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LOOK • SEE • SAVE

Walk against traffic. It's safer.


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Click above to watch our in-depth explanation of the importance of walking against traffic

Kellogg and Tyler


This is Kellogg Drive and Tyler Road. On April 15, at around 7:00 p.m., a pedestrian was headed west on Kellogg. There is no sidewalk here, and they were walking in the street close to the curb, walking in the direction of oncoming traffic. 


Meanwhile, a vehicle was pulling out of the private drive of the Davis Liquor, made a right turn to head east on Kellogg, and hit the pedestrian. The vehicle then left the scene. 


There could––and should––be sidewalks on this stretch of Kellogg Drive. However, when sidewalks do not exist, pedestrians should emulate this individual and walk along the curb in the direction of traffic. Despite the fact that this incident led to a crash, it is the safest option.



Intersection of Dora and Meridian looking west - Wichita, KS
Intersection of Kellogg and Tyler looking northwest - Wichita, KS

A 2013 study published in Finland showed that facing traffic saw a 77 percent decrease in fatal and non-fatal pedestrian accidents compared to walking with traffic. A 2016 study in Taiwan came to similar conclusions, and added that pedestrians in back-to-traffic crashes sustained more head, neck, and spinal injuries than did pedestrians in other crash types.


Image of the statement "Wichita allows pedestrians to walk in the street against traffic. Plus, it's safer." for the Look See Save Campaign

At the same time, it’s important to remember that this only applies to pedestrians. Wrong-way cycling is incredibly dangerous to cyclists. In California, one 2016 study concluded that 12% of cyclists were traveling in the wrong direction prior to the collision. This risky behavior made up the largest share of movement preceding a crash. The analysis showed that wrong-way riding was the primary cause of accidents where bicyclists were at fault.


City law allows for pedestrians to walk in the roadway, although does not necessarily encourage them to face the direction of traffic. As local ordinance § 11.44.045 (c) notes where neither a sidewalk nor a shoulder is available, any pedestrian walking along and upon a highway shall walk as near as practicable to an outside edge of the roadway, and, if on a two-way roadway, shall walk only on the left side of the roadway.


Check back in to hear more about the importance of walking against traffic and as always, Look, See, and Save.




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