Pedestrian Mobility and Safety Audit Guide

Overview

Volunteers can play a vital role in improving the livability of a community. The Pedestrian Mobility and Safety Audit Guide was created by AARP and the Institute of Transportation Engineers (ITE) to assist volunteers in improving the walkability and livability of their communities. The purpose of the guide is to familiarize volunteers with the technical, administrative, regulatory, and social issues regarding pedestrian safety and mobility at intersections and road segments in their communities. The report outlines the five major steps of the pedestrian safety and mobility audit process used by AARP and ITE volunteer participants.

Key Points

The Pedestrian Mobility and Safety Audit Guide addresses the myriad of issues that affect the walkability of a community such as the pedestrian environment, drivers and traffic in the area, and the availability of public transit. It also offers detailed instructions and recommendations for volunteers looking to assess and improve the safety of streets in their communities. Five major steps must be taken to effectively carry out a comprehensive audit including reviewing the Pedestrian Mobility and Safety Audit Guide, conducting an audit briefing, performing a field audit, debriefing an audit, and implementing improvements.

Other report highlights include:

1. Many high-impact improvements to pedestrian safety and mobility are low-cost and can be implemented quickly. For example, painting or re-painting stripes in a crosswalk to make it more noticeable is an efficient and low-cost improvement that can be done quickly by local volunteers.
   
2. This guide emphasizes the importance of collaborating with the right local agencies to customize a pedestrian audit that will meet the specific needs of the local community.
   

How to Use

Local officials and community leaders can use this audit guide to assist volunteers in making effective improvements to pedestrian mobility and safety in their communities. The checklists, recommendations, and photographs can be used by volunteers to gain an understanding of what to look for when conducting a community audit. This guide is a useful tool for local officials and community leaders looking to empower volunteers in their area while improving the overall community environment.

View full report: Pedestrian Mobility and Safety Audit Guide (PDF – 1.9 MB)