Pedestrian Safety Planning

! In a typical 8-hour workday in America, 4 to 5 pedestrians are killed and each day over 230 more pedestrians are injured.

! In 2002, almost 1,800 people were involved in a pedestrian crash in the Baltimore region. That accounts for 60% of the statewide total for pedestrian crashes. The number of pedestrian fatalities was about 39% of the total statewide. (2002)

Making streets safer for pedestrians

Pedestrians and bicyclists are legitimate road users: they have the legal right to use our roadways. Each time a person walks or rides a bicycle instead of driving; our region sees a direct benefit in reduced traffic congestion and air pollution.

Further, providing transportation options is a critical aspect of environmental justice - providing all residents of the Baltimore region with equal access to our transportation system, regardless of their ability to own and operate a car.

Benefits of making communities safer for pedestrians
From improvements to the environment, to health, to economic growth, to quality of life, the benefits are tremendous. Providing a livable community is an important part of attracting and keeping businesses, keeping our best and brightest young people here at home, and ensuring that Baltimore area communities remain competitive in the 21st century.

Our communities can be safer for pedestrians
Currently, there are many places in the region where walking is safe and convenient because of sidewalks, trails, and destinations that are close to home. Unfortunately, in many places, travel by foot is dangerous. Parents who grew up walking or riding their bikes are afraid to let their children do so today, and with good reason. The injury statistics in our region are sobering:

• A pedestrian is injured in a crash with a motor vehicle once every 4 hours in the Baltimore region. A third of those are under age 16.¹
  
  
• Statewide statistics show that bicycle and pedestrian deaths, injuries and property damage are estimated to cost over $850 million per year.²
  

How you can get involved

As planning professionals and as community leaders, we can all make our region better for pedestrians. Here are a few ways you can make a difference:

• Participate in the Bicycle and Pedestrian Advisory Group
  
  
• Check out this FREE pedestrian safety campaign toolkit from Federal Highway Administration. Available in both English and Spanish.
  
  
• Attend a meeting of your local neighborhood or community association. This can be a great place to bring up important issues and find out more about what you can do to improve your community.

For more information:

Heather Strassberger, hstrassberger@baltometro.org or 410-732-0500 x1025.

Sources:
 ¹ & ² Maryland Highway Safety Office

Links within this web site:

Pedestrian Initiatives and Issues

Walkable Community Workshop Series

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Links outside this web site:

Maryland Strategic Highway Safety Plan

Last Updated on Monday, 07 February 2011 15:26