Pedestrians be wary. Memphis, Nashville among worst cities for pedestrian safety

Joyce Orlando, Nashville Tennessean
·2 min read

Some cities are made for walking, but Nashville and Memphis aren't, according to a recent pedestrian safety study.

The company KURU Footwear ranked 37 U.S. major metro cities to determine which cities are the safest for people on foot and which aren't. Memphis came in at the bottom of the list as the most dangerous U.S. city for walkers scoring an eight out of 100 on the total safety score and Nashville came in second with a score of 13 out of 100.

Both cities have seen an increase in pedestrian deaths in the last several years, according to reports from the Memphis Commercial Appeal and The Tennessean.

"These cities may have some work to do to ensure their pedestrians stay safe while walking on foot. Addressing these issues identified in pedestrian safety is essential to create a more secure environment for residents and visitors alike," according to KURU.

Pedestrian deaths in Memphis and Nashville

In 2022, both cities had a record number of pedestrian deaths.

The number of pedestrians killed in the city of Memphis rose to 83 in 2022 compared to 42 in 2019, 66 in 2020 and 61 in 2021, according to the city. Two cyclists were also killed in Memphis in 2022.

In Nashville, 48 pedestrians and two cyclists were killed on the city's roads in 2022.

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Top 10 most dangerous cities for pedestrians

Memphis and Nashville topped the list of the worst cities for pedestrians. Take a look at which other cities filled out the top 10.

  1. Memphis

  2. Nashville

  3. Tucson

  4. Jacksonville

  5. Louisville

  6. Indianapolis

  7. Albuquerque

  8. Detroit

  9. Fresno

  10. Atlanta

Top 10 safest cities for pedestrians

Here are the top 10 safest U.S. cities for pedestrians.

  1. New York

  2. Boston

  3. San Francisco

  4. Washington D.C.

  5. Chicago

  6. Seattle

  7. Philadelphia

  8. Denver

  9. Portland

  10. Los Angeles

Driver and pedestrian safety tips

Here are a few tips to keep pedestrians safe and help drivers stay more aware. From the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration.

Driving Safety Tips:

  • Be on the lookout for pedestrians everywhere, at all times.

  • If a crosswalk or intersection is not available, locate a well-lit area where you have the best view of traffic. Wait for a gap in traffic that allows enough time to cross safely; continue watching for traffic as you cross.

  • Yield to pedestrians in crosswalks and stop well back from the crosswalk to give other vehicles an opportunity to see the crossing pedestrians so they can stop too.

Pedestrian Safety Tips:

  • Walk on sidewalks whenever they are available.

  • Slow down and be prepared to stop when turning or otherwise entering a crosswalk.

  • Watch for cars entering or exiting driveways, or backing up in parking lots.

This article originally appeared on Nashville Tennessean: Why Memphis and Nashville were ranked worst cities for pedestrians