Six Marathons in Six Days: Why Pat Moore Runs for Safer Streets

More than 40,000 people lost their lives on U.S. roads in 2023, leaving families, workers and communities forever changed.

Patrick Moore, a Design Associate with Haskell’s Planning + Design Collaborative (P+DC), believes these deaths can – and must – be prevented through better urban design. To bring attention to this urgent need, Moore ran six marathons in six days, sharing his message through social media and raising awareness for safer street design.

Today, nearly one in five traffic deaths involves a pedestrian, a rate that has surged nearly 80% since 2009. Cyclists also face increasing dangers, with bicycle fatalities rising 86% since 2010. Much of this increase can be traced to urban environments that prioritize automotive transport, favoring speed and convenience over safety and community well-being.

“Our current street designs create conditions that put people at risk, particularly pedestrians and cyclists,” Moore said. “These design choices are based on an apathetic view of how communities and shared spaces should be built. While this has become the norm in many spaces, we have the tools and resources to change it.”

Moore, joined by other enthusiasts in New York City’s Central Park, ran four loops following the length of the park for six days in a row. The route was 26.5 miles long. By the end of the sixth day, Moore had run nearly 160 miles.

“It was a great experience and so inspiring to watch our group grow over the week,” recalled Moore. “We were posting updates as we went and garnered a really positive response on social media. It was encouraging to connect with people who all share this concern and are actively bringing awareness and seeking solutions to this issue.”

Evidence-Based Solutions

Haskell supports safer communities by integrating proven safety strategies into planning and design projects. Effective, tested solutions include:

• Road Diets: Converting four-lane roads to three lanes with protected bike lanes can cut crashes by up to 47%.
• Modern Roundabouts reduce fatal crashes by 90% compared to traditional intersections.
• Median Islands and Crosswalk Improvements can reduce pedestrian crashes by 56%.
• Lower Speed Limits and Enforcement: Streets designed for slower speeds dramatically reduce injury severity.

Cities implementing these measures, such as Hoboken, New Jersey, have achieved significant safety improvements. Since adopting Vision Zero strategies like intersection daylighting, curb extensions and reduced speed limits, Hoboken has reported zero traffic-related deaths for seven consecutive years.

Health, Equity and Community Benefits

Economically, fewer crashes mean lower healthcare and insurance costs, reduced congestion and improved productivity. Environmentally, even small increases in walking and cycling substantially reduce carbon emissions.

Black, Latino and low-income communities face higher crash rates because these neighborhoods often lack adequate pedestrian crossings, sidewalks, bike lanes and street lighting. Prioritizing safe street design and infrastructure improvements in underserved communities can greatly reduce these disparities.

“Our team is actively looking for ways to be involved in this ongoing conversation,” Moore said. “We’re contributing to national forums like the Transportation Research Board Annual Meeting and serving on local Vision Zero task forces and multimodal advisory boards. These opportunities let us directly apply our expertise in pedestrian safety audits, traffic-calming projects and holistic street design.”

Moore’s marathon challenge aims to highlight the critical connections between urban planning, community health and safety.

“Design can heal,” Moore says. “Communities know they need connection, safety and access. Our role at Haskell is to deliver solutions that prioritize human lives. We do that by paying attention and putting a lot of thought and intention into how we shape the spaces that our communities live in and depend on.”

Haskell is committed to safe, sustainable urban planning. To learn more about how thoughtful design can improve your community’s safety and vitality, contact Haskell’s Planning and Design Committee.