Petitions by Change.org|Start a Petition »

Text taken from National Walking Survey
America Walks in partnership with Hunter College
September 2011

19)  Pedestrian Safety Problems 

Survey respondents were asked to indicate the extent to which each of nine items posed a problem in terms of pedestrian safety in their neighborhoods.  The response categories ranged from “very big problem,” to “somewhat of a problem,” to “only a small problem,” to “not a problem at all.” 

Listed in descending order in Table 19 below is the percent who said a given item was a “very big problem” or “somewhat of a problem.” Topping the list was distracted drivers.  More than a quarter of all respondents indicated inattentive drivers were a serious problem facing pedestrians in their neighborhoods.  Trailing closely behind was another automobile-related item – speeding motor vehicles.  The next two items concerned the scarcity of sidewalks or unsmooth walking surfaces.  Though not on the list of problems in the survey, several respondents mentioned in the open-ended “comments” section of the survey that cyclists who disobeyed traffic laws also posed a hazard to pedestrians.  

Table 19. Safety Problems for Pedestrians

Problem	Percent Who Say Very Big Problem	Percent Who Say Somewhat of a Problem	Total Percent
Drivers talking on cell phones or using other electronic devices	26.5	27.7	54.2
Speeding motor vehicles	22.9	30.3	53.2
Unsmooth sidewalks or other walking surfaces	13.4	24.7	43.4
Not enough sidewalks	18.7	20.7	39.4
Poorly-lit streets	10.7	22.6	33.3
The sidewalks are too narrow	6.8	16.5	23.3
The Walk Signs or street signals do not give me enough time to walk across the street safely	5.5	12.6	18.1
Crime	3.4	10.1	13.5
Dogs or other animals	3.4	9.7	13.1

Source: America Walks. 2011. National Walking Survey, www.americawalks.org

Coinciding with expectations, the percent who report a given problem as being serious varies by the type of neighborhood in which the respondent lives.  Residents of the most densely-populated areas are significantly more likely to indicate that distracted drivers, speeding motor vehicles, and crime are “very big problems.”   Oppositely, residents of the least-populated areas are much more likely to indicate that too few sidewalks, unsmooth walking surfaces, poorly-lit streets, and dogs constitute “very big problems.”  Also residents of lower income areas, with the exception of the two automobile-related items, are more likely to view the other seven pedestrian safety items as being more serious than residents of more affluent areas. 

Interestingly, the “instrumental walkers” and the “hybrid walkers” were far more concerned about both distracted drivers and speeding motor vehicles than either the “health/relaxation walkers” or the infrequent walkers.  This finding persists even when controlling for the population density of the neighborhood in which they reside. 

In conjunction with the nine items relating to pedestrian safety, we asked respondents whether they had “ever been hit by a car or truck” or whether they had “ever been hit by a cyclist.”  All together, 6.1 percent of the respondents reported that they had been hit by a car and 4.8 percent report having been struck by a cyclist. 

The proportion of those saying they have been hit by a car decreases with age.   Alternatively, the proportion increases as the population density of the area in which the respondent resides goes up.   Males and those whose basic orientation towards walking is mainly to get to a specific destination (the “instrumentalists”) or equally to get to a specific destination and for purposes of health and relaxation (the “hybrids”) are more likely to report having been hit by a car than those whose primary purpose in walking is for health and relaxation.

Similar to those who say they have been hit by a car, there is a positive relationship between population density and the percent of those who say they have been struck by a cyclist.  As the population of an area becomes increasingly concentrated, more people say they have been struck by a cyclist.  However, age is now curvilinearly related to saying one has been hit by a cyclist.  Among the youngest age category (18-24) and the oldest age category (65 years or older), there is a greater percent reporting being hit by a cyclist than among the age categories falling in the middle.  Finally, those who describe their walking pace as “brisk” are more likely to say they have been hit by a cyclist. 

Federal Transportation Bill Threatens Bicycle and Pedestrian Funding
Posted on May 22, 2012 by Shayne

Congress is conferring on the next Federal Transportation Bill, and bicycle and pedestrian funding is still at stake. In the Senate transportation bill, programs that fund bicycle and pedestrian funding are preserved and improved, continuing to fund projects that benefit bicyclist and pedestrians. To contrast, the bill from the House of Representatives repeals programs that fund bicycle and pedestrian projects, and places the priority on our highway network. Federal funding for bicycle and pedestrian has been used in every congressional district in Pennsylvania, and has funded hundreds of projects that have improved conditions for bicycles and pedestrians.

We do not want to halt the progress that has been made in the past two decades. Chances are, your favorite bike path was partly funded with federal funding. Many communities have benefited from sidewalk replacement projects funded with federal dollars. In more recent years, the funds have been used to make walking and biking to school safer, and will have lifelong benefits for the children that attend schools that participated in the Safe Routes to Schools program.

Pennsylvania Walks and Bikes has a resource to help you learn which projects in your community have benefited from federal transportation dollars. If you want to see more of these projects; if you have benefited from better sidewalks, safer bike paths, and healthier children, tell your representative in congress.

Pennsylvania is well represented on the House Transportation Committee by Congressmen Bill Shuster, Lou Barletta, Patrick Meehan, Tim Holden, Jason Altmire; and also well represented in the conference committee by Representative Bill Shuster.

Congressman Shuster has not been supportive of preserving bicycle and pedestrian funding, and has been very open about his belief that the federal transportation bill should focus on our highway system. We do not want to see the progress towards a more walkable and bikeable Pennsylvania come to a halt. 

We enjoy the benefits of these programs, and we do not want to see the end. Let your representative know that walkable and bikeable communities are important. Let them know that we want to continue to improve Pennsylvania, not stop it with a flat.
ShareThis

May is Bike Month

Show your support for bicycling in our Berks communities by attending these 2012 Bike Month events.

View Larger Map

Tuesday, May 1 :: Berks County Bike Month Proclamation Ceremony

When? 10:30 am
Where? Berks County Services Building, 633 Court St, Reading
What? Be there as the County Commissioners issue the proclamation to WalkBikeBerks, declaring May Bike Month in all of Berks County.

View larger map

Saturday, May 5 :: WBB Bike Rodeo at Youth Safety Day

When? 10 am – 2pm
Where? Lake Drive Recreation Area, Douglassville
What? A day of fun-filled family activities hosted by the Daniel Boone Optimist Club. The focus of this year's event will be bicycle safety. Kids in grades K-8 can register to win a bike. Download a flyer.

View larger map

Friday, May 18 :: Bike to Work Day

When? 7:00 am
Where? Brentwood Trailhead of the Thun Trail, just off of Rte 10 near Millmont (see map right)
What? Join us at the Brentwood Trailhead at 7:00am (ride begins at 7:15) and ride with the pack, including Reading Mayor Vaughn Spencer and Rep. David Maloney, to the Bike to Work Day ceremony at the Berks County Services Building (ceremony begins at 7:45am with address by Sen. Judy Schwank). The easy ride of approximately 2 miles will be escorted by police and promises to be a fun, visible way to promote bicycling in Greater Reading.

View larger map

Saturday, May 19 :: Bicycle Basics Class

When? 8:30 am
Where? Upland Center Community Room, Alvernia University, 540 Upland Ave, Reading
What? Learn effective cycling techniques with League of American Bicyclists Certified Instructor and WBB Board member, Benton Levengood. The primary focus of the class will be bicycle maintenance: learn to change tires, adjust brakes and gears, maintain and replace chains.  Bring your bicycle and helmet.

There is no fee for this class, but a voluntary, tax-deductible donation of $20 to WalkBikeBerks per individual or family will be greatly appreciated.  PRE-REGISTRATION IS REQUIRED:  email blevengood@walkbikeberks.org or call 717-449-4474.  Class size is limited to 10 students.

ShareThis

Unwalkable America

From Tom Vanderbilt's Slate Column, America's Pedestrian Problem:

"This failure to plan for anyone on foot is just one of a number of shortcomings of our overbuilt, undermaintained road network that are coming into relief. In Orlando parents of children who live closer than two miles to school are worried about looming cuts in bus service due to budget constraints. There is even concern about those who face a relatively short walk of 100 yards to catch a bus. Why? Because the environment was not built to accommodate anyone walking—there are no sidewalks and only poor crossings amid fast-moving traffic. Elsewhere, schools built without sidewalks scramble for funding as students walk in the ditches beside busy roads. In South Jordan, Utah, a woman was cited with child neglect for allowing her son to walk to school. Why was he walking? Because the school had eliminated its “hazardous bus routes.” What’s a hazardous bus route? A bus route meant to pick up kids who live in areas without sidewalks. There is child neglect going on here, for sure, but it’s the neglect of a system in which children within walking distance of school cannot actually do so." 

Read the full article.

ShareThis

ShareThis

Asked how they would like to see the Business 222 corridor improved, Muhlenberg Township residents listed walkability as a priority.

WBB participated in the development planning meeting last week.  Thanks to the Reading Eagle for this coverage.

California Car Accident Lawyer ShareThis