Vision Zero

Albuquerque is a particularly dangerous city for pedestrians, consistently ranking near the top nationally for the number of walkers and bikers killed on its roads. With seven pedestrians killed already this year on East Central, according to the Albuquerque Police Department, 2024 is on track to be the deadliest yet despite years of safety initiatives. Now, the city is looking to AI for help.

Albuquerque voters have a number of bonds on their ballot this year to fund city infrastructure. Over $88 million dollars across three general obligation bonds would go toward improving city roads, buildings, animal shelters, storm sewer systems, and energy conservation if passed.

A recent study ranked New Mexico as the most deadly state in the nation to be a pedestrian. Albuquerque came in second for the number of walkers killed per capita on the metro area's roadways. On this week's Let’s Talk New Mexico, on Thursday, Sept. 1, we’ll take a look at why it’s so dangerous to commute by foot and by bike in our state.

A new study ranks New Mexico as the most dangerous state in the nation to be a pedestrian, and the state’s largest city as the second most deadly metro area for those on foot. While Albuquerque’s numbers dipped some during the early pandemic, its rates have nearly doubled over the last decade despite new initiatives to bring them down. The danger is rooted in road design and the burden is not being shouldered equally by residents.