MAKING WALKING AND CYCLING SAFER: LESSONS FROM EUROPE

The neglect of pedestrian and bicycling safety in the U.S. has made these transportation modes dangerous ways of getting around. Pedestrian fatalities are 36 times higher than car occupant fatalities/km traveled, and bicycling fatalities are 11 times higher than car occupant fatalities/km traveled. However, walking and bicycling can be made much safer as shown by the much lower fatality rates in The Netherlands and Germany. Pedestrian deaths/billion km walked in these countries are less than 10% of that in the U.S., and bicyclist deaths/billion km cycled are only 25% of that in the U.S. Over the years 1980-2000, The Netherlands and Germany have undertaken a wide range of measures to improve safety: better walking and bicycling facilities, urban design sensitive to the needs of nonmotorists, traffic calming in residential areas, restrictions on motor vehicle use in cities, traffic safety education, and strict enforcement of traffic laws protecting pedestrians and bicyclists. The U.S. could adopt many of these same measures to improve pedestrian and bicycle safety.

Language

  • English

Media Info

  • Features: Figures; Photos; References; Tables;
  • Pagination: p. 25-50
  • Serial:

Subject/Index Terms

Filing Info

  • Accession Number: 00797601
  • Record Type: Publication
  • Files: TRIS, ATRI
  • Created Date: Aug 8 2000 12:00AM