Report outlines safety challenges being faced by pedestrians and bicyclists

The U.S. Department of Transportation (USDOT) released a report on Wednesday based on the efforts of over 1,500 people who were asked to walk or bicycle to conduct safety assessments.

The assessments were held by transportation departments in every state as part of the USDOT's Safer People, Safer Streets Initiative. 
 
The report, titled "Pedestrian and Bicyclist Road Safety Assessments," showed a variety of factors that affect safety for pedestrians as well as bicyclists, such as physical barriers including missing crosswalks or missing curb cuts.

The assessments will help federal, state and local agencies find ways to improve safety for pedestrians and bicyclists throughout the U.S.

Each assessment showed results that were unique to each area, but there were certain challenges that were included in all of the areas, like physical barriers that prevented easy access to bus stops and stations. Another consistent problem was a lack of bicycle facilities and sidewalk gaps.

The next step will be to address how these problems occurred and to develop plans to address them.