For bicyclists and pedestrians, sometimes following the rules of the road is not enough to prevent a serious personal injury. This has been recognized by the United States Department of Transportation Secretary Anthony Foxx, who launched an initiative aimed at reducing injuries and fatalities by examining road safety as a whole.

Pedestrians Have a Right to the Road Too

Personal injuries as a result of pedestrian and bicycle accidents have increased since 2009 at a rate surpassing those injured in motor vehicle accidents. Pedestrian deaths have risen 6% and bicycle deaths have risen 7%. As part of this 18-month campaign, the Department of Transportation will conduct road safety assessments and provide resources aimed at helping communities build safer streets and encourage pedestrians, bicyclists, and those taking public transportation to be more mindful.

Some examples of dangerous street conditions include:

• Lack of space on the road for bikes and pedestrians
• Not enough sidewalks
• Improper roadway lighting
• Unclear signage
• No properly marked places to cross the street

In order to address these and other roadway concerns, the initiative will encourage communities to rethink roadway resigns, educate all on the best way to act on the road, and promote safer choices when traveling. For example, one such way communities can increase roadway safety for all is to increase the space available for non-motor vehicles and pedestrians on lesser used or rural roads. These roads allow cars and others to coexist on the roadways and have been shown to reduce traffic accidents.

Who is involved with the initiative?

The initiative will launch with the Federal Highway Administration, Federal Transit Administration, and National Highway Traffic Safety Administration to survey local communities in order to discover where there are gaps in safety. They will be joined by the Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration and the Federal Railroad Administration to understand how trucks and trains contribute to accidents with pedestrians and bicyclists.

The best way for the initiative to be successful is for local officials, advocacy groups, and other safety organizations to encourage its implementation in their communities, especially in lower income communities. Improving the safety of all is a national concern, and no one should experience an injury due to inadequate infrastructure to accompany pedestrians and bicyclists.