Pittsburgh can do more to prevent pedestrian injuries and deaths

Cities around the world are adopting “Vision Zero” plans with the goal of eliminating all traffic fatalities and serious injuries through better road engineering, design, and enforcement. In response to a recent Post-Gazette article on Pittsburgh’s high rate of pedestrian crashes, Bike Pittsburgh’s executive director, Scott Bricker, penned a letter to the editor proclaiming that, with the right commitment and investment, we too can have streets that are safe for all road users – pedestrians, bicyclists, and motorists alike.

August 17, 2014

To the editor:

Thank you for shedding light on the rash of crashes involving pedestrians in Pittsburgh with your well-designed, interactive article last Sunday. The fact that 2,100 crashes in Pittsburgh in less than a decade have involved pedestrians should ring alarm bells with every policymaker, planner and engineer working in the city of Pittsburgh.

However, the suggestion by Todd Kravits, Pennsylvania Department of Transportation District 11 traffic engineer, that it is our topography that is at fault is confusing and unfounded. He suggests that if Pittsburgh had more streets resembling “nice flat tables,” it would enable our streets to be engineered more safely; in reality, according to the article’s accompanying map, our flattest stretches of roadway are seeing the highest number of crashes with pedestrians. Mr. Kravits’ assertion that our hills are at fault in some way for these crashes simply does not jibe with the data here.

See Scott’s full letter to the editor and comment on the Post-Gazette’s website.

Not a member of BikePGH? Join today! We need you to add your voice! Bike Pittsburgh works to protect cyclist’s rights and promote the vision of making Pittsburgh a safer and more enjoyable place to live and to ride. For more info, check out: www.bikepgh.org/membership