Memphis and Shelby County non-motorist fatalities have skyrocketed over the last decade, spotlighting a growing problem for local pedestrians and cyclists.

Former Memphis Zoo zookeeper Richard Meek, 75, died on Nov. 13, after succumbing to injuries sustained in a hit-and-run accident at Trezevant Street and Faxon Avenue in the early morning hours of Oct. 7. He was in the hospital for nearly six weeks. 

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On Nov. 29, barely two weeks after Meek’s passing, a female juvenile was struck by a car in the 700 block of Chilligan Drive. While the child’s injuries were non-critical, the accident reflects a troubling pattern: When it comes to pedestrians, Memphis drivers are distracted. 

There have been 75 pedestrian deaths in Memphis to date in 2022 compared with 11 in 2012, according to data from the Tennessee Department of Safety and Homeland Security. There were 57 pedestrian deaths in 2021.

According to a 2022 study conducted by Smart Growth America, Memphis stands as the No. 3 most-dangerous city in the country for pedestrians. Deltona-Daytona Beach-Ormond Beach, Florida, is No. 1, and Albuquerque, New Mexico, is No. 2. The study, however, used data compiled from 2016-2020, so these rankings do not include anything about 2021 or 2022.

Nicholas Oyler is the bikeway and pedestrian program manager for the City of Memphis. His group plans, designs and builds new pedestrian and cyclist infrastructure to make the city a more walkable and bikeable place.

“Smart Growth America ranked Memphis as the third-most-dangerous city in the country for pedestrians,” Oyler said. “But if you look at a per capita basis of the 50 largest cities in the country, by that ranking, Memphis is actually the most dangerous of those 50 largest cities per capita for pedestrians.”

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Oyler said during the second half of the 20th century, the focus on building better infrastructure was motor vehicle-centered, leaving much lacking when it comes to local pedestrian safety.

“The focus was on moving as many cars as quickly as possible, and it’s important to understand that Memphis was not an outlier in that,” Oyler said. “This is what almost all American cities did in the second half of the 20th century. They designed their neighborhoods and their streets around cars, and the result of designing streets in this way was the conditions for walking and biking became more dangerous.”

The City of Memphis is working on measures to educate drivers and lower the number of pedestrian fatalities, including the creation of the Memphis Pedestrian and School Safety Action Plan.

Finalized in 2015, this plan compiled a list of hundreds of locations throughout Memphis that could use pedestrian infrastructure improvements, including new sidewalks and crosswalks. To deliver those recommendations would cost about $19 million per year.

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“Unfortunately, we have not yet been able to secure any dedicated funding for the plan,” Oyler said.

The city has been able to implement some projects and recommendations to improve pedestrian infrastructure based on winning grants from the state and federal government and also by using the city’s operating budget.

One multimodal project currently underway is remodeling the Walnut Grove Road-Farm Road crosswalk near Shelby Farms Park. Oyler said the city hopes to begin construction to include a raised crosswalk next year.

But without the appropriate funding, the full pedestrian safety plan cannot be fully implemented.

“I would hope that if there is any silver lining to this increase of fatalities, it would be the issue cannot be ignored any longer and will need to be addressed head on and require more concentrated effort,” Oyler said. “I understand there are a lot of funding challenges in our city, and there are a lot of enforcement issues vying for attention. But this is a problem that is preventable. It’s not something that we don’t have a cure for.”

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Another option for curbing pedestrian deaths is banning the “turn right on red” rule in certain high-traffic areas. An analysis is currently underway to research the option of banning the practice at about 12 Medical District intersections.

“You could look at enforcement, and you could look at traffic laws,” Oyler said. “But it really comes down to design. I think that’s what is often lost on people when we’re talking about these problems and raising important questions about how much money is enough to allocate towards this issue.”

“For people walking, I would say don’t just assume that a driver is going to see you. Don’t just assume that because you’re in the crosswalk that you’re safe. I wish that were the case, but unfortunately, we know it’s not.”

Nicholas Oyler
City of Memphis bikeway and pedestrian program manager

A local safety and awareness communications campaign for both drivers and pedestrians, including social media ads and public service announcements for television and radio, is set to roll out in early 2023.

“The campaign will target everyone but is primarily focused on the safety of walking, biking and targeting drivers for the role they play,” Oyler said. “We want to ensure they understand it is a shared responsibility, but drivers have the burden of that responsibility because they’re the ones operating these large two-ton vehicles that have the possibility to kill and injure.”

The pedestrian fatality crisis has become a nationwide problem. Drivers killed an estimated 7,485 pedestrians last year, according to the Governors Highway Safety Association. That represents the highest number of annual pedestrian deaths in 40 years and an increase of about 12% compared to 2020.

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While U.S. pedestrian deaths have risen by 54% over the past decade, all other traffic deaths have increased by 13%, according to GHSA data.

“Remember: Pedestrians belong,” Oyler said. “People on foot have a right to be there just as you do, so treat these other people with respect and care for their safety. For people walking, I would say don’t just assume that a driver is going to see you. Don’t just assume that because you’re in the crosswalk that you’re safe. I wish that were the case, but unfortunately, we know it’s not. So just be smart about the actions you’re taking.”