The Role of Urban Form and Demographics in Pedestrian and Bicycle Safety

Details

• Creators:
  Khattak, Asad ; Bayati, Zeinab
• Corporate Creators:
  Center for Pedestrian and Bicyclist Safety (CPBS) Tier-1 University Transportation Center (UTC) ; University of Tennessee, Knoxville
• Corporate Contributors:
  United States. Department of Transportation. University Transportation Centers (UTC) Program ; United States. Department of Transportation. Office of the Assistant Secretary for Research and Technology
• Subject/TRT Terms:
  Cyclists Pedestrians Time Series Transportation Disadvantaged Persons Vulnerable Road Users
• Publication/ Report Number:
  23UTK04
• DOI:
  https://doi.org/10.21949/mn1x-v461
• Resource Type:
  Tech Report
• Geographical Coverage:
  United States
• Edition:
  Final Report – June 2023 to May 2024
• Corporate Publisher:
  Center for Pedestrian and Bicyclist Safety (CPBS) Tier-1 University Transportation Center (UTC)
• Abstract:
  The rising number of fatal crashes involving Vulnerable Road Users (VRUs), such as bicyclists and pedestrians, underscores the urgent need for enhanced safety interventions, especially in Disadvantaged Communities (DACs). This study, aligned with transportation equity and Vision Zero goals, explores the temporal and geographic patterns of fatal pedestrian and bicycle crashes, specifically focusing on DACs. It identifies trends and crash sites across the U.S., examining the correlation between DAC indices, i.e., Transportation Insecurity, Health Vulnerability, Environmental Burden, Social Vulnerability, and Climate and Disaster Risk Burden, and the rise in pedestrian and bicycle fatalities in 84,443 census tracts. Using Florida as a case study due to its significant mix of DAC and non-DAC communities, the research uses a comprehensive methodology, including time series Difference-in-Difference analysis, spatial analysis, and Zero-Inflated Negative Binomial regression. The study integrates data from the Equitable Transportation Community Explorer, the Fatality Analysis Reporting System, and related datasets. Findings reveal a substantial increase in pedestrian/bicycle fatalities, especially in DACs over the past decade, and a strong correlation between higher street network density and increased VRU crashes. The insights are vital for policymakers and transportation engineers in developing equitable and long-term safety interventions.
• Format:
  PDF
• Funding:
  69A3552348336
• Collection(s):
  University Transportation Centers
• Main Document Checksum:
  urn:sha-512:b71283c3056aedc29dcd9653f544dccb1839d971f1767ef5c65224ee9ba3226df6ceff0f8ddda355919db9ec0b2eea6eb260d1ca19edaabc5b7c82d095a2ba8b
• Download URL:
  https://rosap.ntl.bts.gov/view/dot/86255/dot_86255_DS1.pdf
• File Type:
  [PDF - 1.91 MB ]