Urban Planet is a daily roundup of blogs from around the world dealing specifically with urban environments. We’ll be on the lookout for websites outside the country that approach themes related to urban experiences and issues.
“Mile for mile, it’s more dangerous to be a pedestrian than it is to be a cyclist,” writes Zoe Williams at the Guardian. And yet, pedestrians in the UK (and elsewhere) haven’t mobilized or lobbied or even gotten angry in the way that cyclists have. In 2011, London saw 77 pedestrian deaths (to 16 cyclists), 903 serious to injuries (to 555) with both figures on the rise. What is it that gives cyclists the predisposition for making political change that pedestrians lack?
Image from .nicky.
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2 comments
On measures: “mile for mile” probably isn’t the right comparison measure. Measuring by time spent walking, driving, or cycling is probably more useful. Or per trip.
On identity: since we are all pedestrians at some point, it is harder to build a social identity group out of that. It’s possible that the gear or other associated ‘stuff’ (a car, a bike, a transit pass) contributes to identity.
Good. Less identity politics the better.