MPC
Researchers Develop Proactive Approach to Child Pedestrian Safety

Posted: Aug 1, 2019

Child pedestrians deserve particular attention when considering traffic safety. This means identifying locations where child pedestrians are at particular risk as well as taking a more proactive safety approach to find out where their trips are being suppressed specifically due to road safety concerns.

Pedestrian and bicycle trips that have been suppressed because of traffic safety concerns can be an important indicator of road safety. A tool developed by MPC researchers at the University of Colorado Denver allows for the identification of roadways with high levels of suppressed child pedestrian/bicycling trips in terms of street-level design characteristics. This approach allows for the methodology to be used by academics and practitioners alike to not only make the places where children are currently walking/bicycling safer, but to improve safety in places where children should walk and bike.

Wesley Marshall, Ph.D.
University of Colorado Denver

Redefining the Child Pedestrian Safety Paradigm
MPC-19-374