Improving Safety for Walking, Biking, and Rolling

Safety is U.S. Department of Transportation’s (DOT) top priority for all modes of transportation and those who use them, including for those walking, biking, and rolling on our roadways and sidewalks. These users are referred to broadly as “pedestrians and bicyclists” or “active transportation” users, and include walkers, bicyclists, those using wheelchairs and mobility devices, transit, micromobility riders, and others. DOT recently launched the Active Transportation webpage. The DOT FY 2022-2026 Strategic Plan calls for an increase in the percentage of person trips by transit and active transportation modes by 50% from 2020 levels, and it is essential to ensure these trips are safe—especially amidst troubling safety trends for pedestrians and bicyclists. Click here to learn more about our nation’s roadway safety crisis and DOT’s National Roadway Safety Strategy.

Responsibility of States and Local Transportation and Enforcement Agencies

In partnership with DOT, state and local agencies, community groups and individuals have a significant role in determining how safe the transportation network in their community will be. State and local transportation agencies and MPOs, who plan, design, build, and maintain roads, sidewalks, and stations, are required by law to improve the safety of transportation infrastructure, including for vulnerable road users (VRUs) like pedestrians and bicyclists. Safety enforcement agencies have a responsibility to ensure that the public is aware of safety laws and regulations, and that these laws are enforced. Finally, the elected officials for these jurisdictions can choose to sponsor and pass laws that further enhance the behavioral, infrastructural, and vehicular safety.

Below is a summary of several of the operating administrations’ relevant activities, programs, and a list of related resources.

Federal Highway Administration (FHWA)

FHWA provides stewardship over the construction, maintenance and preservation of the Nation’s highways, bridges and tunnels through financial and technical assistance, and guidance to State departments of transportation (DOTs) and Metropolitan Planning Organizations (MPOs). FHWA coordinates with State DOTs to promote and facilitate increased use of non-motorized transportation, including developing facilities for pedestrians and bicyclists, and public educational, promotional, and safety programs for using such facilities. FHWA provides State and local agencies with guidance on safe roadway design standards. FHWA funding, primarily in the form of formula grants to State DOTs and MPOs, can be used to build and improve bicycle and pedestrian infrastructure. FHWA is also responsible for DOT’s Complete Streets program, which support transportation agencies in planning, developing, and operating safe, comfortable, and connected streets. FHWA and the Federal Transit Administration maintain a table indicating potential eligibility of bicycle and pedestrian projects for current funding opportunities.

• FHWA Bicycle and Pedestrian Program
• FHWA Pedestrian & Bicycle Safety
• FHWA Complete Streets Program
• FHWA Micromobility Webpage

National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA)

NHTSA’s mission is to saves lives, prevent injuries and reduce economic costs due to road traffic crashes through education, research, safety standards and enforcement activities. NHTSA’s website includes resources and more information about safe bicycling and walking, including safety research and public education materials. NHTSA also houses the Fatality Analysis Reporting System (FARS), which is a nationwide census providing yearly data regarding fatal injuries suffered in motor vehicle traffic crashes, including those involving pedestrians and bicyclists.  

• NHTSA Bicycle Safety
• NHTSA Pedestrian Safety
• NHTSA Regional Offices

Federal Transit Administration (FTA)

FTA provides financial and technical assistance to local public transit systems, including overseeing grants to state and local transit providers. Multiple FTA grant programs are available to help cities and towns invest in pedestrian and bicycle infrastructure, which improves mobility and helps people access public transportation.

• Grant Programs
• Improving Safety for Pedestrians and Bicyclists Accessing Transit
• Manual on Pedestrian and Bicycle Connections to Transit

Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration (FMCSA)

FMCSA works to prevent commercial motor vehicle-related fatalities and injuries by enforcing safety regulations, supporting research on safety information systems and safer vehicle technology, and providing States with financial assistance for roadside inspections and other commercial motor vehicle safety programs. These programs are designed to reduce commercial motor vehicle collisions, including those that involve bicyclists and pedestrians.

• FMCSA Our Roads Our Safety

Federal Railroad Administration (FRA)

FRA ensures the safe movement of people and goods by rail, through regulatory and inspection work, investments to develop and improve the rail network, and through research and technology development. FRA has worked to identify safety risks and to improve the safety of pedestrians and bicyclists at grade crossings, including gathering information on signals, signs, and other devices used to prevent non-motorized fatalities.

• FRA Railroad Crossing Safety & Trespass Prevention

Pedestrian and Bicycle Information Center

The Pedestrian and Bicycle Information Center (PBIC) is a partnership of FHWA and NHTSA and University of North Carolina (UNC) Highway Safety Research Center. Its mission is to improve the quality of life in communities through the increase of safe walking and bicycling as viable means of transportation and physical activity. PBIC develops, synthesizes, promotes, and distributes accurate and current bicycling and walking information; provides access to research findings and data to various audiences; and supports a network of partners who perform public outreach about pedestrian/bike issues. To do so, it manages several websites, produces a variety of reports, guides and case studies, offers training and technical assistance. Visit the PBIC homepage to learn more.