The Most Dangerous Cities for Walking (state, places, metropolitan, Atlanta)

[kidphilly]

The Most Dangerous Cities for Walking

Researchers at the Surface Transportation Policy Partnership in the 1990s developed the Pedestrian Danger Index (PDI) in order to establish a level playing field for comparing metropolitan areas based on the danger to pedestrians. The PDI corrects for the fact that the cities where more people walk on a daily basis are likely to have a greater number of pedestrian fatalities, by computing the rate of pedestrian deaths relative to the amount of walking residents do on average.
The PDI shows that the most dangerous places to walk are those that fail to make smart infrastructure investments that make roads safer for everyone.
The most dangerous metropolitan areas in the U.S. for walking in 2007-2008 were: Orlando, Tampa, Miami, Jacksonville, Memphis, Raleigh, Louisville, Houston, Birmingham and Atlanta. Orlando tops the list because of its high pedestrian fatality rate of 2.9 pedestrian deaths per 100,000 residents, despite a very low proportion of residents walking to work, only 1.3 percent. In other words, the few people who do walk in Orlando face a relatively high risk of being killed by traffic.


Rank Metropolitan Area 2007-08 Pedestrian Danger Index

1 Orlando-Kissimmee, FL221.5
2 Tampa-St. Petersburg-Clearwater, FL205.5
3 Miami-Fort Lauderdale-Pompano Beach, FL181.2
4 Jacksonville, FL157.4
5 Memphis, TN-MS-AR137.7
6 Raleigh-Cary, NC128.6
7 Louisville/Jefferson County, KY-IN114.8
8 Houston-Sugar Land-Baytown, TX112.4
9 Birmingham-Hoover, AL110.0
10 Atlanta-Sandy Springs-Marietta, GA108.3

[blkgiraffe]

Originally Posted by kidphilly

The Most Dangerous Cities for Walking

Researchers at the Surface Transportation Policy Partnership in the 1990s developed the Pedestrian Danger Index (PDI) in order to establish a level playing field for comparing metropolitan areas based on the danger to pedestrians. The PDI corrects for the fact that the cities where more people walk on a daily basis are likely to have a greater number of pedestrian fatalities, by computing the rate of pedestrian deaths relative to the amount of walking residents do on average.
The PDI shows that the most dangerous places to walk are those that fail to make smart infrastructure investments that make roads safer for everyone.
The most dangerous metropolitan areas in the U.S. for walking in 2007-2008 were: Orlando, Tampa, Miami, Jacksonville, Memphis, Raleigh, Louisville, Houston, Birmingham and Atlanta. Orlando tops the list because of its high pedestrian fatality rate of 2.9 pedestrian deaths per 100,000 residents, despite a very low proportion of residents walking to work, only 1.3 percent. In other words, the few people who do walk in Orlando face a relatively high risk of being killed by traffic.


RankMetropolitan Area2007-08 Pedestrian
Danger Index
1Orlando-Kissimmee, FL221.52Tampa-St. Petersburg-Clearwater, FL205.53Miami-Fort Lauderdale-Pompano Beach, FL181.24Jacksonville, FL157.45Memphis, TN-MS-AR137.76Raleigh-Cary, NC128.67Louisville/Jefferson County, KY-IN114.88Houston-Sugar Land-Baytown, TX112.48Birmingham-Hoover, AL110.010Atlanta-Sandy Springs-Marietta, GA108.3

I agree about Houston! There is a about a 50/50 chance you'll make it to your destination.

[kidphilly]

Originally Posted by jluke65780

I agree about Houston! There is a about a 50/50 chance you'll make it to your destination.

I can concur; about 15 years ago (my first trip to a Sunbelt city) I was staying by the galleria - I am thinking why would i need a car i am in a city - long story short i tried to walk the half mile from the mall to my hotel. I now understand how froger felt. I think I have never felt so unsafe in in my life and I have had a knife pulled on me at an ATM

[LovinDecatur]

Well, what do you know...all the cities on this list are in the Sunbelt.
Call up the Usual Suspects; I can see where this thread is going.

[kidphilly]

Originally Posted by LovinDecatur

Well, what do you know...all the cities on this list are in the Sunbelt.
Call up the Usual Suspects; I can see where this thread is going.

OMG; this was random post - thought interesting and calculated with a fomula based on miles walked and accidents

I will put one up for top climates of cities; maybe you will be happier then

Do you believe the Sunbelts are safer walking cities

[Huckleberry3911948]

hunters point SF late at night.

[LovinDecatur]

Originally Posted by kidphilly

OMG; this was random post - thought interesting and calculated with a fomula based on miles walked and accidents

I will put one up for top climates of cities; maybe you will be happier then

Do you believe the Sunbelts are safer walking cities

No; nor do I need to be beaten over the head with such information as this on a daily basis. Random post, indeed.

[kidphilly]

Originally Posted by LovinDecatur

No; nor do I need to be beaten over the head with such information as this on a daily basis. Random post, indeed.

I believe this to be a relavant topic. I think all cities and metros can be improved; and why is anything that may point out issues affecting certain areas be poor; there are many that point out the issues of NE cities or midwestern cities.

[Ebck120]

Originally Posted by LovinDecatur

Well, what do you know...all the cities on this list are in the Sunbelt.
Call up the Usual Suspects; I can see where this thread is going.

may I switch the word sunbelt and rephrase your statement like below?

"Well, what do you know...all the cities on this list are car oriented/driving cities with very limited or no public transportation options.
Call up the Usual Suspects; I can see where this thread is going."

makes just as much sense, dont you think?

[LovinDecatur]

Have fun, kids...I'm off to visit to one of the threads on City v City that doesn't devolve into some bashfest of the Sunbelt cities.
Oh, wait, that's right; there aren't any.