Concern for the needs of nonmotorized road users, including pedestrians and cyclists, has grown in recent years as their volume and prevalence have become more widely observed. Recent generations of road users are demanding safe walkable and bikeable facilities. As such it becomes even more important to continue to monitor and enhance the safety of these vulnerable road users. In Rhode Island, Pedestrian and Bicycle Safety is a priority. The Office on Highway Safety (OHS) has supported and worked with many partners and programs that strive for pedestrian and bicycle safety to be made a reality and a priority. OHS also staffs a full-time Pedestrian and Bicycle Program Coordinator to offer guidance, support, grant funding opportunities and collaboration whenever possible to these crucial stakeholders.
Most recent data notes that over the last several years the five-year rolling average number of annual pedestrian fatalities has fluctuated between 9 and 11 with individual years ranging from 7 to 13 fatalities. There was a spike in pedestrian fatalities in 2023 and 2024, however, overall, there was a notable decline in the past five years, recording only 7 pedestrian fatalities in three of the past five years.
From 2021-2025, 53% of pedestrian fatalities occurred on a principal arterial (major roadway) and 49% of pedestrian fatalities occurred on an urban principle arterial (major roadway within an urban community). Over this five-year period, 13 fatalities occurred on Collectors or Local Roads. Those 11 fatalities were spread over 6 different municipalities with 5 occurring in Providence and 2 or fewer occurring in the others. This suggests that pedestrian fatalities on local streets in Providence are overrepresented. A review of fatalities by municipality shows that five municipalities capture 72 percent of all fatalities in the last 5 years. Approximately one-third of all pedestrian fatalities in the last 5 years occurred in Providence and another 10% each occurred in Cranston, Pawtucket, and Warwick.
Pedestrians aged 55+ make up 69% of all pedestrian fatalities, and fatal crashes occurring in Providence make up about one-third of pedestrian fatalities.
Over the last several years the five-year rolling average number of annual cyclist fatalities have mostly remained steady at 2 with individual years ranging from 0 to 5 fatalities. Cyclist fatalities peaked in 2024 at 5.
With a small data set it is difficult to draw valuable conclusions about trends in cyclist safety and fatalities. Fatalities occurred in a range of municipalities, on a range of different roadway functional classifications. Cyclist fatalities were primarily males.
OHS has worked with active stakeholders and advocates for years to spread educational, instructional and targeted messaging regarding Pedestrian and Bicycle Safety. In 2019 OHS launched an educational pilot program called "Rhode to Bicycle Safety". The program covers all facets of bicycle safety and is offered to 5th grade elementary school students across the state. It features on-bike, in-school instruction for all students no matter their ability level with trained instructors and has reached over 1,000 students a year since 2019. A link with further information on this program can be found here: WRWC-R2BS. Aside from Rhode to Bicycle Safety, OHS also supports many other pedestrian and bicycle safety focused programs. These include: