Pedestrian death rates are more than double in U.S. neighborhoods historically subjected to redlining, a study published by the American Journal of Public Health has found. The discriminatory real estate practice, which dates back to the 1930s, has been linked to a variety of contemporary public health risks, including increased pedestrian fatalities.
The study analyzed pedestrian deaths from 2010 to 2019 and discovered that census tracts once deemed ‘hazardous’ or ‘grade D’ by the Home Owners’ Loan Corporation had a death rate of 2.6 per 100,000 people. In contrast, areas rated ‘grade A’ or ‘best’ had a rate of just 1.1. This stark disparity highlights the enduring impact of redlining on minority communities, contributing to a racial wealth gap and a range of unjust health outcomes.
Kea Wilson, reporting for Streetsblog USA, emphasized that these findings add pedestrian safety to a list of health inequities faced by communities of color, including higher rates of COVID-19 spread and fatalities, food insecurity, and exposure to pollution. The study’s authors stress the importance of recognizing how historical policies continue to affect health and safety in the present day.
The research underscores the need for targeted interventions to address the legacy of structural racism and improve pedestrian infrastructure in affected neighborhoods. It also calls for a broader understanding of how historical injustices contribute to current health disparities among racial and ethnic minorities in the United States.
See “Pedestrian Death Rate More Than 2x Higher in Historically Red-Lined Neighborhoods” by Kea Wilson on the Streets Blog USA website (March 17, 2023)
