The most dangerous city in the US for pedestrians isn’t even the least walkable
A law firm in Texas recently released a study on the most dangerous cities in the U.S. for pedestrians. The study analyzed specific factors, including car accidents involving pedestrians, the pedestrian fatality rate per 100,000 people, walkability scores, and the percentage of parks and recreational areas in each city. After calculating, the takeaways are quite interesting.
| Cities | Population | Accidents involving pedestrians | Pedestrian fatality rate per 100,000 | Walkability score | Parks and Recreation | Score |
| Memphis | 621056 | 83 | 13.3643343 | 35 | 6% | 30.2 |
| Oklahoma City | 694800 | 28 | 4.029936672 | 34 | 7% | 31.82 |
| Charlotte | 897720 | 24 | 2.67343938 | 26 | 7% | 31.85 |
| Fort Worth | 956709 | 31 | 3.240274733 | 35 | 6% | 32.39 |
| Detroit | 620376 | 36 | 5.802932415 | 51 | 6% | 32.5 |
| Louisville | 624444 | 31 | 4.964416345 | 42 | 9% | 35.58 |
| San Antonio | 1472909 | 66 | 4.480928557 | 37 | 10% | 36.6 |
| Dallas | 1299544 | 72 | 5.540404942 | 46 | 10% | 37.31 |
| Phoenix | 1644409 | 117 | 7.115018222 | 41 | 16% | 39.29 |
| Columbus | 907971 | 26 | 2.86352758 | 41 | 11% | 41.73 |
Memphis takes the top spot as the most dangerous city for pedestrians. This isn’t necessarily news for the city, which launched a pedestrian and cyclist safety initiative in 2023. The study revealed that Memphis has the highest pedestrian fatality rate, with around 13 deaths per 100,000 people. What’s more, it has a low walkability score and dedicates only 6% of its area to parks and recreational spaces. That’s a stark warning for anyone walking the streets of this Tennessee city. Still, Memphis doesn’t even have the lowest walkability score.
Over in Phoenix, things are a bit different but still really concerning. While the city boasts the most parks and pedestrian-friendly areas, it also has the highest number of pedestrian-involved accidents. It seems that even with plenty of green spaces, safety isn’t guaranteed. Sources cite a lack of infrastructure, like sidewalks or crosswalks, in high-traffic areas. In recent years, there’s been an influx of foot traffic without the addition of more pedestrian-friendly features.
Charlotte, North Carolina, didn’t fare much better. It earned the “distinction” of having the lowest walkability score, coming in at just 26. That means navigating the city on foot might be more challenging than in other places, putting pedestrians at higher risk. Like Phoenix, rapid population increase without the infrastructure to support new foot traffic isn’t helping.
Having been to Charlotte in the last few years, I could tell the city is experiencing large population growth. In fact, a 2023 census estimate was 911,300 residents. That’s higher than the study’s recorded population. The boom landed Charlotte alongside Atlanta as one of the fastest-growing cities in the country, Axios reported. Noodle around Charlotte any old afternoon, and you’ll find loads of traffic and beehive-like parking lots. Not to mention the real estate market, which nearly rivaled LA when I visited before the pandemic.
The study, conducted by The Texas Law Dog, provides great insight for those of us who like to stroll. If you enjoy walking and either live in or plan to visit one of these places, stay vigilant.
