Unsafe LA Roads
Two parishes in Louisiana rank in the top 10 most dangerous for bikers on American roadways. Out of 200 of the most populous counties in the country, both East Baton Rouge and Orleans Parishes make the list, ranking 4th and 6th, respectively.
To many Louisiana locals, this superlative will come as no
surprise. However, having the data laid out should serve as a call to action.
Orleans Parish has 4.95 cyclist deaths per 100,000 people. The data
from this study was collected from 2017-2021 from the National Highway Traffic
Safety Administration. This research was done by Bader Scott, a personal injury
law firm in Georgia.
In terms of its size and relatively flat landscape, New
Orleans is a wonderfully bikeable city. However, the lack of safety discourages many
potential cyclists from making biking part of their regular commute. Aside from
a few months of inferno in the summer, NOLA could be a perfect cyclist city if
it were safer to bike. In order for this to become a reality, drivers will have
to be more cautious and the city needs better biking infrastructure. This calls
for safer dedicated bike lanes like the Lafitte Greenway, yield to biker signs,
and more.
Cyclists, pedestrians, and drivers alike should be aware and safe on the roads. Next time you're driving, watch out and slow down for bikers, it makes a difference. Wear a helmet and be safe, everyone!
