Activists on behalf of pedestrians in Oakland, California, report that fear of being injured or killed while walking is denying many older people the pleasures and benefits of getting around on foot. Older pedestrians in Oakland do indeed suffer a disproportionate share of fatalities. In 2001, adults 65 and older accounted for nearly one- quarter of the city's pedestrian fatalities, but they made up only 10.5 percent of the populations. This reflects a nationwide pattern, where pedestrians 65 and older account for 21 percent of pedestrian fatalities while only being 13 percent of the population, according to the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration. The Oakland Pedestrian Project is offering a series of mini-grants to support grass roots approaches to pedestrian safety. The California Department of Transportation's Office of Traffic Safety is also funding programs, in particular educational programs that bring seniors and teenagers together to address traffic safety forums at community gatherings.
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