MAKING YOUR COMMUNITY MORE WALKABLE

You have collected valuable information about walking in your neighborhood. Listed below are some suggestions for making it easier to walk in your community. Your local traffic engineer may be the key person to contact about many of the things you want to change.  But before you do, learn about ideas other communities are trying. A new concept called traffic calming is transforming neighborhood streets from roads that encourage speeding to places that invite people to walk.    What you and your child can do IMMEDIATELY What you and your community can do with more time   1. Did you have room to walk safely? Sidewalks or paths started and stopped  Sidewalks broken/cracked  Sidewalks blocked  No sidewalks, paths or shoulder  Too much traffic Pick another route for now  Tell local transportation engineers or public works department about specific problems, and provide a copy of checklist  Speak up at board/development meetings  Write or petition the city for walkways  Gather neighborhood signatures  Make media aware of problem  2. Was it easy to cross streets? Road too wide  Traffic signals made us wait too long or did not give us enough time to cross  Crosswalks/traffic signals needed  View of traffic blocked by parked cars, trees, or plants  Needed curb ramps; ramp needed repair Pick another route for now  Share problems and checklist with local transportation engineers or public works department  Trim your trees and bushes that block the street, and ask neighbors to do the same  Leave nice notes on problem cars, asking owners not to park there  Push for crosswalks, signals, or parking changes at city meetings  Give report identifying parked cars that are safety hazards to transportation engineer  Report illegally parked cars to the police  Request that public works department trims trees and plants  Make media aware of problem  3. Did drivers behave well? Backed without looking  Did not yield  Turned into walkers  Drove too fast  Sped up to make traffic lights or drove through red lights Pick another route for now  Set an example: slow down and be considerate of walkers  Encourage your neighbors to do the same  Report unsafe driving to police  Organize neighborhood speed watch program  Petition for more enforcement  Ask city planners and traffic engineers for traffic calming ideas  Request protected turn signals  ask schools about getting crossing guards at key locations where children cross  4. Could you follow safety rules? Cross at crosswalks or where you could see and be seen  Stop and look left, right, left before crossing  Walk on sidewalks or shoulders facing traffic (if no sidewalks)  Cross with the light Educate yourself about safe walking and teach your child  Organize parents in your neighborhood to walk children to school  Encourage schools to teach pedestrian safety  Help schools start Safe Routes to School programs  Encourage corporate support for flex schedules so parents can walk children to school  5. Was your walk pleasant? Needs grass, flowers, trees  Scary dogs  Suspicious activity  Not well lit  Dirty, littered Pick another route for now  Ask neighbors to keep dogs leashed or fenced  Report scary dogs to animal control department  Report suspicious activity to police  Report lighting needs to the city  Take a walk with a trash bag  Plant trees, flowers, and bushes in your yard  Request increased police enforcement  Start a crime-watch program in your neighborhood.  Organize a community cleanup day  Sponsor a tree planting day  Sponsor a neighborhood beautification day  Quick health check Could not go as far or as fast as you wanted  Were tired, short of breath, or had sore feet or muscles Start with short walks and work up to 30 minutes of walking most days  Invite a friend or child along  Replace some driving trips with walking trips  Get media to do a story about the health benefits of walking  Call parks and recreation department about community walks  Encourage corporate support for employee walking programs  Walkability Checklist | Making Your Community More Walkable | Contact List |