Where Should Pedestrians Walk? And Cyclists Ride?

James Lucko in Parma, Ohio, writes:

Where no sidewalks exist, it seems that about half of the pedestrians walk with their backs to traffic. Do they have some kind of death wish?

Marilyn responds:

Pedestrians and cyclists just don’t know enough about accident statistics to realize that what they’re doing is often dangerous for them. Communities should be publicizing these safety practices much more: Assuming a two-way street with no sidewalks or a safe way to walk off the road, pedestrians should walk facing the traffic. Cyclists should do the opposite–on the road, they should ride in the same direction as the traffic. Bicycling against traffic is a leading cause of cycling accidents.