Walking is the most prevalent yet least systematically measured mode of urban travel. In this paper, we present a first city-wide foot-traffic model for peak travel periods in New York City and examine the model’s use as a baseline for targeted infrastructure investments and hazard analysis in urban planning. Comparing estimated pedestrian volumes with the city’s official street classifications shows that many streets in the outer boroughs experience foot traffic levels comparable to those in central Manhattan but remain under-categorized for pedestrian priority—highlighting potential inequities in infrastructure investment. Linking pedestrian volumes with crash data further shows that intersections with the highest pedestrian injury risk are often outside Manhattan, where exposure-adjusted danger is greatest. Our findings demonstrate how systematic analysis of pedestrian volumes can uncover hidden patterns of accessibility, inequity, and risk—providing a foundation for more inclusive and evidence-based urban design and policy.