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Pedestrian and Bicyclist Safety and Mobility in Europe

Federal Highway Administration (FHWA)

Pedestrian and bicyclist deaths accounted for 14 percent of U.S. highway fatalities in 2008. The Federal Highway Administration, American Association of State Highway and Transportation Officials, and National Cooperative Highway Research Program sponsored an international scanning study of five European countries to identify and assess effective approaches to improve pedestrian and bicyclist safety and mobility.

The international scan team gathered information on strategies and approaches in the areas of engineering, education, enforcement, encouragement, and evaluation. The team learned that many of the countries studied have established an urban street user hierarchy that gives the highest priority to walking, biking, and public transit.

Team recommendations for U.S. implementation include encouraging transportation policy that gives walking, biking, and other nonmotorized modes the highest priority in the road user hierarchy. The team also recommends evaluating innovative strategies and designs to improve pedestrian and bicyclist safety for possible U.S. use, institutionalizing traffic safety education that starts at an early age, and developing programs that encourage regular walking and biking.

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