Walking through America’s cities can be a pleasant experience, but not all urban areas are created equal when it comes to pedestrian friendliness. Some cities stand out for their commitment to safer streets, thoughtful infrastructure, and overall walkability.
To identify the best U.S. cities for pedestrians, we evaluated the 50 largest U.S. cities across 12 key ranking factors related to pedestrian-friendliness and safety: car accident rates involving pedestrians, traffic volume, walk scores, population density, share of pedestrian commuters, and precipitation data, among several others.
Additionally, we pinpointed the safest days and times for pedestrians in every state, using five years of crash data from the NHTSA to guide those on foot. Curious to see which cities made the cut? Dive into our study to discover where pedestrians can walk with confidence.
The Best Cities for Pedestrians
The five best U.S. cities for pedestrians and their respective city scores are:
1. New York, NY: 39.36
New York City tops the list as the best city for pedestrians, and it’s easy to see why. With 9.2% of its commuters on foot—more than double the study’s average—and a walk score of 88 (out of 100), the Big Apple is built for those who prefer pavement over wheels. Plus, 99% of New Yorkers live within a 10-minute walk of a park, making it a pedestrian’s paradise.
The city’s low rate of speeding incidents (1.8 per 1,000 drivers) and robust speed camera program further ensure safer streets. Surprisingly, the number of pedestrians involved in fatal car crashes is low compared to other areas—1.58 per 100K residents, which is 42% below the national average.
2. Philadelphia, PA: 38.22
Philadelphia, PA claims the second spot with a low rate of distracted driving crashes—0.60 per 100K drivers, which is 49% below the national average. The city also shines with a public transit score of 67 (out of 100), making it easy for pedestrians to navigate safely.
3. Chicago, IL: 37.50
Chicago, IL ranks third, with Illinois reporting 1.61 pedestrian-involved car crashes per 100K residents—41% less than the national average. Chicago also boasts a solid walk score of 77 (out of 100) and employs speed cameras to enhance pedestrian safety.
4. Washington, D.C.: 36.57
Washington, D.C. secures fourth place with the third-highest percentage of pedestrian commuters in the study (9.7%) and the highest walk score (98 out of 100). With 99% of the population living within a 10-minute walk of a park, D.C. is clearly pedestrian-friendly. It also has the fifth-lowest speeding incident rate in the study, at 3.37 per 1,000 drivers.
5. Minneapolis, MN: 36.38
Minneapolis, MN rounds out the top five, thanks to Minnesota’s second-lowest rate of pedestrian-involved car crashes—just 0.78 per 100K residents, which is 103% below the national average. The city also enjoys the third-lowest distracted driving crash rate, and its relatively low traffic volume compared to other cities in the study makes for a calmer, safer walking environment.
The Most Dangerous States for Pedestrians
Pedestrians are some of the most vulnerable people on the road, often at risk due to reckless driving, poor vehicle maintenance, and inadequate infrastructure. We analyzed the latest data from the NHTSA to identify the safest and most hazardous states for pedestrians, based on the number of pedestrians involved in fatal car crashes in 2022, providing a clear picture of where pedestrians are most at risk.
These are the five most dangerous states for pedestrians, and their respective numbers of pedestrians involved in fatal crashes per 100K residents:
- New Mexico – 4.49
- Arizona – 4.26
- Louisiana – 4.04
- Florida – 3.80
- South Carolina – 3.49
All five states are located in the South, with the top two in the Southwest. In 2022, New Mexico had 4.49 pedestrians involved in fatal crashes per 100K residents, while Arizona followed closely with 4.26.
The high rates of pedestrian fatalities in New Mexico and Arizona may be due to a combination of factors, including long stretches of high-speed roads, less pedestrian-friendly infrastructure, and warmer climates that encourage more foot traffic year-round. These conditions can increase the risk for pedestrians, particularly in areas where safe crossing points and sidewalks are limited.
These are the five safest states for pedestrians, and their respective numbers of pedestrians involved in fatal crashes per 100K residents:
- Iowa – 0.50
- Rhode Island – 0.63
- Minnesota – 0.78
- Idaho – 0.84
- North Dakota – 0.90
Three of the top five safest states for pedestrians are in the Midwest. Of those, Iowa recorded just 0.5 pedestrian fatalities per 100K residents in 2022, followed by Minnesota at 0.78 and North Dakota at 0.90.
These Midwestern states likely benefit from a combination of lower traffic volumes, better-maintained infrastructure, and more pedestrian-friendly urban planning. Additionally, the colder climate may result in fewer pedestrians on the streets, further reducing the risk of fatal accidents.
The Most Dangerous Days and Times for Pedestrians
Using the most recent five years of data from the NHTSA, we wanted to identify the safest days of the week and times of day for pedestrians in every state. By tracking patterns from 2018 to 2022, we aimed to reveal when pedestrians face the greatest and least risks on the roads.
Nationwide, Saturday is the most dangerous day for pedestrians, with 6,038 pedestrians involved in fatal car crashes between 2018 and 2022, while Tuesday is the safest day, with 4,731 pedestrians involved in fatal car crashes during the same period.
When it comes to the time of day, the hours between 9 and 10 pm are the riskiest, with 3,788 pedestrian fatalities reported over the five-year span. Meanwhile, the safest time for pedestrians nationally is between 9 and 10 am, which saw 548 fatalities. The stark difference highlights the dangers of evening walking, particularly after dark.
Interestingly, Maine, Minnesota, Rhode Island, and Washington buck the trend, with peak rush hour (5-6 pm) emerging as the most dangerous time for pedestrians in these states. However, in nearly 40% of states, the highest risk period is between 9 and 10 pm, followed closely by 8 to 9 pm in about a third of the states.
Looking at the data by month, October stands out as the most dangerous month for pedestrians nationwide, while April is the safest month.
Closing Thoughts
Whether it’s the time of day, day of the week, or specific state you’re in, the data provides a clear guide for safer walking around the U.S.
At Murphy & Prachthauser, we understand that pedestrian safety is more than just a statistic—it’s a crucial part of public safety that impacts real lives. As personal injury attorneys with a deep commitment to our community, we’re here to help if you or a loved one has been involved in a car accident. Understanding the risks pedestrians face is the first step in protecting yourself. If you need legal advice or assistance, visit our car accidents page to learn how we can support you.
Methodology
To determine the best U.S. cities for pedestrians, we evaluated the 50 most populous U.S. cities on 12 different criteria related to pedestrian-friendliness. The 12 ranking factors fell within four categories: pedestrian safety, infrastructure, environment, and livability. We assigned cities with a score of 0 to 5 for each ranking factor, with a score of 5 representing the most favorable conditions for pedestrians. We determined each city’s total score from the total of its individual factor scores, which were weighted according to their impact on pedestrians. Individual factor scores were then added together to give each city a final score from 0 to 50. Higher scores indicated cities are better for pedestrians.
The specific ranking factors include:
Using the latest NHTSA data, we identified the safest states for pedestrians based on the number of pedestrian fatalities per 100K residents in 2022. We also analyzed the most recent five years of data (2018-2022) to identify the safest and most dangerous days and times for pedestrians in each state, based on when the highest and lowest numbers of pedestrian fatalities occurred.