Study finds Athens safest city in state for pedestrians

ATHENS - Athens had only two pedestrians killed in traffic accidents in 2000 and 2001, making it the safest city in Georgia for walkers, according to an analysis of highway fatalities. <br> <br> The Surface Transportation Policy Project, a Washington group that promotes alternatives to driving, gave Athens a six-point-three on the Pedestrian Danger Index, the best score in the state. <br> <br> Macon, where 16 pedestrians were killed in 2000-2001, got the state&#39;s worst score at 58.8. The most dangerous U.S. city was Orlando, Florida, at 79.3, according to the study. <br> <br> The index is a ratio of the number of pedestrian deaths to the number of people who say they walk to work. Athens, home to the University of Georgia, has a large number of walkers. <br> <br> The study said Athens spent $1.98 per person on bicycle and pedestrian safety in the past two years, more than any other city in the state. <br> <br> Much of that spending came after a series of pedestrian deaths near UGA in the early &#39;90s. Since then, the university and Athens-Clarke have added several flashing-light crosswalks in high-traffic areas. <br> <br> But Peter Norris, a member of BikeAthens, said Athens is still not pedestrian-friendly. He said people are walking less often, discouraged by subdivisions without sidewalks and development that makes it almost impossible for children to walk to school.