Metro Detroit
is among the most dangerous areas in the nation for pedestrians, ranking 12th out of the 54 largest regions, and number one in the Midwest, a new report released by Transportation for America shows.
Over the past ten years, almost 1,500 people were killed while walking in Michigan and more than 47,700 nationwide. Transportation for America recently released Dangerous by Design 2011 which examines streets across the country that are “dangerous by design” — engineered for speeding car and truck traffic with little or no provision for people on foot, in wheelchairs or on bicycles.
Nationally, pedestrians account for 12 percent of all traffic deaths, but Detroit has double that fatality rate, at 22 percent. Yet nationwide, state departments of transportation have allocated only 1.5 percent of available federal funds to projects that retrofit dangerous roads or create safe alternatives.
Congress is now on the verge of making the situation even worse. They’re debating the elimination of the already meager funding for pedestrian and bike safety. Tell Congress to protect and increase the funding to make our streets safe for all users!!