From Jacksonville.com:
Jacksonville city planners designed the city with its growing number of fast-moving vehicles in mind. They did not consider, however, the growing number of aging Americans born during the “Baby Boom,” who are also continuing to “get around,” often on foot.
This has led to a serious, largely overlooked problem: Older pedestrians simply don’t have enough time to cross the newer, wider streets.
Noah Budnick, deputy director of Transportation Alternatives, a New York research and advocacy group was quoted, “Streets are no longer primarily for moving traffic as quickly as possible. That’s a very 1950s notion of middle America…Our streets are where we live in this city, and walking is the primary mode of how people get around.” Budnick was talking about his city of New York, but his statement could also be applied to Jacksonville, where people take advantage of the mild climate by walking year-round.
Washington, D.C.-based advocacy group Transportation for America highlighted this issue in 2011 in “Dangerous By Design,” a report based on a study of traffic fatalities in the US from 2000 through 2009. Jacksonville was ultimately found to be the third worst metropolitan area for pedestrians. In Jacksonville, the study found pedestrians accounted for 16.1 percent of all traffic deaths.
Older Americans are nearly twice as likely to be killed while walking than those under the age of 65. According to Transportation for America’s study, 8,458 pedestrians aged 65 and over were killed from 2000 to 2007. This age group represents 22 percent of the total pedestrian fatalities during that period, although people aged 65 and over comprise just 12.4 percent of the population.
From 2000 to 2007, 853 pedestrians in Florida aged 65 years or older were killed. Older pedestrians died at a rate of 3.7 per 100,000 residents in Florida, compared to 2.7 per 100,000 for residents under age 65. Florida ranks No. 7 nationally for the highest fatality rate for pedestrians over the age of 65.
Transportation for America and Transportation Alternatives link the disproportionate number of elderly victims to street plans that failed to anticipate a number of social shifts in the country: the first of the 78 million baby boomers turning 65 this year; more retirees moving to urban areas; people living longer; and walking being the main form of exercise for the elderly.
The 2010 census revealed that the percentage of middle-aged and elderly people is far outpacing those 45 and younger. By 2030, 19 percent of the nation’s population will fall into the category of those 65 and older.
David Goldberg, spokesman for Transportation for America, said, “We’re going to see lots more people living to 85 and beyond…The impact of having designed our communities so totally around being able to drive for your every need is going to be felt in a very significant way.”
ALWAYS use caution when walking–and driving–on Jacksonville-area roadways.
The Law Offices of Paul J. Healy have served the residents of Jacksonville and the North Florida counties of Duval, Baker, Clay, Nassau and St. Johns in the area of motor vehicle accidents and personal injury since 1989.
