Pacific Standard March-April 2013 Cover

Los Angeles Drivers Kill Pedestrians, Bikers Way More Than in Most Cities


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As one of Los Angeles’ rare (but not unique) bicycle commuters, I’ve always felt the local drivers were particularly oblivious to the presence on the city’s streets of people on foot, bikes or anything but other motor vehicles. Turns out they really are – lethally so. LA drivers kill pedestrians in traffic accidents at triple the national rate, according to a recent study from the University of Michigan reported in the Los Angeles Times. (I could only find a link to the abstract of the actual study on the UM site.) Bikers are knocked off at double the national rate. No wonder nobody walks in LA.

About Vince Beiser

Vince Beiser is a Pacific Standard senior editor. Follow him on Twitter at @vincelb.