Overview of Walking Rates, Walking Safety, and Government Policies to Encourage More and Safer Walking in Europe and North America

Buehler, Ralph; Pucher, John · 2023 · OpenAlex-citations

DOI: 10.3390/su15075719

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Summary

This paper examines variations in walking rates, pedestrian safety, and government policies across Europe and North America, aiming to identify strategies for increasing walking levels and improving safety. The authors argue that walking is the most sustainable, equitable, and health-promoting mode of transport for short trips, yet it is often undervalued in car-oriented urban designs. The study focuses primarily on Germany, Denmark, the Netherlands, the UK, and the USA, with comparative data from other nations including Japan, Australia, and New Zealand. The research is motivated by the need to understand why walking rates and safety outcomes differ significantly between regions and to provide evidence-based policy recommendations for car-dependent cities, particularly in North America. The methodology relies on an international analysis of official government statistics, including national travel surveys, censuses, and traffic safety databases. The authors analyze walking modal shares for all trip purposes where available, noting that census data limited to work commutes significantly underestimates total walking. They examine variations in walking by gender, age, income, and trip distance, and assess pedestrian fatality rates both per capita and per kilometer walked. The study acknowledges limitations in data comparability due to differences in survey timing, definitions, and methodologies across countries. Key findings reveal that walking rates are highest for short trips, are higher among women than men, decline with increasing income, and remain relatively constant across age groups. Walking modal shares range from 12% in the USA and New Zealand to 26% in the UK. The paper identifies that low walking rates in the USA and Sweden are associated with low population density and high car ownership, while lower rates in the Netherlands are attributed to high cycling prevalence. Crucially, the study finds that pedestrian fatality rates in the USA are substantially higher than in the examined European countries, both per capita and per kilometer walked. The authors attribute these disparities to differences in infrastructure, land-use patterns, and regulatory environments. The significance of this research lies in its identification of specific government policies that correlate with higher walking rates and improved safety. The authors conclude that European cities have successfully implemented integrated walking infrastructure, pedestrian-friendly road designs, mixed-use land-use regulations, lower speed limits, traffic calming measures, reduced parking supply, and strict enforcement of traffic laws. These policies, along with tax surcharges on large vehicles and improved traffic education, create environments that prioritize pedestrians. The paper argues that these five decades of European success provide a practical blueprint for North American and other car-oriented cities to adopt, thereby enhancing sustainability, public health, and urban vitality.

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• comparative international