The World Health Organization (WHO) is highlighting a critical issue for its 8th UN Global Road Safety Week: the safety of pedestrians and cyclists. Under the theme “Make walking and cycling safe,” WHO has launched a new toolkit designed to help governments promote active travel by making it safer.
Road traffic crashes claim nearly 1.2 million lives each year, with over a quarter of these fatalities involving people walking or cycling. Alarmingly, only 0.2% of roads worldwide are equipped with cycle lanes, and many communities still lack basic infrastructure such as pavements and safe pedestrian crossings.
“Walking and cycling improve health and make cities more sustainable,” said Dr Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus, WHO Director-General. “But we must make walking and cycling safe, so more people choose these healthier, greener options.”
Despite the clear benefits, fewer than one-third of countries have national policies that actively promote walking and cycling. Global data reveals concerning regional trends. Between 2011 and 2021, pedestrian deaths rose by 42% in the WHO South-East Asia Region, cyclist deaths increased by 50% in the European Region, and soared by 88% in the Western Pacific Region.
WHO’s new toolkit now seeks to close this gap by providing practical, evidence-based guidance for policymakers, urban planners, health advocates, and civil society. Key strategies addressed to policymakers include:
- Integrate active mobility across sectors: Embed walking and cycling into transport, health, environmental, and education policies to promote cohesive and comprehensive approaches.
- Develop safe infrastructure: Invest in infrastructure such as pavements, protected cycle lanes, and safe crossings to ensure the safety of pedestrians and cyclists.
- Implement supportive legislation: Establish and enforce laws that promote active mobility, including speed limits and urban planning standards that prioritise non-motorised transport.
- Promote behaviour change: Conduct public awareness campaigns to encourage walking and cycling, highlighting their health and environmental benefits.
- Provide financial incentives: Offer subsidies or other financial mechanisms to make active mobility options more accessible and appealing.
By adopting these measures, policymakers can create environments that support active mobility, leading to improved public health, reduced environmental impact, and more sustainable cities.
Last week, WHO joined more than 400 organisations in 100 countries through the Global Alliance of NGOs for Road Safety to call for urgent change.
“It is urgent to make, what should be our most natural means of transport, safer,” said Etienne Krug, WHO’s Director for the Social Determinants of Health. “We’re calling on all sectors – transport, health, education and beyond – to make walking and cycling safe and accessible for everyone.”
Author: Claus Köllinger
Views and opinions expressed are those of the author(s) and do not reflect those of the European Commission.
