The share of pedestrians increased over that period, which may have had something to do with it. I suspect cell phone use while driving makes up a large part as well.
I agree with you on cell phone use being a contributor. I’m not convinced that pedestrian numbers contribute at all to the increase. I’m not really even convinced that pedestrian numbers have increased at all. Population, yes, has increased but given how growingly hostile most of the US is to pedestrian traffic, I wouldn’t be surprised to hear that real pedestrian numbers have decreased.
Cost of living in that time has gone up substantially nation wide. In my city (Albuquerque) there are easily twice as many people on the street today as 15 years ago. This report says it’s gone up %40 in just the last 2 years alone.
The share of pedestrians increased over that period, which may have had something to do with it. I suspect cell phone use while driving makes up a large part as well.
I agree with you on cell phone use being a contributor. I’m not convinced that pedestrian numbers contribute at all to the increase. I’m not really even convinced that pedestrian numbers have increased at all. Population, yes, has increased but given how growingly hostile most of the US is to pedestrian traffic, I wouldn’t be surprised to hear that real pedestrian numbers have decreased.
Cost of living in that time has gone up substantially nation wide. In my city (Albuquerque) there are easily twice as many people on the street today as 15 years ago. This report says it’s gone up %40 in just the last 2 years alone.
Um, that’s a report on homelessness. The majority of pedestrians are not, in fact, homeless.
Right, but majority or not, if homelessness more than doubles, the number of pedestrians will also increase. Will it not?
Keep in mind there is no one single cause here. There are half a dozen major causes probably.
I live in a small town and when I’m walking around it seems as though half of the vehicles that drive by are in their phones
Yes. And while walking.
Lack of focus all around.