7 Rules for Designing Safer Cities

7 Rules for Designing Safer Cities

As a part of its EMBARQ Sustainable Urban Mobility initiative, the WRI Ross Center for Sustainable Cities has created a global reference guide called Cities Safer by Design “to help cities save lives from traffic fatalities through improved street design and smart urban development."

Causing over 1.24 million deaths annually, traffic fatalities are currently estimated to be the eighth leading cause of death worldwide, a ranking that is expected to rise to the fifth leading cause of death by 2030.

With these staggering numbers in mind, the Cities Safer by Design guide discusses ways to make cities less dangerous, particularly with its section entitled, “7 Proven Principles for Designing a Safer City.” Learn what the 7 concepts are, after the break.

1) Avoid Urban Sprawl

Courtesy of the WRI Ross Center for Sustainable Cities

2) Slow down road traffic

Podčetrtek Traffic Circle / Enota. Image © Miran Kambič

3) Ensure main streets are safe for everyone, not just cars.

Pedestrians transverse a busy intersection in Shibuya, Tokyo. Image © Flickr user Just One Way Ticket

4) Create dedicated spaces for pedestrians.

Pedestrians in Times Square travel in zones prohibited to vehicle access. Image © Flickr user Markus Spiering

5) Provide a safe, connected network for cyclists.

Bicycle Snake / DISSING+WEITLING Architecture. Image © DISSING+WEITLING Architecture

6)  Ensure safe access to high-quality public transport.

Courtesy of the WRI Ross Center for Sustainable Cities

7)  Use data to detect problem areas.

In Rio de Janeiro, a control center has been built to map and respond to emergencies, including traffic incidents. Image Courtesy of IBM

For an in-depth explanation of each principle check out the WRI's "7 Proven Principles for Designing a Safer City" here and their full guide "Cities Safer by Design" here.

Via the WRI Ross Center for Sustainable Cities.

About this author
Cite: Sabrina Santos. "7 Rules for Designing Safer Cities" 02 Aug 2015. ArchDaily. Accessed . <https://www.archdaily.com/771150/7-rules-for-designing-safer-cities> ISSN 0719-8884

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