Momentum Magazine recently featured an article (Are These the Absolute Worst Cities for Cycling in America?) in which pedestrians and cyclists were asked to respond to the question:
What is the most hostile city for bikers and pedestrians you’ve ever been in?
Despite the questionable grammar, respondents referenced Sunbelt cities like Houston, Atlanta, and Phoenix. The article also referenced a recent ranking of the 20 most dangerous US cities (with populations over 100,000) for pedestrians and cyclists. This quantitative analysis appears to have been conducted by a personal injury law firm with rankings based on fatal crash data, walkability scores, bike infrastructure, and risk compared to state averages.
Pedestrian & Cyclist Safety Index Report (Wagner Reese)
Top 10 Worst U.S. Cities for Pedestrian and Bicycle Safety
- Baton Rouge, LA
- Tucson, AZ
- Jacksonville, FL
- San Bernardino, CA
- Las Vegas, NV
- Albuquerque, NM
- Detroit, MI
- Tampa, FL
- Glendale, AZ
- Phoenix, AZ
For comparison, the League of American Bicyclists Bicycle Friendly State (BFS) rankings generally support the findings of the Pedestrian & Cyclist Safety Index Report. Many of the least bicycle-friendly states are in the Sunbelt.
State Ranking and Report Cards (League of American Bicyclists)
40. Louisiana
41. North Dakota
42. Oklahoma
43. Montana
44. Wyoming
45. South Dakota
46. Alabama
47. South Carolina
48. Nebraska
49. Missouri
50. Mississippi
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