Infrastructure and Safety Equity Analysis

What: An in depth analysis of bicycle and pedestrian traffic violence in KCMO
When: 2023
Team: BikeWalkKC, WSP
Client: Robert Wood Johnson Foundation and the Urban Institute
Funding: Robert Wood Johnson Foundation  

While there is national data showing that decades of redlining and infrastructure decisions have led to negative health and safety outcomes for Black and Brown communities, such data is lacking at the local level in Kansas City, Missouri (KCMO). Knowing this, BikeWalkKC wanted to answer the following questions:

  1. Is there data showing a link between health or safety disparities and problems with the built environment?
  2. If yes, how do current spending patterns impact these disparities?

With funding from the Robert Wood Johnson Foundation and the Menorah Heritage Foundation, BikeWalkKC partnered with WSP and the Urban Institute to answer these questions. This was accomplished through data analysis of traffic crashes, equity, safety features, and capital spending in KCMO between 2010 and 2019. Major takeaways include: 

  • Black Kansas Citians being 2X more impacted by fatal bike/ped crashes, especially Black youth.
  • There is a ~$2 billion cost to society from fatal and serious injury crashes. 
  • Most fatal bike/ped fatal and serious injury crashes occur at intersections.

This analysis relied on data to demonstrate how KCMO’s infrastructure is failing its most vulnerable road users. 

Additionally, BikeWalkKC organized a series of walk audits along some of the most dangerous corridors in KCMO to understand aspects of the built environment which contribute to those crashes. While the data tells us where crashes are happening, the community engagement provides context as to why. BikeWalkKC collaborated closely with organizations that serve vulnerable road users in the KCMO to thoughtfully recruit individuals and stakeholders who are intimately familiar with traffic violence. With over 30 participants across a dozen routes in the most impacted areas, BikeWalkKC gathered important takeaways from people who walk and bike these streets every day. 

Explore the Infrastructure and Safety Equity Dashboard here.