Global Road Safety Week: WHO calls for protection of pedestrians and cyclists

In 2025, the week will be dedicated to walking and cycling safety. The WHO notes that only 0.2 percent of roads worldwide are equipped with bicycle paths, and many communities do not have sidewalks or pedestrian crossings.

“Walking and cycling are good for health and make cities greener. Every step and every bike ride helps reduce congestion, air pollution and disease,” said WHO chief Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus.

"But we need to make walking and cycling safe so that more people choose these healthier and greener options," he added.

Many countries do not have the necessary policies

Currently, less than a third of countries have national policies to promote walking and cycling. WHO experts are calling for this gap to be filled with practical, evidence-based guidance for policymakers, urban planners, health professionals and civil society.

The proposed measures include building safe infrastructure, including bicycle paths, wide sidewalks and pedestrian crossings, increasing speed limits for motorists in line with international best practice, using financial incentives to encourage an active lifestyle, and conducting information campaigns.

Mortality among pedestrians and cyclists

Globally, pedestrian fatalities decreased slightly between 2011 and 2021, while cyclist fatalities remained stable, although some regions have seen a deterioration.

In Southeast Asia, pedestrian fatalities increased by 42 percent. In the European region, cyclist fatalities increased by 50 percent, and in the Western Pacific region by 88 percent.

Take urgent measures

WHO joins hundreds of organisations and governments around the world in demanding urgent action on road safety. The Global Alliance of NGOs for Road Safety is mobilising more than 400 organisations in 100 countries to support the campaign during the Global Week.

“We are calling on all sectors – transport, health, education – to make walking and cycling safe and accessible for all,” said Etienne Krug, Director of the WHO Department of Social Determinants of Health.