laws. The community can also report locations that pose a safety threat to the city authorities for improvement. Lastly, the local media can be used to create public awareness. The media can also help in highlighting problems that the pedestrians and the bicyclists face within the community. I believe, once this report is implemented, pedestrian safety in New Orange will be enhanced.
Works Cited
“Pedestrian & Bicycle Safety.” Safety | Federal Highway Administration, safety.fhwa.dot.gov/ped_bike/.
“Pedestrian & Bicycle Information Center.” Pedestrian & Bicycle Information Center, www.pedbikeinfo.org/data/factsheet_crash.cfm.
Sandt, Laura, et al. A Resident’s Guide for Creating Safer Communities for Walking and Biking. No. FHWA-SA-14-099. 2015.
Karsch, H. M., et al. Review of Studies on Pedestrian and Bicyclist Safety, 1991-2007. No. DOT HS 811 614. 2012.