Philadelphia may be a beautiful city, but it’s not one that’s without complaints from pedestrians. To help improve pedestrian safety and comfort—and increase the number of people who choose to commute by walking—Feet First Philly surveyed pedestrians in Philadelphia. Here is what those walkers reported as being their top three complaints.
1. Poorly Maintained Sidewalks
The number one complaint amongst pedestrians who participated in the survey was poorly maintained sidewalks. These refer to paths with one or more of the following features listed below.
- Cracks
- Breaks
- Uneven walking surface
A lack of a sidewalk entirely was also a related complaint. When sidewalks are not maintained or do not exist, a pedestrian is at a greater risk for an accident.
2. Bad Drivers
While Pennsylvania laws require drivers to yield to pedestrians at both marked and unmarked crosswalks, drivers do not always follow these rules.
Besides failing to yield when the law requires them to do so, many Philly drivers are also unsafe in other ways.
- Speeding
- Driving while intoxicated
- Driving aggressively
- Failing to look before turning
- Driving while distracted
These drivers pose a serious threat to pedestrians, and can cause a horrific accident. Walkers can take a defensive position by following these safety tips for Pennsylvania pedestrians.
3. Disruption as a Result of Construction
Termed “construction disruption,” disruption of walking areas as a result of construction was the third most common pedestrian complaint. While construction can’t always be prevented—and is often a necessity—alternate paths and better signage (read: larger print) could help to improve the pedestrian experience.
Pedestrian Goals in Philadelphia
Fixing sidewalks that are unsafe or uneven in Philadelphia, installing more sidewalks, enforcing traffic laws for bad drivers, and providing better signage and alternative paths when construction is occurring are all goals the city should keep in mind – doing so may increase pedestrian safety and prevalence.
Furthermore, a representative from Feet First was quoted by Philly.com as saying that pedestrians should “have the freedom to stroll leisurely, side by side.”
When Unsafe Conditions or Poor Driving Lead to an Accident
The vast majority of pedestrian accidents are entirely preventable. When unsafe conditions or poor driving result in an accident, the at-fault party may be held liable for all damages incurred by the pedestrian. To assist you in proving negligence and liability, call a pedestrian accident attorney as soon as possible.
Take Action By Calling a Pedestrian Accident Attorney Today!
You can take action to recover damages for any injuries that you’ve sustained as a pedestrian by calling Cordisco & Saile LLC today. To reach a pedestrian accident lawyer, dial 215-642-2335 now!
