Report: LV among most dangerous cities for pedestrians

Friday, Nov. 13, 2009 | 2:19 p.m.

1 Orlando-Kissimmee, Fla.
2 Tampa-St. Petersburg-Clearwater, Fla.
3 Miami-Fort Lauderdale-Pompano Beach, Fla.
4 Jacksonville, Fla.
5 Memphis, Tenn.-Miss.-Ark.
6 Raleigh-Cary, N.C.
7 Louisville/Jefferson County, Ky.-Ind.
8 Houston-Sugar Land-Baytown, Texas
9 Birmingham-Hoover, Ala.
10 Atlanta-Sandy Springs-Marietta, Ga.
11 Las Vegas-Paradise, Nev.

The Las Vegas area is one of the most dangerous metro areas in the country for pedestrians, according to a report released this week, and the area spends less than others its size on making pedestrians safer.

Las Vegas ranked No. 11 in pedestrian danger out of 52 metropolitan areas with more than 1 million residents, according to the report by the Surface Transportation Policy Partnership and Transportation for America.

The report ranks Las Vegas No. 49 for its spending on improving conditions for pedestrians, with 37 cents in federal funds per person going to bicycle or pedestrian projects annually.

Las Vegas had 91 pedestrian fatalities in 2007-2008, which was about 20 percent of all traffic deaths, according to the report. Nationwide, pedestrian deaths average 11.8 percent of all traffic fatalities.

The report gave Las Vegas a Pedestrian Danger Index score of 105.6, behind the No. 10 city on the list, Atlanta, which scored 108.3. The first four cities on the list were in Florida, with Orlando having the nation’s most dangerous conditions for pedestrians, the report said.

The national average on the index was 52.1. Nevada’s statewide average was 81.3 and Reno got a 64.5 score.

The Pedestrian Danger Index factors in the number of pedestrian fatalities and the number of people in the area who walk to work.

Nationwide, more than half of pedestrian deaths occurred on poorly designed, high-speed, high-capacity thoroughfares, the report says.

The report, titled “Dangerous by Design: Solving the Epidemic of Preventable Pedestrian Deaths (and Making Great Neighborhoods),” claims that many of the deaths would be prevented if roads were better designed.

The two organizations use the report to call on Congress to adopt a national complete streets policy that would require federally funded projects to include pedestrian and bicycle safety features, expand the Safe Routes to School program, dedicate more funds to safety measures and hold states accountable for pedestrian safety.

Transportation for America describes itself as a coalition of “housing, business, environmental, public health, transportation, equitable development and other organizations.”

The Surface Transportation Policy Partnership is a nonprofit organization that says it’s “working to ensure safer communities and smarter transportation choices.”

Discussion: 6 comments so far…

By vc

11/13/09 at 4:14 p.m.

Suggest removal

Maybe if they would locate cross walks at corners with street lights instead of right in the middle of the road with no light, alot less people would get run over. It is so easy to not see someone in a cross walk right in the middle of the road with no light at night. In my part of town I know where the cross walks are so I can be looking out, but what about when you are in a strange part of town and its dark.
By wolf85023

11/13/09 at 4:46 p.m.

Suggest removal

People should stop J-waking,that is the problem.
The blocks in and around the Las Vegas strip are a mile long.
By RustyShackleford

11/13/09 at 5:32 p.m.

Suggest removal

Also included in the report: Water is wet, grass is green and the sky is blue.

vc makes an excellent point, too. If the city is going to put crosswalks in the middle of busy, high-speed streets like Flamingo, they should at least put up some flashing yellow lights to warn motorists to be on the lookout.
By wizardofOz

11/13/09 at 5:50 p.m.

Suggest removal

Amazing.

Walking is now actually hazardous to your Health, here.

(What will my Doctor say...?)
By revtomperl

11/13/09 at 6:56 p.m.

Suggest removal

hmmmm - I always heard there was a bounty on pedestrians in this town. I enjoy walking and once in a while I am too careless when I don't walk to a corner to cross. Ok, so in Toronto all you have to do as a pedestrian is to raise your arm and cross the street. Maybe that is on the opposite end but there has to be a middle ground between cars that race through the intersection while an ambulance waits and the rules in a highly cosmopolitan center like Toronto. Maybe people should pray more and practice flying - you know - like angels! Ok, I agree that the grass is green except for some of it that I occasionally can smell and that the skies are very blue most days, and I so seldom experience rain that I am no longer sure that it is wet. I hope that we all are careful and maybe we won't need so much health care !
By tdoma

11/14/09 at 8:16 p.m.

Suggest removal

I think the biggest problem is people just walk when they want to across roads. I work down town and people are careless. Everyday I see groups of people trying to cross the road when the "dont walk" hand is flashing. People need to understand if you J walk or walk against a flashing "dont walk" sign there is a big chance you might get hit by a car... seems common knowledge

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