Transcript How many reports does it take to convince us? Mean Streets Pedestrians & Cyclists are at risk in America:  4,955 pedestrians killed in 2001 

How many reports does it take to
convince us?
Mean Streets
Pedestrians & Cyclists
are at risk in America:
 4,955 pedestrians
killed in 2001
 560,000+ cyclist go to
emergency room
 12% of all traffic
fatalities are peds or
cyclists even though
only about 5% of all
trips are made on foot
The Danger of Sprawl
The most dangerous
metro areas for
pedestrians are the
sprawling metro areas
of the south and west
These areas include
many wide, high-speed
arterials that are
hazardous for walking
1
2
3
4
5
6
7
8
9
10
Metro Area
Pedestrian
Danger
Index*
Orlando, FL
Tampa-St. Petersburg-Clearwater, FL
West Palm Beach-Boca Raton, FL
Memphis, TN-AR-MS
Miami-Ft. Lauderdale, FL
Jacksonville, FL
Houston-Galveston-Brazoria, TX
Phoenix-Mesa, AZ
Dallas-Ft. Worth, TX
Nashville, TN
79.3
67.2
65.9
56.1
51.5
51.2
42.3
41.7
40.8
39.3
* A measure of average yearly pedestrian fatalities per capita
adjusted for the number of walkers. Source: NHTSA Fatality
Accident Reporting System (FARS) and Census 2000 Journey-toWork
Minorities and Children Are
Disproportionately at Risk
African Americans
comprise only 12% of the
population but account for
20% of pedestrian
fatalities
Latinos make up 12.5% of
the population but account
for 13.5% of pedestrian
fatalities
Children account for 11% of
pedestrian fatalities
Transportation as a Public Health
Issue
Transportation crashes are a major cause of
death and disabling injuries.
 Transport activities can contaminate soil,
water and air reducing quality of life.
 High levels of traffic noise cause
communication and sleep problems

Transportation as a Public Health
Issue (continued)
4. Planning for bicycling/walking as modes
of transportation are often overlooked.
 5. Heavy traffic and transportation facilities
divide communities and reduce interaction
 6. Adverse health effects disproportionately
on the most vulnerable

National Center for Bicycling and
Walking-August 2002
Impacts Overlooked
The Hidden Risks
of Unsafe Roads
70%
Obesity is epidemic
as fewer adults walk
to get around
50%
Change over Time
Physical inactivity
threatens the health
of the majority of
Americans
1991 to 2000
60%
+61%
40%
Adult
Obesity
30%
20%
10%
0%
1990 to 2000
-10%
Walking
to Work
-20%
-26%
-30% Source: Census 2000 Journey to Work and the Behavior Risk
Factor Surveillance System, Center For Disease Control and
Prevention
Bike/Ped Safety a Low Priority
Only 0.7% of federal
transportation funds spent
from 1998 to 2001 went to
pedestrian/ bicycle
facilities
States spent an average of 87 cents of federal
funds per person on pedestrian and bicycle
facilities, compared to $50 on roads and
bridges
Two national reports/surveys

National Survey of Pedestrian and
Bicyclists Attitudes and Behaviors
Conducted 2002, results released May 2003 from
U.S. DOT (BTS and NHSTA).

Americans’ Attitudes Toward Walking and
Creating Better Walking CommunitiesConducted 2002, results released April 2003 from
Robert Woods Johnson Foundation and the
Surface Transportation Policy Project.
Why Americans Don’t Walk


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

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Disability or other health reasons 25%
Unfavorable weather 22%
Too busy or no opportunity 19%
Other transportation is faster 4%
“Lazy” or “don’t want to” 7%
No safe place to walk 3%
Prefer to drive vehicle 3%
Other 17%
U.S. DOT May 2003, National Survey
of Pedestrian and Bicyclists Attitudes
and Behaviors
Why Americans Don’t Bicycle







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Lack of access to a bicycle 26%
Too busy or no opportunity 17%
Disability or other health problems 10%
Bad weather or wrong season 8%
Don’t want to/don’t enjoy it 7%
Age 5%
No safe place to ride 3%
Don’t know how to ride 3%
Other 21%
U.S. DOT, May 2003, National
Survey of Pedestrian and
Bicyclists Attitudes and
Behaviors
Decline in Walking/Bicycling as
Americans age
Nearly 40% of those 16-24 bicycle during
the summer, while 26% of those 45-54 bike.
 Only 9% of those age 65 and older report
they bicycle.
 Nearly 82% 16-24 year olds take walks,
while 8% of 45-54 year olds walk.
 Sixty-six (66%) of those 65 and older report
U.S. DOT, May 2003, National
taking walks.
Survey of Pedestrian and

Bicyclist Attitudes and
Behaviors
Americans’ Attitudes Toward Walking and
Creating Better Walking Communities
Poll conducted by Belden, Rusonello and Stewart for the Surface
Transportation Policy Project. 800 adults 18 and over were contacted by
telephone in October 2002; the sampling error is ±3.5 percentage points.
Americans Want to Walk More
Drive
41%
Walk more
55%
DK/Refuse
5%
Q38. Please tell me which of the following statements describe you more: A) If it
were possible, I would like to walk more throughout the day either to get to
specific places or for exercise, or B) I prefer to drive my car wherever I go?
Americans Want Federal Funds to
Support Walking
Should federal funds be used to make walking safer?
Somewhat
favor, 37%
Somewhat
oppose, 19%
Strongly
oppose, 9%
Strongly
favor, 31%
Q30. (Please tell me if you strongly favor, somewhat favor, or strongly
oppose…) Increase federal spending on making sure people can safely walk
and cross the street, even if this means less tax dollars go to building roads.
Americans Support Traffic Calming
Should transportation funds go to design that slows traffic?
Strongly
favor, 48%
Somewhat
oppose, 7%
Strongly
oppose, 7%
Somewhat
favor, 36%
Q27. (Please tell me if you strongly favor, somewhat favor, or strongly
oppose…) Use part of the transportation budget to design streets with
sidewalks, safe crossing and other devices to reduce speeding in residential
areas and make it safer to walk, even if this means driving more slowly.
Americans Support Safe
Routes to School Funding
Strongly
favor, 41%
Somewhat
oppose, 13%
Strongly
oppose, 9%
Somewhat
favor, 33%
Q25. (Please tell me if you strongly favor, somewhat favor, or strongly
oppose…) Use part of the state transportation budget to create more sidewalks
and stop signs in communities, to make it safer and easier for children to walk to
school, even if this means less money to build new highways.
Americans Say Transit, Walkable
Communities Long-Term Solution
What is the best long-term solution to traffic?
Build new
roads, 25%
Improve
public
transportation,
35%
Develop
communities,
31%
DK/Refuse, 8%
Q31. Which one of the following proposals is the best long term solution to
reducing traffic in your state: build new roads, improve public transportation,
such as trains, buses and light rail, or develop communities where people do not
have to drive long distances to work or shop?
Solutions
Increase federal, state and local funding
 Planners and engineers must ensure
transportation projects incorporate or
augment non-motorized users.
 Develop plans that identify priority facilities
and safety programs. Include costs.
 Form an advocacy group to champion
pedestrian and bicycle needs.
 Incentives for Smart Growth – Neo
Traditional Design

Seek Alternative Funding
Provide Mobility Options
Before
After
Safety Education
Encourage Innovation
Encourage Innovation
Form Advocacy Group
Support from Public Officials
THANK YOU!
Gena Torres
Hillsborough County Bicycle/Pedestrian Coordinator
[email protected]
(813) 273-3774 x357
Get Moving KY with PACE
Physically Active Community Environments
in Kentucky
Cheryl D. Wyatt, M.A.
Extension Associate for Bicycle/Pedestrian Education
University of Kentucky Cooperative Extension Service
BikeWalkKY Program
859-257-3000 ext. 108
[email protected]