An Analysis of Street Design at Pedestrian and Bicyclist Crash Hotspots in Wilmington, North Carolina

Abstract

Pedestrian and bicyclist crashes are an ongoing concern in Wilmington, North Carolina, and examining where they cluster can help identify how street design contributes to risk for vulnerable road users. Previous research shows that factors such as speed, lane count, intersection design, and pedestrian and bicycle facilities can influence crash risk and severity, but less is known about how these factors affect crash clustering in Wilmington. Although earlier analysis showed that some areas of Wilmington experience higher crash concentrations than others, it did not examine hotspots at the street level or the street design features at those locations. This study used spatial and observational analyses to identify pedestrian and bicyclist crash hotspots and examine their street design characteristics. Crash data from 2019 to 2024 were analyzed in ArcGIS Pro using Kernel Density Estimation, and hotspot locations were then observed to document posted speeds, lane counts, intersection type, sidewalks, crosswalks, and bicycle facilities. The analysis identified five crash hotspots in Wilmington. All were located on arterial roads with posted speed limits between 35 and 45 mph and at least five travel lanes. Four of the hotspots were associated with 4-leg signalized intersections. Sidewalks were present at all hotspot locations, while crosswalks were present at four locations. Bicycle facilities were present at three hotspots and were unprotected. 80% of crashes in hotspot areas resulted in minor injuries, while only 8% resulted in severe or fatal injuries. Overall, the findings suggest that pedestrian and bicyclist crash clustering in Wilmington is more strongly associated with wide, vehicle-oriented arterial streets and intersections than with the presence or absence of pedestrian and bicycle facilities. These results can help identify priority locations for future safety improvements and support Wilmington’s Vision Zero goals.