“We can” get better “for walking and cycling safety around the world

These are accurate urban initiatives that the UN Global Week of Safety on Roads – Strikes Monday – aims to celebrate and promote.

First established in 2007. year, this year’s week is dedicated to the topic “making walking and cycling safe.”

“Walking and cycling should be the most ordinary, so, therefore, the safest way of transportation“He said Dr. Etienne Circlewhich ranking group known as Cooperation of road safety and directs the efforts of the World Health Organization for resolving social and economic conditions that affect human health.

Statistics tell a story

In September 2020. year, the UN General Assembly brought a resolution that established a decade of road safety in 2021-2030 and set the goal to reduce death on road traffic by at least 50 percent by the end of the decade.

While progress has been made, WHO He says more shares in all sectors of politics need it.

Each year 1.2 million people kill in road traffic incidents, with pedestrians and cyclists that make up over a quarter of these deaths. These deaths are not distributed equally around the world. Instead, 90 percent of the death of road traffic in low and medium income countries.

Moreover, the UN estimates that at least 90 percent of world roads do not meet the pedestrian protection standards and Only 0.2 percent of roads have a dedicated cycling stripsLeaving pedestrians and cyclists dangerously exposed.

Holistic approach

Improving hiking and cycling safety has far-reaching benefits for communities, in terms of health, economic and environmental results.

“Walking and cycling improve health and make cities more sustainable. Every step and each ride (helps) to reduce congestion, air pollution and disease“He said Dr. Tedros adhanham ghebresus, WHO General Manager.

Take, for example, Fortalez in Brazil – the five-time expansion of its cycling network led to 109 percent increase in pedestrian activity and made children twice as likely to play outside in areas that are redesigned.

In Norway, the fyllingsdalstunneneren tunnel that is decorated with frescoes and protected safety cameras to reduce carbon emissions and encourage walking and cycling.

To support the continuation of improvement such as the week’s safety on the UN road, which gave policymakers with a Toolkit By performing tangible initiatives involving the integration of walking and cycling initiatives and other political sectors and the construction of more extensive infrastructure for pedestrians and cyclists.

“We need (it) and we can do better,” said Dr. Circle.