Walking is primarily how most of us get around New York City. With such busy roadways and a lack of parking, it’s oftentimes the most convenient. Unfortunately, we’re at some high risks for accidents — because of the dense population of pedestrians and because of the design of our roadways.
And that’s why WalkNYC was launched — as New York City’s standard for pedestrian wayfinding. The program does provides a clear visual language and graphic standard that can be universally understood, encourages walking and transit usage by providing quality multi-modal information, and provides consistent information across a broad range of environments in the city. The first of these signs were installed during the summer; the program is working in four areas of the city.
Our pedestrian injury attorneys understand that our area does not always provide the crosswalks, crossing signs and other necessary pedestrian features to keep walkers safe. Some streets are difficult to safely navigate. According to a recent study from the New York City Department of Transportation (NYDOT), pedestrians are 10 times more likely to die than a motor vehicle occupant in the event of a crash. As a matter of fact, pedestrians accounted for well over half of all of the traffic accident fatalities recorded in the city from 2005 to 2009.
Serious pedestrian accidents are about two-thirds deadlier on major street corridors than on smaller local streets.
With WalkNYC, officials are working to point out the most dangerous areas for pedestrians and to make the necessary changes to make them safer for everyone. They are looking at popular destinations and popular pedestrian routes, focusing on the routes between transit services, landmarks and public spaces.
With this research, officials have created detailed maps of each area and listed the changes they intend to make. These maps can be located at Citi Bike station kiosks.
Sign Features:
-Maps of the area.
-Cardinal directions.
-Street names.
-Information regarding Wi-Fi hotpots and subway entrances.
-They will be facing “heads-up” so that you can see the streets as they appear from where you’re standing.
But there is no kind of map that is going to help to keep pedestrian safe better than safe walking skills and habits. It’s important to remember that close to 80 percent of pedestrian-vehicle accidents that kill or seriously injure a pedestrian involve private vehicles, not buses, taxis or trucks. Always remember:
-Walk on sidewalks. If you must walk in the street, walk facing traffic. Stop at the curb before entering the street.
-Cross the road only at a street corner. Your best bet is to do so where there is a traffic light and a marked crosswalk.
-Make eye contact with drivers before crossing in front of them. You want to make sure they see you crossing.
-Give yourself the most available time to cross the road by waiting for a newly turned green or walk signal.
-Pay attention to your surroundings. Keep distractions at bay.
Contact the Law Offices of Nicholas Rose, PLLC for a free consultation. Call 1-877-313-7673.
More Blog Entries:
Pedestrian Risks in NYC an Urgent Safety Focus, New York Injury Lawyer Blog, September 26, 2013
Manhattan Advocates Work for Safer Pedestrian Travel, New York Injury Lawyer Blog, July 13, 2013
