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

Author

Listed:
  • Ralph Buehler

    (Urban Affairs and Planning, Virginia Tech, Arlington, VA 22203, USA)

  • John Pucher

    (School of Planning and Public Policy, Rutgers University, New Brunswick, NJ 08901, USA)

Abstract

Walking is the most sustainable means of daily travel for short trip distances and is a key component of the overall transport system. This paper documents variation in walking rates among countries, cities in the same country, and in different parts of the same city. Our international analysis of official government statistics shows that walking rates are highest for short trips, higher for women than for men, decline with increasing income, and remain constant as age increases. Walking fatality rates are much higher in the USA compared with the other countries we examined, both per capita and per km walked. Government policies that would increase walking rates while improving pedestrian safety include: integrated networks of safe and convenient walking infrastructure; roadways and intersections designed for the needs of pedestrians; land-use regulations that encourage mixed uses and short trip distances; lower city-wide speed limits and traffic calming in residential neighborhoods; reduced supply and increased price of parking; traffic laws that give priority to pedestrians; improved traffic education for motorists and non-motorists; tax surcharges on large personal vehicles; and strict enforcement of laws against drink and distracted driving. Five decades of success with these policies in many European cities provide practical examples for car-oriented cities to follow, especially in North America.

Suggested Citation

  • Ralph Buehler & John Pucher, 2023. "Overview of Walking Rates, Walking Safety, and Government Policies to Encourage More and Safer Walking in Europe and North America," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 15(7), pages 1-24, March.
    • Handle: RePEc:gam:jsusta:v:15:y:2023:i:7:p:5719-:d:1106576
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    References listed on IDEAS

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    1. Anderson, Michael, 2008. "Safety for whom? The effects of light trucks on traffic fatalities," Journal of Health Economics, Elsevier, vol. 27(4), pages 973-989, July.
    2. Ralph Buehler & John Pucher & Regine Gerike & Thomas Götschi, 2017. "Reducing car dependence in the heart of Europe: lessons from Germany, Austria, and Switzerland," Transport Reviews, Taylor & Francis Journals, vol. 37(1), pages 4-28, January.
    3. Pucher, J. & Dijkstra, L., 2003. "Promoting Safe Walking and Cycling to Improve Public Health: Lessons from The Netherlands and Germany," American Journal of Public Health, American Public Health Association, vol. 93(9), pages 1509-1516.
    4. Ralph Buehler & John Pucher, 2021. "The growing gap in pedestrian and cyclist fatality rates between the United States and the United Kingdom, Germany, Denmark, and the Netherlands, 1990–2018," Transport Reviews, Taylor & Francis Journals, vol. 41(1), pages 48-72, January.
    5. Dave Amos, 2020. "Understanding the Legacy of Pedestrian Malls," Journal of the American Planning Association, Taylor & Francis Journals, vol. 86(1), pages 11-24, January.
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    Cited by:

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    2. Olivia Psara & Fernando Fonseca & Olympia Nisiforou & Rui Ramos, 2023. "Evaluation of Urban Sustainability Based on Transportation and Green Spaces: The Case of Limassol, Cyprus," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 15(13), pages 1-18, July.
    3. Whiting, Stephen & Abu-Omar, Karim & Gelius, Peter & Firmino-Machado, João & Rakovac, Ivo & Mendes, Romeu, 2025. "Physical activity policy implementation and physical activity levels in the European Union: Are we on track to close the gap between policy and practice?," Health Policy, Elsevier, vol. 151(C).

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