New WHO Toolkit Champions Safer Streets and Greener Cities
The WHO unveils a revolutionary toolkit to promote safer walking and cycling, aiming to save lives and build sustainable cities globally.
In a world where urban chaos often overshadows the serene beauty of walking and cycling, the World Health Organization (WHO) introduces a beacon of hope with its latest global toolkit. This groundbreaking initiative aligns perfectly with the enthralling theme of the 8th United Nations Global Road Safety Week: “Make Walking and Cycling Safe.” This toolkit is an invitation to reimagine our cities — not as jungles of concrete but as green havens that celebrate human movement.
The Stark Reality of Road Safety
Every year, approximately 1.2 million lives are tragically ended on the roads. Within this alarming statistic, over a quarter are those engaged in the simplest of activities: walking or cycling. Despite this, a staggering 0.2% of roads offer dedicated cycle lanes, leaving millions to navigate treacherous paths without basic sidewalks or secure crossings. According to KBC Digital, this toolkit emerges as a crucial roadmap for change.
A Vision for Safer Mobility
Dr. Tedros Ghebreyesus, WHO Director-General, affirms the immeasurable benefits of promoting walking and cycling. “Every step and every ride contribute to reducing congestion, air pollution, and disease,” he asserts, urging governments to foster environments that prioritize the safety and ease of these modes of transport.
Transformative Actions for a Healthier Future
Within the toolkit, policymakers, urban planners, and health advocates find a treasure trove of strategies to weave walking and cycling into the very fabric of daily life. The profound possibilities include crafting inviting streets and infrastructure, setting safe speed limits, and educating the public on safe road practices. Embracing these strategies transcends mere transport improvement and touches upon health equity, climate change mitigation, and societal harmony.
A Global Call to Action
The onus is on global leaders and communities alike to heed WHO’s call for swift, collaborative action. As Etienne Krug, Director, WHO Department for the Social Determinants of Health emphasizes, “It is paramount for road safety, health, equity, and our climate that we make our most natural means of transport accessible to all.” The stark warning is clear: let us propel today’s urgency into tomorrow’s sustainable reality.
This Week’s Broader Landscape
The Global Alliance of NGOs for Road Safety joins WHO in amplifying this call throughout Global Road Safety Week. During this period of heightened awareness, reflections on past achievements and future challenges steer the global conversation toward lasting change.
Unveiling this toolkit is more than a landmark event; it’s a clarion call to action, urging everyone — from policymakers to everyday citizens — to reshape the streets we traverse into havens of safety and sustainability. The journey towards this transformation begins now, inviting us all to step — and cycle — into a brighter, greener future.
