Columbus ranks among safer metros for pedestrians
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Columbus continues to be one of the safer cities for pedestrians, though not as safe as its Ohio peers, according to a report from Smart Growth America.
Why it matters: Making our region more walkable has remained a top priority for local leaders, from improving sidewalks and traffic signals to reducing speed limits and redesigning roads.
How it works: The Dangerous by Design report examined pedestrian deaths from 2020 through 2024 and ranked the nation's 101 largest metro areas by annual fatality rates.
What they found: Drivers killed 172 pedestrians in the Columbus area over the last five years.
- While still a tragic number, Columbus' fatality rate of 1.58 per 100,000 residents ranked No. 73 out of 101 metros.
The big picture: Ohio as a whole ranked 38th among all states for pedestrian fatality rates, with 754 deaths from 2020 to 2024.
- Cleveland ranked lowest among Ohio cities, at No. 89.
- It was joined by Cincinnati (No. 83) and Akron and Toledo (tied for No. 85) in having among the lower rates of cities studied.
Flashback: Columbus' numbers are nearly identical to 2024, the last time Smart Growth America issued a report.
- The metro's fatality rate was 1.59 per 100,000 residents between 2018 and 2022, with 170 deaths during that period.
Between the lines: The researchers argue that road design shapes driver behavior in "invisible but powerful ways" and that the country's streets are often "built to prioritize the speed and convenience of cars" over safety.
- Specifically, they point to roads with "too-wide lanes, infrequent pedestrian crossings, and poor visibility," which they say disproportionately endanger communities of color and lower-income neighborhoods.
- American Indian and Alaska Native people are killed while walking at 3.7 times the national rate, while Black Americans die at 1.7 times the national rate, according to the report.
What's next: Vision Zero Columbus is in the early stages of using a federal grant to develop a Vulnerable Road User Safety Plan, including a new Safe Routes to School Travel Plan with Columbus City Schools.
- The process will include a deep dive into data, including demographic subgroups like race, to "better understand these trends," Department of Public Service spokesperson Debbie Briner tells Axios.