Today's Safety NewsTransportation Safety

Fed effort to improve bicycle, pedestrian safety gaining momentum

More than 85 cities have signed up for program

the public Mayors and team leaders from 85+ cities are preparing to attend a Safer People, Safer Streets Summit in March, as part of the U.S. Department of Transportation’s (DOT) “Mayors’ Challenge for Safer People and Safer Streets” – an initiative intended to make bicycle and pedestrian safety a priority on the nation’s roads.

Fatality rates going the wrong way

While overall highway fatalities have been declining, pedestrian and bicyclist fatalities have been on the rise in recent years and now represent nearly 17 percent of total fatalities. The Mayors’ Challenge aims to reduce this trend through seven Challenge activities that are based on the latest safety innovations.

“Strong local leadership is essential to making safety gains in a community, so I’m thrilled to see so many Mayors from across the country joining our Challenge,” said U.S. Transportation Secretary Anthony Foxx. “With Mayors signing up from small towns and large cities to prioritize bicycle and pedestrian safety, I know we’ll be able to reduce fatalities and injuries while making our roads safer for all users.”

Seven activity areas

More cities and other jurisdictions are expected to sign up for the Challenge before the March 12 Mayoral Summit, which will be held at the DOT headquarters in Washington, DC. Participants will discuss how to implement or build upon the Challenge’s seven activity areas, learn about USDOT and stakeholder resources they can use during the Challenge, and network with their peers.

In September asked USDOT field offices to conduct road safety assessments in every state, which will be completed this spring. The information learned from those assessments will be discussed at the summit.

Click here for additional information pertaining to the Mayor’s Challenge.

The cities that have signed up to participate in the Challenge include: