If you are interested in looking at your neighborhood and assessing features that improve walkability and accessibility, I created a simple Walk Audit Checklist you can print at home.
Before you go. Get a neighbor or two, even a public works or transportation engineer from your municipality if you already know of certain issues that pertain to them. Print Walk Audit Checklist and attach it to a clipboard. Use a pencil to write down notes on each item, including exact location (street corner or address) or other notes. Since there will be a lot of stop and go, plan about 1 hour for a mile (roundtrip). Make sure everyone knows the route and understand each item before departure.
After your audit. Thank everyone for participation and discuss next steps. You can present your findings to your HOA, local Pedestrian Advisory Committee (or similar), call local Public Works for immediate fixes, City Council for code updates, etc.
Going deeper. Of course, there are more items we look in a professionally-guided walk audit, and items may vary on location (e.g. safety elements can get more complicated with crosswalks at roundabouts). Note that walk audits are not just for urban areas, rural environments can have walk audits as well. Reach out if your community or your organization is interested in having Made2walk come and lead one for you.
Cases when should you consider a professionally-guided Walk Audit:
- Neighborhoods older than 10 years
- New developments and connecting with surroundings
- Areas with recent or multiple pedestrian/bicycle injuries and fatalities
- Safe Routes to School
- Redesigning and evaluating non-motorized connection
- Pedestrian/Active Transportation Master Plans
- Self-guided art walks
- First/Last mile reviews from transit stops
- Other