A recent study shows that Harrisonburg might be the safest metropolitan area in the Commonwealth for pedestrians.

The study, by the Surface Transportation Policy Partnership, a nationwide coalition working to ensure safer communities and smarter transportation choices, looked at pedestrian deaths compared to the percentage of people walking to work.

"We're getting there. I mean it's great that Harrisonburg has come out on top of this, but there's always room for improvement, we can do better," says Mark Metzler Sawin, a Harrisonburg resident and father of two elementary school-aged children.

The study released Monday ranks Harrisonburg above 11 other metropolitan areas in Virginia

"It's pretty good to know that we are on our way to building a more walkable community," says Thanh Dang, a Harrisonburg Public Works Planner.

Although Sawin is happy with the direction things are going, he's voiced his opinion before about a need for improvement.

He says, "It is a bit ironic I think. My wife and I have both written letters of complaint to the city at different times."

Sawin explains that the sidewalks are very spotty once you get away from the downtown area of the city and, in many places, they just stop.

However, as a parent, his major hope is for improvements around schools.

"You get a lot of independence as a kid walking to school on your own, you know with a group of kids," says Sawin. "My daughter is so proud that she can walk to school all by herself."

Charlottesville ranked second in the study and Winchester placed third, while Danville came in with the highest rate of deaths compared to walkers.

The Harrisonburg Bicycle and Pedestrian Safety Committee will recommend improvements to the Harrisonburg City Council for approval in 2010.