How many reports does it take to How many reports does it take to convince us?convince us?

Mean StreetsMean Streets

Pedestrians & Cyclists Pedestrians & Cyclists are at risk in America: are at risk in America:

4,955 pedestrians 4,955 pedestrians killed in 2001killed in 2001

560,000+ cyclist go to 560,000+ cyclist go to emergency roomemergency room

12% of all traffic 12% of all traffic fatalities are peds or fatalities are peds or cyclists even though cyclists even though only about 5% of all only about 5% of all trips are made on foottrips are made on foot

The Danger of SprawlThe Danger of Sprawl

The most dangerous The most dangerous metro areas for metro areas for pedestrians are the pedestrians are the sprawling metro areas sprawling metro areas of the south and west of the south and west

These areas include These areas include many wide, high-speed many wide, high-speed arterials that are arterials that are hazardous for walkinghazardous for walking * 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-to-Work

Metro Area

Pedestrian Danger Index*

1 Orlando, FL 79.3

2 Tampa-St. Petersburg-Clearwater, FL 67.2

3 West Palm Beach-Boca Raton, FL 65.9

4 Memphis, TN-AR-MS 56.1

5 Miami-Ft. Lauderdale, FL 51.5

6 Jacksonville, FL 51.2

7 Houston-Galveston-Brazoria, TX 42.3

8 Phoenix-Mesa, AZ 41.7

9 Dallas-Ft. Worth, TX 40.810 Nashville, TN 39.3

Minorities and Children Are Minorities and Children Are Disproportionately at RiskDisproportionately at Risk

African Americans African Americans comprise only 12% of the comprise only 12% of the population but account for population but account for 20% of pedestrian 20% of pedestrian fatalities fatalities

Latinos make up 12.5% of Latinos make up 12.5% of the population but account the population but account for 13.5% of pedestrian for 13.5% of pedestrian fatalitiesfatalities

Children account for 11% of Children account for 11% of pedestrian fatalitiespedestrian fatalities

Transportation as a Public Health Transportation as a Public Health IssueIssue

Transportation crashes are a major cause of Transportation crashes are a major cause of death and disabling injuries.death and disabling injuries.

Transport activities can contaminate soil, Transport activities can contaminate soil, water and air reducing quality of life.water and air reducing quality of life.

High levels of traffic noise cause High levels of traffic noise cause communication and sleep problemscommunication and sleep problems

Transportation as a Public Health Transportation as a Public Health Issue (continued)Issue (continued)

4. Planning for bicycling/walking as modes 4. Planning for bicycling/walking as modes of transportation are often overlooked.of transportation are often overlooked.

5. Heavy traffic and transportation facilities 5. Heavy traffic and transportation facilities divide communities and reduce interactiondivide communities and reduce interaction

6. Adverse health effects disproportionately 6. Adverse health effects disproportionately on the most vulnerableon the most vulnerable

National Center for Bicycling and National Center for Bicycling and Walking-August 2002Walking-August 2002

Impacts OverlookedImpacts Overlooked

The Hidden RisksThe Hidden Risks of Unsafe Roads of Unsafe Roads

-30%

-20%

-10%

0%

10%

20%

30%

40%

50%

60%

70%

Ch

an

ge o

ver

Tim

e

Adult Obesity

+61%

Walking to Work

-26%

1990 to 2000

1991 to 2000

Source: Census 2000 Journey to Work and the Behavior Risk Factor Surveillance System, Center For Disease Control and Prevention

Obesity is epidemic as fewer adults walk to get around

Physical inactivity threatens the health of the majority of Americans

Bike/Ped Safety a Low PriorityBike/Ped Safety a Low Priority

Only 0.7% of federal Only 0.7% of federal transportation funds spent transportation funds spent from 1998 to 2001 went to from 1998 to 2001 went to pedestrian/ bicycle pedestrian/ bicycle facilities 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/surveysTwo national reports/surveys

National Survey of Pedestrian and National Survey of Pedestrian and Bicyclists Attitudes and Behaviors Bicyclists Attitudes and Behaviors Conducted 2002, results released May 2003 from Conducted 2002, results released May 2003 from U.S. DOT (BTS and NHSTA).U.S. DOT (BTS and NHSTA).

Americans’ Attitudes Toward Walking and Americans’ Attitudes Toward Walking and Creating Better Walking Communities-Creating Better Walking Communities- Conducted 2002, results released April 2003 from Conducted 2002, results released April 2003 from Robert Woods Johnson Foundation and the Robert Woods Johnson Foundation and the Surface Transportation Policy Project.Surface Transportation Policy Project.

Why Americans Don’t WalkWhy Americans Don’t Walk

Disability or other health reasons 25%Disability or other health reasons 25% Unfavorable weather 22%Unfavorable weather 22% Too busy or no opportunity 19%Too busy or no opportunity 19% Other transportation is faster 4%Other transportation is faster 4% ““Lazy” or “don’t want to” 7%Lazy” or “don’t want to” 7% No safe place to walk 3%No safe place to walk 3% Prefer to drive vehicle 3%Prefer to drive vehicle 3% Other 17%Other 17%

U.S. DOT May 2003, National Survey U.S. DOT May 2003, National Survey of Pedestrian and Bicyclists Attitudes of Pedestrian and Bicyclists Attitudes

and Behaviorsand Behaviors

Why Americans Don’t BicycleWhy Americans Don’t Bicycle

Lack of access to a bicycle 26%Lack of access to a bicycle 26% Too busy or no opportunity 17%Too busy or no opportunity 17% Disability or other health problems 10%Disability or other health problems 10% Bad weather or wrong season 8%Bad weather or wrong season 8% Don’t want to/don’t enjoy it 7%Don’t want to/don’t enjoy it 7% Age 5%Age 5% No safe place to ride 3%No safe place to ride 3% Don’t know how to ride 3%Don’t know how to ride 3% Other 21%Other 21% U.S. DOT, May 2003, National U.S. DOT, May 2003, National

Survey of Pedestrian and Survey of Pedestrian and Bicyclists Attitudes and Bicyclists Attitudes and

BehaviorsBehaviors

Decline in Walking/Bicycling as Decline in Walking/Bicycling as Americans ageAmericans age

Nearly 40% of those 16-24 bicycle during Nearly 40% of those 16-24 bicycle during the summer, while 26% of those 45-54 bike.the summer, while 26% of those 45-54 bike.

Only 9% of those age 65 and older report Only 9% of those age 65 and older report they bicycle.they bicycle.

Nearly 82% 16-24 year olds take walks, Nearly 82% 16-24 year olds take walks, while 8% of 45-54 year olds walk.while 8% of 45-54 year olds walk.

Sixty-six (66%) of those 65 and older report Sixty-six (66%) of those 65 and older report taking walks.taking walks. U.S. DOT, May 2003, National U.S. DOT, May 2003, National

Survey of Pedestrian and Survey of Pedestrian and Bicyclist Attitudes and Bicyclist Attitudes and

BehaviorsBehaviors

Americans’ Attitudes Toward Walking and Americans’ Attitudes Toward Walking and Creating Better Walking CommunitiesCreating 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

DK/Refuse5%

Drive 41%

Walk more55%

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?

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.

Somewhat favor, 37%

Strongly favor, 31%

Strongly oppose, 9%

Somewhat oppose, 19%

Americans Support Traffic CalmingShould transportation funds go to design that slows traffic?

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.

Strongly favor, 48%

Somewhat favor, 36%

Strongly oppose, 7%

Somewhat oppose, 7%

Americans Support Safe Routes to School Funding

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.

Strongly favor, 41%

Somewhat favor, 33%

Strongly oppose, 9%

Somewhat oppose, 13%

Americans Say Transit, Walkable Communities Long-Term Solution

What is the best long-term solution to traffic?

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?

Build new roads, 25%

Develop communities,

31%

DK/Refuse, 8%

Improve public

transportation, 35%

SolutionsSolutions Increase federal, state and local funding Increase federal, state and local funding Planners and engineers must ensure Planners and engineers must ensure

transportation projects incorporate or augment transportation projects incorporate or augment non-motorized users. non-motorized users.

Develop plans that identify priority facilities and Develop plans that identify priority facilities and safety programs. Include costs.safety programs. Include costs.

Form an advocacy group to champion pedestrian Form an advocacy group to champion pedestrian and bicycle needs.and bicycle needs.

Incentives for Smart Growth – Neo Traditional Incentives for Smart Growth – Neo Traditional DesignDesign

Seek Alternative FundingSeek Alternative Funding

Provide Mobility OptionsProvide Mobility Options

BeforeBefore

AfterAfter

Safety EducationSafety Education

Encourage InnovationEncourage Innovation

Encourage InnovationEncourage Innovation

Form Advocacy GroupForm Advocacy Group

Support from Public OfficialsSupport from Public Officials

Gena Torres

Hillsborough County Bicycle/Pedestrian Coordinator

torresg@plancom.org

(813) 273-3774 x357

THANK YOU!THANK YOU!

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

cwyatt@bae.uky.edu

Get Moving KY with Get Moving KY with PACEPACE