After all, he notes.
“Everyone is a pedestrian.”
I kept running but you should have seen the car.
It was really in bad shape.)
The 18-month bike and pedestrian safety campaign features road safety assessments conducted by DOT field offices in every state.
Can you describe the initiative and what led you to take it on?
Unfortunately, fatality numbers are increasing for cyclists and pedestrians at a time when overall traffic fatalities are decreasing.
But, we need to ensure that people can do both safely.
How will the initiative benefit Americans of different income levels, ages, abilities and geographic areas?
What health or economic benefits do you foresee, for both individuals and communities at large?
The health benefits are significant.
Providing safe options to walk or bike also allows people to save money on transportation.
According to AAA, the cost to own and operate a car is nearly $10,000 every year.
Walking and biking offer affordable alternatives to access jobs, education and services.
They can also be a big part of community revitalization.
In announcing the initiative, you noted that road safety assessments will be conducted in every state.
What role, if any, will local residents or volunteers have in these assessments?
The DOT-led assessments will be on-the-ground examinations of a transportation corridor conducted by multidisciplinary teams.
How will this DOT initiative help state and local transportation agencies in their work?
What tools and training will available?
What will success look like when the initiative is complete?
You have been traveling the country calling for Congress to pass a long-term surface transportation bill.
How can passage of the bill advance the safety goals of the new initiative?
Safety is a partnership among all levels of government.
In addition, these networks help meet national goals for improving health and reducing harmful emissions.
We see this integrated approach as the most economical way to improve pedestrian and bicycle safety.
It creates new programs that prioritize multimodal projects that connect people to destinations and opportunities.
The role of local leaders and community members cant be underestimated in promoting bicycle and pedestrian safety.
One of the first things to do is to learn what transportation projects are being planned for your community.
And it never hurts to pick up the phone and call your elected leaders.
Melissa Stanton is the editor of AARP Livable Communities.
