Pedestrians

Pedestrians - In Europe’s most developed cities, pedestrians are not afraid to cross the street and always have right of way. This is a result of a culture which respects pedestrians but is also due to the introduction of certain pedestrian-friendly laws.

Throughout our continent, pedestrians and cyclists are still the most discriminated groups in city traffic. Very wide roads, a short length of green signals for pedestrians, few pedestrian crossings, cars parked on pavements and few areas closed to traffic all indicate a lack of pedestrian friendly policies. These examples are characteristic of many European cities. As a result, one in five of the 40 thousand people who die in Europe every year as a result of road accidents are pedestrians. This is why many non-governmental organisations are acting on behalf of pedestrians’ rights, and are often supported by local Green party groups.

In pedestrian friendly cities the level of public safety is growing and the quality of public space is improving. There are many ways of encouraging citizens to choose walking as a method of getting around the city: appropriate lighting, comfortable public benches, safe pavements, “street art”, greenery, speed restrictions, restrictions in the number of parking spaces or a complete ban on the entry of cars. Such policies are beneficial to human health and to the environment and help to develop social capital in cities. Pedestrian zones in cities serve to strengthen social ties, build trust, increase levels of engagement in local activities and build a culture of mutual help and support.

Did You Know?

 * 37 percent of travel within Barcelona is on foot!
 * In a number of European cities, improving life for pedestrians is considered a political priority, and a number of strategies are being introduced to achieve this.