Ways Raleigh look to make walking, biking safer include extended sidewalk curbs

Wednesday, September 17, 2025
RALEIGH, N.C. (WTVD) -- James Denzer lives along Glenwood South and says he primarily travels around downtown Raleigh on foot. Denzer loves the mobility but says, unfortunately, there's been a lot of close calls with drivers.

"These people, they don't stop, they don't pay attention to people in the crosswalks. It's just nuts," said Denzer.

The City of Raleigh has a plan to make walking and biking safer. Leaders are looking to extend curbs at crosswalks to improve sight lines.

There's no date yet for when the work can start or where it will happen.

"That might help give some people some more comfort," said Denzer.



"I walk everywhere, so anything to make it safer I would appreciate," said Downtown Raleigh resident Megan Tillotson.



The Governors Highway Safety Association says that every year in the US, more than 7,000 pedestrians are killed, and pedestrian deaths are increasing at a rate faster than overall traffic fatalities.

SEE ALSO | These 21 intersections are most 'dangerous' in Raleigh, NCDOT says

Anna Grace Fitzgerald owns Copperline Plant Company, which sits at a busy intersection.

"The biggest thing that we see at this curb is the buses trying to turn. And it is quite difficult for the buses to turn because many of the cars pull all the way up," she said.



Fitzgerald understands the city's plan to extend sidewalks could mean fewer parking spaces on the street, but she says two-hour free parking now being offered at city-owned parking lot has made a big difference.

"That's been huge for our business and huge for a lot of the other small businesses downtown," said Fitzgerald.

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