In 2023, New York City recorded its safest year for pedestrians since record-keeping began in 1910. In a city of 8.5 million people, 101 deaths were due to vehicles striking pedestrians, less than one-third the number of the early 1990s.
New York City ramped up its efforts to make walking and biking safer in 2014 when the city reduced its speed limit to 25 miles per hour. It also launched a speed camera enforcement program and started campaigns to educate drivers and pedestrians.
In recent years, the city has redesigned dangerous intersections—1,500 such projects last year alone—using various strategies. These include:
- Implemented leading pedestrian intervals (LPIs) that lengthen red light intervals for a few seconds so pedestrians can get a head start
- Constructed raised crosswalks that slow cars and improve visibility
- Created more daylighting that removes parked cars near crosswalks to improve visibility
- Installed turn bumps, strips of high-visibility black-and-yellow plastic that prompt drivers to wait to turn instead of jutting out in front of pedestrians crossing the street
Smaller-scale safety fixes such as these don’t require outreach to local community boards or comprehensive studies. Other measures such as adding bike lanes or bus-only lanes that remove parking spaces are more contentious.
The city has more to do to make streets safer, though. Total traffic fatalities remain high, with drivers dying in crashes at greater rates than in past years. Experts attribute higher traffic fatalities to a spike in dangerous speeding and bigger vehicles.
In addition, fatal crashes involving cyclists are at a 23-year high. The rising number of electric bikes has been cited as a factor in cycle accidents mostly in vehicle collisions on roadways that lack bike lanes. The city has extended bike infrastructure in recent years, but just 3% of its streets currently have protected bike lanes.
Related Stories
MFPRO+ Special Reports | Feb 22, 2024
Crystal Lagoons: A deep dive into real estate's most extreme guest amenity
These year-round, manmade, crystal clear blue lagoons offer a groundbreaking technology with immense potential to redefine the concept of water amenities. However, navigating regulatory challenges and ensuring long-term sustainability are crucial to success with Crystal Lagoons.
Urban Planning | Feb 5, 2024
Lessons learned from 70 years of building cities
As Sasaki looks back on 70 years of practice, we’re also looking to the future of cities. While we can’t predict what will be, we do know the needs of cities are as diverse as their scale, climate, economy, governance, and culture.
Healthcare Facilities | Jan 7, 2024
Two new projects could be economic catalysts for a central New Jersey city
A Cancer Center and Innovation district are under construction and expected to start opening in 2025 in New Brunswick.
Sustainability | Jan 2, 2024
Los Angeles has plan to improve stormwater capture and source 80% of water locally
Los Angeles County’s Board of Supervisors voted for a plan to improve stormwater capture with a goal of capturing it for local reuse. The plan aims to increase the local water supply by 580,000 acre-feet per year by 2045.
Urban Planning | Jan 2, 2024
Federal Highway Administration releases updated traffic control manual
With pedestrian deaths surging nationwide, the Federal Highway Administration released a new edition of the Manual on Uniform Traffic Control Devices for Streets and Highways. The manual contains standards for street markings and design, standardizing signage, and making driving as seamless as possible.
Urban Planning | Dec 18, 2023
The impacts of affordability, remote work, and personal safety on urban life
Data from Gensler's City Pulse Survey shows that although people are satisfied with their city's experience, it may not be enough.
Multifamily Housing | Nov 30, 2023
A lasting housing impact: Gen-Z redefines multifamily living
Nathan Casteel, Design Leader, DLR Group, details what sets an apartment community apart for younger generations.
Condominiums | Nov 6, 2023
Douglas Elliman launches its first Metro D.C. condominium project
Douglas Elliman, one of the largest independent residential real estate brokerages in the United States, announced last week that the firm will be handling the sales and marketing for Ten501 at City Centre West.
Office Buildings | Oct 16, 2023
The impact of office-to-residential conversion on downtown areas
Gensler's Duanne Render looks at the incentives that could bring more office-to-residential conversions to life.
Urban Planning | Oct 12, 2023
Top 10 'future-ready' cities
With rising climate dilemmas, breakthroughs in technology, and aging infrastructure, the needs of our cities cannot be solved with a single silver bullet. This Point2 report compared the country's top cities over a variety of metrics.