WORCESTER – A new report by the Worcester Regional Research Bureau (WRRB), “Toward Safer Streets,” estimates the cost of pedestrian and cyclist crashes in 2019 in Worcester was $493,644,552. The total includes costs for damages, medical costs, reduced productivity, and lost wages.
The report cites a Metropolitan Area Planning Council survey that found 60 percent of respondents said they would consider biking if they thought their trips would be safer and more comfortable.
The first section of the report, “General Risks and Ongoing Actions Addressing Road Safety,” included the following points:
- Between 2012 and 2019, an average of 184 crashes involving pedestrians or cyclists occurred per year in Worcester;
- According to a 2022 report, Worcester had a pedestrian fatality rate of 3.4 per 100,000 residents — almost double that of Boston;
- The upcoming Mobility Action Plan identifies that just 62% of the City’s sidewalk network is in “good” condition and that bike lanes only cover 7.2 miles of Worcester streets.
The second section, “Demographic and Spatial Data to Uncover Trends in Pedestrian Crashes,” included the following:
- Residents over 65 constituted only 5.8% of all crashes and 13.3% of total City population but 32.4% of fatal crashes.
- 2.5 times more males were victims of fatal crashes than females.
- 81.8% of arterial road segments were found to contain a severe vulnerable road user crash.
- Greater traffic level, lane count, and lane width were found to increase severe crash rates.
- Greater shoulder width and the presence of a median decreased crash rates.
- 9.6% of pedestrian and cyclist crashes occurred downtown. Further, areas which were found to be historically redlined were found to be over four times likelier to contain a severe crash.
- city blocks designated for highest environmental justice concern were over seven times likelier to contain a severe crash than not.
- 71.4% of Worcester’s fatal or severe pedestrian and cyclist crashes occurred within 300 feet of a bus stop.
- 50% of Boston’s crashes occurred in the same range.
The WRRB website has the full report available for download.
