Better cycling infrastructure in US leads to less fatalities
Better cycling infrastructure in US leads to less fatalities
Posted on 12 May 2017
Cities across the U.S. significantly reduced fatalities and severe injuries with proper infrastructure.
The United States still needs big improvements to its bicycling infrastructure to improve safety and encourage more cycling commuting, according to a recent journal article by experts from Virginia Tech and Rutgers University.
"Traffic fatalities and serious injuries are not inevitable, and they can be reduced by implementing the right policies, especially improved infrastructure and technology," says Virginia Tech's Ralph Buehler, an associate professor in urban affairs and planning.
According to the study, the U.S. has a much higher fatality and serious injury rate compared to other countries. This could be attributed to the face that most roads in the U.S. have no cycling infrastructure, and what exists is often dangerously designed, poorly maintained, and not connected to form a useful network.
The researchers find that recent implementation of improved cycling infrastructure in 10 cities across the U.S. has led to significant improvements in safety. For example, offering on-street bicycle lanes that are physically separated from motor vehicles by raised curbs, bollard, or concrete barriers improve safety on major streets. As a result, places such as Portland, Chicago, San Francisco, New York City and Washington, D.C. have reduced the number of cyclist crashes and serious injuries.
"More and better bicycle infrastructure and safer cycling would encourage Americans to make more of their daily trips by bicycle and help raise the current low physical activity levels of the U.S. population," says Buehler.
Once bike infrastructure is improved, Buehler says there are incentives employers can use to encourage more cycling. This includes having showers, lockers and bike parking for employees. He says that cash incentives work best if companies don't offer free parking as an option.