While cities get a bad rap for the strain that they place on the environment, it’s cities that are the solution to climate change. Historically, cities are hubs for trade, culture, innovation, and commerce. But when it comes to climate change, cities not only contribute the most to the negative effects of global warming, but they also deal with the day-to-day effects, including extreme heat, sunny day flooding, and more.

Pedestrian fatalities have been on the rise since 2008, in fact, between 2007 and 2017, pedestrian fatalities increased by 35%, and more than a third of those fatalities occurred on local streets—not highways or state roads. And 2018 was projected to have the most deaths since 1990.

This fact is sobering, and it doesn’t have to be that way.

For the urban landscape, sidewalks have become a type of no man’s land for city commuters — not only for pedestrians but also for cyclists. Since vehicles rule the road, pedestrians and cyclists are at-risk anytime they walk or ride in the road. To remain safe, city cyclists and pedestrians often turn to the sidewalk.