A User Manual for Pedestrian Safety Programs

Home , Walkability

Contents

Introduction...... 5

Making a Commitment...... 11

Getting Organized...... 17

Gathering Data ...... 25

Developing a Plan...... 31

Implementing Your Program ...... 37

Evaluating & Revising ...... 43

Wrap-Up ...... 48

Welcome

his User Manual is designed to guide you You Are Not Alone through the process of building a community- The prospect of tackling your community’s pedestrian safety problem may T seem overwhelming at first. There are so many things that need to be done wide pedestrian safety program. It is an integral part of the and you are just one person. It is important to remember that you are not Pedestrian Safety Toolkit, which alone! You will find allies in a variety of private sector organizations, as well as concerned citizens who will share your concerns about pedestrian contains additional information safety and can provide volunteer resources and, perhaps, even financial and resources to support your support. Some of these may include: program from inception to evaluation. • Youth and parent organizations • Business groups, such as chambers of commerce • Senior citizen organizations You may be wondering who is the • Civic groups, such as Kiwanis or Rotary target audience for this User Manual. • Insurance companies You are! This manual is written for • Health care providers anyone who believes that something • Media representatives should be done to make his or her community a better place for There also are various local government agencies that are responsible for pedestrians. It does not matter if pedestrian safety and access. Staff in these agencies should work with you you work for the government agency and your allies to identify the problems that your community is facing and that is responsible for sidewalk to design programs to eliminate these problems. These agencies include, the Planning Department, for developing community transportation plans; planning or if you are a concerned Traffic Engineering Department, for building sidewalks and installing citizen who is interested in creating traffic signals; Police and Sheriff’s Departments, for enforcing speeding a pedestrian-friendly transportation and jaywalking laws; Public School System, for conducting traffic safety environment. You may be a parent education programs; and Mayor’s Office and City Council, for allocating who wishes your children could walk resources to make your community more walkable. to school or to the park, but you are worried about the cars that speed Your community also may have a Safe Communities Coalition. A Safe through your neighborhood. You Community promotes injury prevention activities at the local level to might be a senior citizen who can’t solve local highway and traffic safety and other injury problems. It uses make it across a busy intersection a “bottom up” approach to involve citizens in addressing key injury problems in the community. Since pedestrian issues need to be solved at before the “Don’t Walk” light comes the community level, joining forces with a Safe Communities Coalition on. It doesn’t matter who you are; may enhance community attention to pedestrian safety. The characteristics what matters is that you care about of a Safe Community are similar to the processes discussed in this manual. pedestrians, and you want to make These characteristics include: analysis of data from multiple data sources; your community more pedestrian- expanded partnerships; citizen involvement and inputs; and an integrated friendly. This User Manual will guide and comprehensive injury control system. For more information about your efforts from enlisting your first Safe Communities, contact The National Highway Traffic Safety ally to evaluating your success. Administration (NHTSA) by fax at (202) 493-2062. We have tried to keep this National Highway Traffic Safety manual simple and Administration (NHTSA) Office of Communications and Outreach straightforward. It is written NTS-21 in an informal style and ample 400 7th Street, SW white space is provided for Washington, DC 20590 Fax: (202) 493-2062 you to make notes. You may also want to insert this manual Throughout this User Manual, there will into a three-ring binder so be references to documents or materials that you might want to obtain for your that you can add references program. All of the resources mentioned and other resource materials are listed in the Pedestrian Safety Toolkit as you build your program. Resource Catalog which is included in the Toolkit. If you don’t have this catalog, NHTSA referenced materials How This Manual can be ordered by writing to:

Relates to the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration Pedestrian Safety Office of Communications and Outreach NTS-21 Toolkit 400 7th Street, SW You probably found this User Manual Washington, DC 20590 when you opened your Pedestrian Safety Fax: (202) 493-2062 Toolkit. This Toolkit is designed to guide you in establishing a community The FHWA R&T referenced materials pedestrian safety program and provide can be ordered by writing to: some of the resources you will need to get started. The Toolkit contains: The Federal Highway Administration • A compilation of a variety of (FHWA) R&T Report Center pedestrian safety videos and 9701 Philadelphia Court, Unit Q public service announcements Lanham, MD 20706 Phone: (301) 577-0818 • An interactive CD-ROM of pedestrian Fax: (301) 577-1421 safety resources, with state-by-state cross referencing • A selection of sample materials so Definition of Terms you can start a community pedestrian Before we can proceed, we need to have safety program today a common understanding of terms. Some of these are very familiar while others If you have found this User Manual but may seem new. The terms that are defined you do not have the Toolkit to go with here serve as the foundation on which it, you can request a Toolkit from the this User Manual and any community following address: pedestrian program should be built. As you involve others in your efforts, including the media, you will need to be able to define what your program covers and what your measures of success will be. Let’s start with some definitions. Pedestrian Pedestrian Safety The dictionary defines pedestrian as This aspect of walkability deals with “one who journeys on foot.” There are the level of risk to pedestrians when two important parts of this definition. attempting to walk along or across the The first is the concept of journey. This network of roads in a community. It is confirms that walking is a legitimate measured by the number of pedestrians form of transportation, which, as a rule, killed or injured in collisions with motor should not be disrupted. However, the vehicles and by the public’s perception of second part of this definition, on foot, the risk of being hit by a motor vehicle. needs to be broadened. For the purpose Pedestrian safety can be enhanced by a of this User Manual and for your variety of facility improvements, traffic community pedestrian program, calming strategies, education programs, “pedestrian” should also include anyone and enforcement efforts. who is operating a wheelchair. The term is generally not used to refer to someone Some advocates believe safety is the only riding a bicycle, but it can be used to issue that should be of concern and limit refer to a child operating a play vehicle their program efforts to protecting those such as a Big Wheel®. You might want people who are currently walking from to check your state and local vehicle the risk of motor vehicle collisions. Others codes, available at your local library, to believe that you cannot provide a safe see exactly what is covered by the term environment for pedestrians without pedestrian in your community. the political support for walking as a legitimate form of transportation and the Walkability policies needed to provide pedestrians This term will be used frequently in this with the same rights and consideration User Manual and in many of the other as all other road users. While everyone resources that are provided in the Toolkit. agrees that you can’t have walkability Walkability refers to a combination of without safety, there is some dispute as community characteristics that deal with to whether you can have safety without pedestrian safety, security, and access. It walkability. Where do you stand on the also reflects the extent to which the needs issue? Be prepared to debate the topic and rights of pedestrians are taken into in your community. consideration by the relevant agencies of local government. Pedestrian Security Pedestrian security is different from A walkable community is a community pedestrian safety. While pedestrian in which pedestrians have safe places to safety addresses the risk of motor walk that take them to the places they vehicle collision, pedestrian security want to travel to on foot (or via refers to the risk of becoming a victim wheelchair). A walkable community of violent crime. It is measured by the has made a conscious effort to afford incidence of crimes such as assault, pedestrians an equal status with motorists robbery, rape, and murder against and other road users and to encourage pedestrians. Security can be enhanced more people to walk. It is measured by by the provision of street lighting, public perceptions about the importance increased police enforcement, and by of walking in the community and about efforts to bring more people into the the feasibility of walking as a mode downtown area in evening hours. of transportation. Pedestrian Access are generally using them. If you don’t Pedestrian access refers to the aspect of agree with the definitions offered here, feel free to develop your own definitions walkability that deals with a pedestrian’s and use them consistently as you ability to “get there from here” by foot develop your own program. or wheelchair. It encompasses a wide range of community characteristics including sidewalks, pedestrian signals, How This Manual Is special pedestrian treatments across complex intersections, and compact land Organized use policies that put residential areas in The remainder of this User Manual is closer proximity to business and shopping organized around the six steps involved districts. It is measured by the existence in building a community pedestrian of “must have” items such as sidewalks safety program. We begin in the next and bridge access and “nice to have” section with an overview of these six features such as landscaping and steps and a discussion of why it is useful pedestrian furniture (e.g. benches, to follow a procedure when developing water fountains, etc.). a program. Following the overview, you will find six additional sections, one for Community Pedestrian each step of the process. Program This is a community-wide, comprehensive Overview of Process effort to address the needs of pedestrians If you asked 100 different community of all ages. It needs to include, at a organizers how their program achieved minimum, engineering improvements, its success, you would probably receive such as sidewalks, curb cuts and 100 different descriptions of how the pedestrian signals; education programs program was organized and how the for children and for adult pedestrians work was accomplished. After all, every and motorists; and traffic law enforcement community and program is unique, with efforts directed at both pedestrians and its own characteristics, strengths, and motorists. Many communities also include weaknesses. If you analyze what you encouragement programs to make walking were being told by each of these 100 a more attractive transportation mode. individuals, however, a pattern would emerge of a very fundamental process Traffic Calming that each program followed from beginning to end. The terms used to This is a term used to refer to a variety of describe the steps involved in this strategies designed to reduce speed and process would probably vary, but the congestion in residential and commercial concepts involved are universal. areas. These strategies might include traffic roundabouts at neighborhood It is this process that serves as the intersections and speed humps and foundation of this User Manual. It tables to reinforce correct road user involves six steps that are defined behavior and improve conditions as follows. for non-motorized street users.

You may not agree with all of these definitions or even with some of the principles they suggest. However, this is how these terms are being used throughout this manual and how pedestrian advocates around the country Making a Commitment Implementing Your Program When you move from one or two Doing what concerned voices to needs to be done a small group that and making has the preliminary sure everyone approval of key knows about it For each step, we have decision-makers included:

An Overview, which provides: • A description of the step Evaluating and Revising • A summary of the types of Getting activities that should be conducted during the step Organized Learning what worked The Details, which provides: Formalizing the and what • A more in-depth description commitment and didn’t and of how the principal activities recruiting members using that should be carried out to your cause information to revise your Key Resources for Success, plans and which highlights: programs • One or two resources that might really make a difference Gathering Data in your overall success. (The Pedestrian Safety Toolkit The process does not end with Resource Catalog provides Learning more Evaluating and Revising, since these information on how to obtain precisely what the steps mark the beginning of a new cycle all of the Key Resources listed.) problems are and that repeats itself throughout the life of gathering input the program. You may want to quickly on what people scan each of the steps to see have done to There is nothing magical about the steps how the process is organized. solve them shown here. A formula doesn’t exist for This will help you find where how long or how many dollars you will your community is in the spend at each stage of development. It is process, and then you can important to adopt a procedure and place it at the proper step. continually make progress through that You may find that you are Developing procedure in order to achieve your goals. farther along than you think, or you may discover that you a Plan In the pages that follow, we have need to backtrack a little and provided some guidance on how this build a more solid foundation Establishing priorities, process works and some suggestions on for an effective community- goals, and objectives how to make it work for you. wide program. Once you for your program, know where you need to developing action begin, you might want to plans and identifying review each step in greater resource requirements detail and then build your own personal “To Do List.”

Making a Commitment

Overview Details Every great movement in history has The best place to start this step is with begun with a first step. In the case of you. How much do you know about pedestrian safety and walkability, that pedestrian safety and walkability? You first step involves Making a Commitment might be surprised to learn that although to do something. This includes your there may not appear to be any programs own personal commitment to pursue in place, there has been a considerable the matter and the community-wide amount of research on the causes of commitment that is required to create pedestrian fatalities and injuries, and a a safe and walkable environment for variety of countermeasures have been all pedestrians. developed and tested. The issue of walkability has also been the subject of Making a Commitment is the first and research for such topics as what would most difficult stage in the entire process. make more people interested in walking. You have to convince local decision- The Pedestrian Safety Toolkit Resource makers to take whatever actions Catalog contains descriptions of many necessary to make your community safer of these studies. You should at least and more walkable. During this step you become familiar with the national facts should conduct the following activities: and figures and with the most common safety and walkability issues. • Increase your personal understanding of pedestrian issues The most important issue that you will have to deal with when you take on • Determine the level of community pedestrian safety and walkability interest in these issues education is the basic conflict between motor vehicle traffic and pedestrians. • Establish a steering committee The automobile has become an integral Motivate key decision-makers component of society. While the automobile has contributed greatly to • Obtain a commitment to address personal mobility and freedom, this pedestrian issues freedom has come at a relatively high cost. Automobiles have been blamed for You know you have completed this clogging our streets, gobbling up green stage when you have a small group of space for new highways, fouling the air, individuals who have informally agreed and creating a hostile environment for to work together and when you have anyone on foot. convinced the mayor or city council to make a public commitment to addressing pedestrian issues. Measures to create a more pedestrian- they are interested, ask them if they would friendly environment may be perceived be willing to assist you in starting a as anti-motorist. Traffic engineers who program in your community. perceive their job as moving cars and trucks as efficiently as possible may If you are a traffic engineer, city planner, object to a measure to lengthen the walk law enforcement officer, or government signal at a busy intersection because it official who is responsible for pedestrian will create traffic congestion. Speed issues, you probably already have the humps will draw criticism because they mandate to do something. Your focus force motorists to slow down as they cut should be on identifying private citizens through residential neighborhoods on their and organizations who might want to commute to work. Before you begin the partner with you and who will enlist process of enlisting support for pedestrian the support of their colleagues. issues, you need to examine your own position and try to anticipate the reactions You will be surprised how many people of your potential allies. share your concerns about pedestrian issues. Every day, more and more people The following are all proven benefits try to build exercise into their daily of creating a safer and more walkable schedule. They are finding that walking community: makes a lot of sense—until they discover that their world looks very different from • Health benefits individuals gain the side of the road than it does from from walking behind the wheel of a car. They don’t like what they see. This realization is • Economic benefits a community can mobilizing many people to take action. receive when downtown business Make them your allies! areas are revitalized Once you have a small group together, • Environmental benefits achieved which can serve as your steering when the number of short-distance committee, it is time to reach out to automobile trips is reduced your local government to determine what level of support you might expect. Increasingly, citizens are supporting This could be through a contact with changes that will allow their community the mayor’s office, the city council, or to become more walkable. But change an individual agency such as public is slow; be prepared that it will not works. You should look for any advisory happen overnight. committees already in place. They are usually designed to solicit citizen input Once you have clarified how you feel and could provide a connection to some about pedestrian safety and walkability, key decision-makers. Every community you need to start looking for allies who with a population of more than 50,000 is share your views. These may be your required by law to consider pedestrian neighbors who share your concerns needs as part of its transportation about speeding motorists or the lack of planning efforts. Your metropolitan sidewalks. They might include parents planning organization is responsible and administrators at your neighborhood for developing these transportation school, or some local business leaders documents and should be open to hearing who are looking for ways to revitalize from a group of concerned citizens. the central business district. You should start by bringing up the topic informally After you have someone’s attention, think to see what others think. If you find that about what you are asking? At this stage, you are just looking for some indication participants to commit to take action. that local government will be responsive The Road Show provides a lot of to citizen concerns about pedestrian opportunities to identify local concerns issues. Indicate that you would like to about pedestrian safety, and to begin form a formal group, such as a pedestrian the process of establishing priorities and advisory group, to work with your local planning for the future. The entire focus government to identify what problems is to help the group decide to make a exist and to make recommendations commitment and to determine what on what needs to be done. This might the next steps will be. involve working through an existing organization or committee or forming a Your primary responsibility as community brand new operation. In either case, you host will be to invite the right people will want some representatives of local and provide a facility. If the Road Show agencies to take part in the committee is successful, at its conclusion, your small and to take your recommendations back group of volunteers will have grown to to local government decision makers. 20 or more individuals from local government and the private sector who You may be wondering how three or have agreed to work with you to address four volunteers are going to convince pedestrian issues. Here is a list of the the mayor that he or she should set up types of individuals and organizations an entire program to deal with that should be invited to your local pedestrian safety just because you Road Show: happen to think it is a good idea. You’re right. It probably won’t happen with • City and/or county traffic your first phone call. engineers and planners • Local safety coalitions such as a You will probably need to do some Mothers Against Drunk Driving powerful persuading, and you might find (MADD) chapter, an Operation it easier if you bring in an outside expert. Lifesaver representative, or a The U.S. Department of Transportation SAFEKIDS Coalition has designed a 4-hour seminar to help • Law enforcement representatives you bring your message to the public • Metropolitan planning and private sector organizations whose organization staff support you will need to make your • Business leaders/organizations community more walkable. You can (e.g. chamber of commerce or request that a Pedestrian Safety Road downtown merchants association) Show and/or Pedestrian Safety Road • Local activist groups (e.g. Show Train-the-Trainer session (also environmental groups, alternative referred to as a Road Show) be held in transportation groups) your community as a way to expand • Decision-makers (mayors your group of allies to include and county executives) representatives of law enforcement, • Health community representatives traffic engineering, the medical • Fire/EMS organizations community, the media, local businesses, • Local media outlets youth and senior citizens groups, • School officials and PTA representatives and anyone else who cares about • Youth groups/recreation organizations pedestrian safety. • Senior citizen organizations/agencies • Colleges and universities The purpose of the Road Show is to • Builders and developers increase awareness about the problems • Religious leaders pedestrians face and motivate the • Neighborhood advisory groups The National Bicycling and You may not succeed in getting every one Walking Study Final Report: of these organizations represented at the Transportation Choices for a Road Show, but it is a good list to keep in mind as you gradually expand your Changing America (FHWA R&T) base of support. This report synthesizes the 24 case-study research reports produced for the National At this stage, you are not looking for a Bicycling and Walking Study. commitment to spend a lot of money on sidewalks or to radically redesign your What Needs to be Done to downtown business district to ban Promote Bicycling and Walking? automobiles. You do not have enough (FHWA R&T) information yet to specify what should This study explores ways to promote be done. You are looking to your local walking and the factors that affect a decision makers for a commitment to person’s willingness and ability to walk invest time and resources to determine for transportation. Specific marketing what the community wants for pedestrians. strategies are discussed and a case study If you have done your homework so far, is provided. people should find it difficult to refuse such a reasonable request. Safe Communities: In the next step, Getting Organized, you Getting Started (NHTSA) will form your committee and expand This publication describes the first steps its membership. a group of concerned citizens should take to solve a traffic safety problem Key Resources that affects the community. for Success The most important resource that you should consider during this step is the Road Show. Instructions on how to request a Road Show are provided in the Pedestrian Safety Resource Catalog. Here are some other resources that you should consider.

Walk! (FHWA R&T) This 12-minute motivational video is designed to encourage individuals to become involved in pedestrian safety and walkability. A copy of the video is included in the Toolkit. Ordering information is provided in the Pedestrian Safety Toolkit Resource Catalog. Getting Organized

Getting Organized

several other organizational issues. Overview Some of the issues you will need to Once you have obtained a preliminary resolve include the following: commitment to address pedestrian issues you need to move quickly to expand Should your organization be sponsored your working group into a formal by, or report to, a local government committee and to “go public” with agency, or should it exist as a private a preliminary vision statement that sector group? Successful pedestrian describes what you want to accomplish groups have been structured both ways for your community. During the Getting and so have unsuccessful ones. The Organized step, you should conduct the advantage to having the official sanction following activities: of the mayor’s office or the metropolitan planning organization is that you will • Establish a formal coordinating have some access to local government committee staff resources and possibly a small budget. The official sanction also lends a measure of • Recruit members and obtain letters credibility to the group and to its members, of commitment especially when dealing with the media and some local businesses. You may find • Draft a community vision statement it much easier to secure the involvement of local agency personnel, such as • Hold a press event to announce planners, police officers, etc., if the the program to the public committee is government-sponsored.

You will know you have completed this The disadvantage to operating under the stage when you have defined the structure government umbrella is that you may be of your organization and announced limited in what you do. The government’s your plans to the media and the public. commitment to pedestrian safety may not go any further than forming the Details committee. Making a Commitment and Getting Forming a private sector coalition is not Organized are not completely separate always the answer either. Some private procedures. At some point you will be sector organizations flounder because able to form a formal committee to they can never capture the attention of address pedestrian safety and walkability the media or because they devote most issues. This committee may be a of their resources to raising money subcommittee or task force created out rather than to improving conditions for of an existing group, or it could be a pedestrians. In other cases, private brand new organization. It could be coalitions that represent a broad cross- affiliated with a government office, or section of the community can be it could be a private sector organization. extremely effective in mobilizing There are advantages and disadvantages grassroots support for an issue. to all of these options which you should This group can then challenge the take into consideration, along with government agencies that are responsible for pedestrian transportation This is a very critical stage in the to do more. development of your program. The make-up of your committee, task force, Answering this question is not easy. or blue ribbon panel will determine the It is an issue that you should discuss success of your program. There are with your steering committee. several “do’s” and “don’ts” to keep in mind when recruiting members. Should you form a totally new committee or should you create a spin-off or What You Should Do subcommittee from an existing group? Brainstorm with several people on whom It can be advantageous to start from to invite. You don’t want to rely on your scratch. Your issues will not be confused personal address book to fill all the with, or be second to, the agenda of the available slots. Now is the time to bring parent organization. This can be an issue in new people who might have a fresh if your group is a spin-off from a very idea or a good connection. The list of narrowly focused safety organization. people who should be invited to the This group may not accept walkability Road Show/Road Show Train-the- as a legitimate concern or may see a Trainer will serve as a good starting potential conflict between a safety point for membership in your advisory objective and an access objective. group.

One advantage to linking your group Draft a letter of invitation asking to an existing one is that the structure identified potential members to attend is already in place. Many of the issues an organizational meeting. It is a good that you would have to address, such as idea to have the letter signed by a charter and by-laws, voting procedures, prominent individual who is recognized meeting protocols, schedules, etc. have in the community and who is willing already been worked out. You can devote to lend his or her prestige to your cause. your attention to developing a pedestrian An elected official, a judge, the head of program rather than to dealing with a government agency, the police chief, administration. Your organization can a prominent business person, or a also benefit from the good reputation combination of these individuals would and credibility of the parent organization: be excellent choices. Use the letter to “If the XYZ Task Force thinks pedestrian invite people to attend a preliminary safety is important enough to organize meeting to answer any questions they a special subcommittee, then maybe I may have and to learn what everyone should pay more attention.” This might can bring to the table. help in the recruitment of new members or in getting the media to turn out for Be specific about the roles and a press conference. responsibilities of coalition members. Your steering committee may also want Once you look at all of these factors, to draft a “mission statement” to be you will be able to select the structure included in the letter. In the letter also that works best for your organization. be sure to include the number of times (Recognize that this may be decided for the group will meet throughout the year, you—if the mayor wants to appoint a the times of the meetings, and what is special task force on pedestrian safety, expected of the group. Have some activity you probably don’t want to argue with or activities already developed to include him or her. Use that opportunity.) Once in the roles and responsibilities. For you select a structure, you will need to instance, the first activity might be a recruit members to join your organization. needs assessment that asks individuals to distribute a market survey to people overwhelm anyone with an enormous, in their neighborhoods or in their long-term assignment in the organization. After your letter has been beginning so make sure your tasks sent, make a follow-up phone call 2 days are brief. Allow your volunteers before the meeting to remind individuals to enjoy some quick successes. to attend. • Keep everyone involved. Avoid the For each person being invited, you must temptation to keep an inner circle be able to identify how they and their of your original steering committee organization will benefit from improving members. People join an advisory conditions for pedestrians. While committee because they want to pedestrian safety is a very worthwhile make a contribution and make a cause, it will take more than altruism difference. Make sure everyone feels to convince busy men and women to that they are part of everything the devote their precious time to your cause. group does. Ask everyone for You need to convince them that it is suggestions and ideas. Take more their cause as well. This is crucial. of a listening role, and allow others lead discussions. Each potential member will be looking for something different. The downtown businessperson needs to understand that programs and facilities that encourage Mission Statement Example walking will increase foot traffic into his or her store. The senior citizen The [insert your community name here] representative wants to be assured that your group will be looking to improve Pedestrian Advisory Committee has been mobility for seniors by providing safe formed to identify what our community places to walk and by making it easier to cross busy streets. Police officers will needs to provide for a safer and more be concerned about educating the public walkable environment and to design the about traffic laws that affect pedestrians. They will not want to hear, initially, that strategies and programs that will create more enforcement of these laws is this environment. needed. The physician will be interested in what he or she can do to reduce the incidence of child pedestrian crashes. The health insurance manager might Vision Statement Example respond well to how improving pedestrian safety will reduce the number of costly The community of [insert your community name visits to hospital emergency departments. here] provides a balanced transportation Once you have recruited your system in which a variety of transportation membership, follow these easy tips to choices, including walking, biking, and help ensure the success of your operation: public transit, are available for trips to • Develop specific activities. work, shops, school, and recreational The best way to keep people involved and motivated is to give areas, and in which all citizens, from them responsibilities. However, children to senior citizens, can walk safely remember that you are dealing with volunteers who have other full-time in our residential and commercial areas. responsibilities You don’t want to • Take good notes. Make sure that be to meet with the media to announce everyone’s opinions and views are your plans to make your community more recorded. You want everyone to walkable. In preparation for this event, believe in the goals and objectives you should make copies of your vision of the organization. This will only statement and mission statement. These happen if people see at least some two statements will help crystallize for of their ideas incorporated. the public what a walkable community would be like, and what your organization • Send reminders. Send meeting is going to do, with their help, to make notices to remind people of upcoming the vision a reality. meetings. Follow up with a phone call the day before the meeting. This Your next step is to plan a media event, not only reminds people again, but which is different from a press conference. it also gives you an idea of who to Press conferences tend to be staged and expect at the meeting. lack-luster and could only be covered on slow news days. Instead, stage a media • Update your group regularly. Keep event that will capture the attention of the lines of communication open. the media and provide many good visuals Inform people about recent meeting for the print and broadcast outlets in your discussions and activities through community. Some ideas you might meeting minutes and newsletters. consider include: These regular updates keep your group cohesive and enthusiastic. • A walking tour that illustrates the problems children face when they Now that you know what to do, you walk to school should also know what not to do: • A walking tour of some hazardous • Don’t be demanding. Appreciate intersections everyone’s contribution. • A “Walk to Work” celebration • Don’t be impatient. Democracy encouraging people to leave their works, but it takes time. cars at home

• Don’t be confusing. State plans • A mini-rally to “Reclaim Our Streets” clearly and concisely. • A “Walk a Child to School” day • Don’t lecture. You are not in encouraging parents and children to a classroom. walk to school and identify hazards along the route • Don’t waste time. Remember that people have other full-time The common goal of all of these ideas is responsibilities. to open your neighborhood’s streets to the media so they can experience what Even though you now have your group walking is like. You can then issue your together, you are not finished with this vision statement of what a walkable step. In order to succeed in making community could be when everyone joins pedestrian safety and walkability an together to make it happen. Your event important issue in the community, you has now become a news story that is must disseminate information about it. much more likely to be covered than a The first official action of your newly press release issued at a press conference. formed pedestrian advisory group should Local celebrities or prominent figures at your media event can sometimes Safe Communities: Tips for increase your media coverage. It is also Coalition Building (NHTSA) helpful to make them available for This publication defines what a coalition media interviews, if possible. is and briefly explains how to define goals and objectives; assess what is When you reach the conclusion of this being done in the community; identify step, you will have come a long way. key players and other coalition members; Your small group of allies will have and how to keep the coalition alive. grown in size and stature to a well- respected advisory group. And more important, you have now gone public with your commitment to make a difference for pedestrians. Key Resources for Success You should also review the following resources to aid your program development.

Analysis of Successful Grassroots Movements Relating to Pedestrians and Bicycles and a Guide on How to Initiate a Successful Program (FHWA R&T) This manual describes a 15-step process for building a grassroots movement for pedestrian issues and provides some accepted measures of success.

Analyses of Successful Provincial State and Local Bicycle and Pedestrian Programs in Canada and the United States (FHWA R&T) This study examines what makes a pedestrian program successful and concludes that there are three essential ingredients: a full-time program manager, supportive elected officials, and an active citizen’s advisory committee. Several detailed case studies are provided.

Gathering Data

During this step you will need to Overview conduct the following activities: Sometimes community efforts begin What Kinds of with the Gathering Data step instead of • Assess pedestrian crash problems Pedestrian Crashes the Making a Commitment step because the organizers believe they will not be • Survey pedestrian facilities Are Occurring in able to convince decision-makers to act Your Town? unless they have conducted exhaustive • Gather data on how and how often studies that produce data on pedestrian people are using pedestrian facilities crashes. It is more important, however, The U.S. Department of to start with a solid group of committed • Review policies, ordinances, Transportation is developing a individuals who are willing to work standards, and codes new tool to help you determine together to gather the important data. the types of pedestrian The willingness of these individuals to • Inventory current education, collisions that are occurring work on pedestrian issues, including enforcement, and encouragement in your community. With the gathering data, makes a convincing programs argument for implementing a Pedestrian and Bicycle Crash pedestrian safety program. • Solicit citizen input on safety and Typing Tool, a Windows-based walkability needs software package, the user Accurate information about pedestrian reviews local police crash forms safety issues and how the public • Identify new partners and enters data about each envisions a walkable community will crash by clicking on buttons help you build a program that addresses This is an ongoing stage because you and check boxes. real problems and is responsive to should always be monitoring statistics community interests. The kinds of and citizen feedback. You should move The system identifies the type information you will be collecting on to the Planning step, however, when of pedestrian crash, based on during this stage include: you have prepared a concise statement the motorist and pedestrian of the pedestrian safety problems facing actions that led up to the • Safety and travel statistics the community and the programs that currently exist. collision. The software can also • Current program activity data be used to generate 2-way and 3-way tables of crash parameters • Citizen input on the Details (e.g., time of day, by age group, community vision Instructions on how to gather data for by type of roadway). your pedestrian program could be very You will be gathering the same types of extensive. Each type of data you are You can obtain information on information during Step 6, Evaluating collecting appears in research studies, the pedestrian accident typing and Revising, to determine if your analyses, and guidelines on how to system by contacting: programs have accomplished their collect information and make sense of objectives. You will need to document what you have gathered. Since we can’t how you collect the data now so that replicate all of that information here, we Carol Tan-Esse at the Federal you can replicate the process later. have, instead, provided a summary of Highway Administration the types of information you will need (FHWA), (703) 285-2071. to collect and a few suggestions for getting started. Pedestrian Crash Data Pedestrian Facilities NHTSA publishes annual fact sheets on Before you develop a plan for providing pedestrian safety (a copy of the most improved pedestrian facilities, you need recent Pedestrian Safety Fact Sheet is to have an accurate picture of what included in the Toolkit). These fact pedestrian facilities currently exist and sheets provide an extensive amount of how they are maintained. You can start information about the national pedestrian this process by meeting with the traffic crash problem. You can infer, from engineering department (ideally, this these national data, the nature of your group will have a representative on your community’s pedestrian safety problem. advisory committee) and obtaining an However, you will find that the media inventory of facilities. You then need and local decision-makers are much to solicit volunteers who will visit each more interested in local data. You should facility and document its condition. try to determine the number of people Remember to check places that are killed and injured in pedestrian crashes inappropriate or deadly places to walk, and the financial and emotional costs like railroad tracks, trestles, and bridges. associated with these crashes. Sort this Steering pedestrians to safer, more information by age of pedestrian, time of appropriate walking spaces will create crash, location of crash (intersection and a safer community. non-intersection), and weather conditions. This level of detail will tell Pedestrian Use Data you who your target population is and While you or your volunteers are at each the locations that are the most hazardous. facility, they should also collect If you have a high number of nighttime pedestrian counts to document the collisions, you might want to investigate amount of walking that is taking place in the alcohol involvement of the drivers your community. You can also collect and pedestrians involved. (National data travel data through citizen surveys. show that pedestrians were impaired in almost 30 percent of all fatal pedestrian crashes.) Your local police department, Policies, Ordinances, public health department, and hospitals and Standards are sources for information on pedestrian Policies, zoning ordinances, and design injuries and crashes. standards have a tremendous influence on the walkability of a community. It is Some state databases can also provide a waste of time to try to make facilities information about your pedestrian injury safer for pedestrians if they are being problem. For more information on designed according to standards that do sources of injury data see Getting not reflect the pedestrian’s equal status Started: A Guide to Developing Safe in the transportation mix. During your Communities (DOT HS 808 404; May survey of pedestrian facilities you will 1996) and A Look at the Data, part of probably discover inadequate facilities. the Safe Communities Technical During this survey you will be Information package (DOT HS 808 578; determining if the underlying problem is April 1997) available from NHTSA that the facility needs to be upgraded to (address on page 6). meet the community’s design standard or if the standard itself needs to be upgraded. Enlist the help of the lawyers and traffic engineers on your committee to conduct this type of review. The results of your analysis of policies, ordinances, and standards will determine what will require further attention during the Transportation Fairs – Public planning and implementation steps. events designed to interest citizens in transportation and in specific programs. Current Programs They provide visual exhibits that can Before you can initiate a new pedestrian generate enthusiasm about future program that is comprised of a variety possibilities. of activities and projects, you need to know exactly what is currently being Focus groups – A small group done for pedestrian safety and discussion facilitated by professional How long do you think you can walkability. While it might appear that leadership and designed to gather opinions hold their attention? Limit your nothing is being done for pedestrian on a specific topic (such as the provision presentation, and perhaps your safety, you may discover that your local of sidewalks in residential areas). data collection efforts, accordingly. school district sponsors an annual safety education program or that your local Citizen surveys – Direct mail, police department conducts a seasonal telephone, or face-to-face interviews of Key Resources enforcement campaign targeting speeding a representative sample of the general for Success in school zones. These programs may public to document citizen preferences be a good supplement to your own and and perceptions on a wide range of topics. NHTSA and FHWA have produced involving their sponsors in your effort a variety of reports on various can help your program as well as theirs. Public Meetings and Hearings – aspects of the pedestrian safety Public forums for presenting information and walkability problem. Some to the general public and for soliciting of the most important include: Citizen Input informal input on the information presented Public participation is one of the hottest and on general programs and policies. Traffic Safety Facts: topics in transportation planning. As Pedestrians (NHTSA) a result, you can find a great deal of New Partners – Your data gathering documentation on how to obtain efforts will be taking you and your representative input and to apply this colleagues on the advisory committee Pedestrian Crash Types: input appropriately during the planning to all corners of your community. During A 1990’s Informational process. Some of the techniques you your journey you will encounter many Guide (NHTSA) might want to consider include: individuals who will be interested in This guide provides details on your advisory group. While you should specific pedestrian/motor vehicle Charette – A time-limited meeting not expand the size of this group to an crash types through 2-page designed to support cooperative efforts unworkable level, you can enlist the layouts that contain a sketch, between citizens and agency officials to support of these individuals. They can description, and summary of the identify solutions to a particular problem. participate in your data collection efforts, crash type, various graphs, and It can be useful to identify all sides of a serve as liaisons to the constituency information boxes. difficult issue and to reach a consensus groups they represent, and lend their on recommended solutions. name to public statements of support. Safe Communities: A Look Visioning – A series of public While many community activists worry at the Data (NHTSA) participation meetings designed to about having too little data, it is also Explains how a coalition should develop a long-range vision of a walkable possible to have too much. The process begin its data search by community. Visioning provides citizens of gathering data can exhaust your focussing on the answers that the opportunity to provide input on volunteers and the analysis effort can be identify the major traffic safety current problems and future directions. time consuming with large amounts of problems and their significance data. Look for individuals who understand in the community. data and can help you analyze and present it. You do not have to do it all yourself. Think about how you will present the information to decision-makers.

Developing a Plan

• Set goals and objectives for short Overview term and long term accomplishments In order for your community pedestrian program to be successful, you should • Establish committees or teams for have a plan. An approved plan gives your developing action plans community a clear statement of what needs to be accomplished, along with • Provide training, as needed, for an honest appraisal of what it will take team members to reach your goal. Without such a plan, you will find it very difficult to obtain • Develop action plans for Phase I the resources required to implement and Phase II projects any actions. You also run the risk of losing momentum as your coordinating • Determine resource requirements committee struggles to decide what to do next. • Secure approval for your plan

A successful plan will be based on the • Secure necessary resources information you obtained on current conditions and the vision you established While it is very important to plan for the future. It will include a clear carefully, you should avoid the temptation statement of the community priorities, to create the “perfect plan.” Your focus along with specific goals and objectives should be on “creating change” not just that need to be accomplished. It will “planning for change.” No matter how also identify the individual actions that visionary and well written your plan may need to be taken in order to achieve be, it will never take the place of a new these goals. Finally, it will identify sidewalk. You are ready to move on to the resources that will be required implementation when you have identified and where they will come from. and acquired the resources needed to implement your action plan. It is likely that your plan will include a phased approach to implementation. Phase I projects will include some quick Details successes which can generate some Having completed the Gathering Data positive media coverage for the program step, you probably now know more and for its sponsors. Phase II will include about pedestrian safety and walkability the bulk of the more extensive facility in your community than you ever thought improvements since these must be built possible. But what do you do with all of into longer term funding cycles. that information? You use it to build a community pedestrian plan. Before we In Developing a Plan you will need to delve into some tips for making the conduct the following activities: process work for you, it is important to discuss what should be incorporated • Establish program priorities for in your plan. safety and walkability When most transportation officials hear the community will be like when the the term pedestrian plan, they assume vision has been realized. It’s primary that it describes a network of pedestrian purpose is to serve as a call for public facilities. Very few pedestrian plans and political support. address safety programs or efforts to encourage more people to walk. An Objectives, on the other hand, are exclusive focus on pedestrian facilities, practical tools. They specify what needs however, is much too narrow in scope. to be done, by whom, in what timeframe, Research indicates that an individual’s and to what standard of performance. decision to walk is influenced by a They can, and will, be used to measure variety of factors, just one of which is success throughout the implementation the availability of pedestrian facilities. phase. You should have objectives for Therefore, a plan that only addresses each element of your program including pedestrian facilities will probably not education, enforcement, engineering, have a long-term impact on walking and encouragement. levels in the community. Pedestrian crashes are also influenced by more than Objectives need to be one factor. While the provision of safe SMART facilities is important, pedestrian and motorist behavior is a major contributing S traightforward – simple statements factor. Behavioral problems are more that everyone can understand effectively addressed through education and enforcement programs than through M easurable – an item or situation you engineering solutions only. The planning can count or observe (such as crashes) process described in this User Manual assumes that the resulting plan will A ction-oriented – the stronger the address education, enforcement, and action verb, the stronger the objective encouragement efforts in addition to R ealistic – only commit to what engineering solutions. you have a reasonable chance of accomplishing If a plan is a “road map” for reaching a mutually agreed upon destination, the first T ime-specific – every objective step in the planning process must be should have a deadline, and it should determining what that destination is. In be no farther than 1 to 2 years away other words, you have to start by setting your goals and objectives. Your goal Once you begin brainstorming, it is easy statement should reflect the vision to draft a long list of objectives. Also statement that emerged from your citizen realize that you cannot accomplish all Sample input in the planning process. The goal of these very worthwhile objectives and vision will probably be broad but immediately. That is why you should Objectives brief. It should, however, illustrate what establish some priorities for these

To install speed humps in 60 percent of all neighborhood sub-divisions within 18 months. Traffic Engineering Department To conduct pedestrian safety awareness parent presentations at 30 PTA meetings during the first 2 months of school. Community Liaison Officer of Police Department To sponsor monthly walking events in the downtown area from May to September. Chamber of Commerce objectives, again based on citizen input Be prepared for this and be sure to and practical considerations such as the balance these long-term improvements availability of resources and the level with many quick turnaround projects of political support. that will bring some visibility and support to your overall program. Once you have reached a consensus on what needs to be accomplished and the You may find that some bureaucracies order in which it should be accomplished, resist any effort to expand their you are ready for the next step. For each responsibilities or change the way they objective, you will be identifying a range do business. Depending on how your of actions that need to be implemented, advisory group is structured, rejection assigning responsibility for implementing of an action item may or may not these actions, and estimating the permanently eliminate the strategy. If resources that they will require. This your advisory group operates under a task can quickly overwhelm a group that government umbrella, then you may not is trying to deal with an entire plan as a be able to include in your plan any items single entity. Many communities find that that are opposed by any government this is the time to form task forces and agency. If your organization operates subcommittees, each of which is assigned completely outside of the government, one or more program objectives. Each with only representation of these agencies, of these task forces should include some you can continue to include an item that individuals with professional background has been rejected by an agency, and take in the disciplines involved. You should your appeal directly to the city council have a traffic engineer on the facilities or mayor’s office. Remember that in the task force, a police officer on the future, however, you need the support enforcement task force, etc. of every involved agency in order to achieve your overall goal of a more These task forces are responsible for walkable community. identifying a range of actions for each objective. At the start of this effort, they Once responsibility has been assigned should brainstorm as many strategies as (and accepted) for each of the action they can, without regard to practicality. items, the task forces must also identify This list can then be scaled down for the funding requirements for each action practical considerations such as funding, and some potential sources of these citizen reactions, and time constraints. funds. This should involve working with It is then necessary to do a reality check. the responsible agency or organization Who is the individual or group that will to develop reasonable cost estimates and likely assume responsibility for carrying to learn how these types of projects are out the action item? How long does it take funded. You will need to be sensitive to to implement a project of this magnitude? the other programs that are supported This is where your representatives of by these organizations. Pedestrian safety government agencies come in very handy. may not be that agency’s top priority, They can check with their organization and they may not be eager to divert on the likelihood that an action item could funds from priority programs to fund be carried out and how it can fit into the your advisory group’s project. It will on-going activities of the organization. be important for you to become familiar Timing is also a major factor. Large-scale with the various funding sources that can traffic engineering projects must be be used to support pedestrian projects. inserted into a lengthy funding cycle These funding sources are described in that might delay implementation of a top the Pedestrian Safety Toolkit priority facility project for several years. Resource Catalog. In order for your task forces to carry out source, and should develop strategies for these functions, it may be necessary, and securing the maximum funding possible. desirable, to provide training to your task Because government funding has limits, force members so that they are familiar the advisory group can also seek with the state of the art practices in other funding for education and pedestrian safety and walkability, and encouragement initiatives. so that they can tap into the network of pedestrian specialists working at all levels A final note on the planning process— of government and in the private sector. the action plan document that you create A variety of courses have been developed should always be viewed as a working to address these. Some of them are listed document. It is a tool to guide in the resources section that follows. implementation; it is not an end in itself. Therefore, you should not resist It is important to remember to keep the making changes as more information general public involved in the planning becomes available or as new priorities process. Many decisions can be made emerge. Instead, you should view these during this stage. The public is more changes as opportunities to keep the likely to support the decisions that are plan relevant and alive. made if they are included in the decision- making process. You will want to continue the some of the techniques discussed in Key Resources Gathering Data, such as public hearings, for Success focus groups, and charettes, to test ideas that emerge from your planning efforts and Training is an essential element of the to generate new options for consideration. planning process. Here are several courses that you might want take The final two activities that are conducted advantage of. during this step are securing approval for the plan and obtaining the necessary Bicycle and Pedestrian Planning resources. The nature of the approval under the Intermodal Surface process will depend on the structure Transportation Efficiency Act of your advisory committee and how (FHWA R&T) it relates to your local government. The more public the approval process, the better. While approval does not Pedestrian and Bicyclist Safety guarantee that you will actually and Accommodation Training implement everything in the plan, (FHWA R&T) lack of approval will make it difficult to accomplish anything. The Training Needs of Who actually seeks funding will also Transportation Professionals depend on the structure of your local Regarding the Pedestrian government. Much of the financial and Bicyclist (FHWA R&T) resources that will be used will include federal funding, which has restrictions on who can apply for it and how the money is spent. While your advisory committee may not be in a position to actually secure funding, it should have an in-depth understanding of the restrictions and requirements associated with each funding Implementing Your Program

Implementing Your Program

• Coordinating with the planning Overview office to update policies, ordinances, This is the stage which you have been and standards working towards all along. During implementation, your community • Monitoring citizen reactions program will be improving pedestrian facilities, teaching children how to cross The implementation stage will probably the street, enforcing traffic safety laws, never end. As you complete the items and encouraging the public to walk included in your Phase I action plans, more frequently. However, it will not be they will likely be replaced by longer- enough to merely improve the walking term strategies scheduled for Phase II. environment. You will also need to During the next stage, Evaluating and make sure that the media and the public Revising, you will identify which know about all the improvements that strategies were more effective than you are making. This will mean holding others and which need to be modified a kick-off media event to announce your and re-initiated. plans, and regular press conferences and media events to keep everyone informed Details about the progress you are making. It is true that not every action plan is able to be implemented in its entirety. During this stage you and your Some plans were too optimistic in their committee will be conducting a wide projections. Others failed to include range of activities, depending on your input from critical players. Many approved plan. These activities will underestimated the costs involved. probably include: Several plans failed to plan for implementation. Don’t let your plan • Conducting program kick-off fail to reach implementation. If you media event followed some of the guidelines • Coordinating with engineering to presented earlier, your plan’s success implement a facilities improvement rate will be much higher. program As the objectives begin to be • Implementing a public information implemented by the designated agencies program and organizations, your advisory group • Coordinating with the local schools will begin to take on a different role. to implement a traffic safety This role might involve media liaison, education program public information, or special events. Whatever the role, it is important that • Coordinating with the police to your organization have a legitimate implement a pedestrian safety reason to stay in touch with all of the enforcement program organizations involved and to encourage • Implementing walking them to follow the plan. encouragement program You will probably find that the individual might bring the media out to the site of implementing agencies make some a proposed new pedestrian facility, or minor, and possibly major, adjustments stage a demonstration of a traffic safety to the projects being implemented. This education program that you plan to put is to be expected and is not a problem, as into the schools or initiate a “Walk a long as they keep the objectives in mind. Child to School” event to encourage Tailoring a project increases the agency’s walking in the community. The event is buy-in of what is being done, which marking the beginning of a “new day increases the likelihood that they will for pedestrians” and should be geared continue to stay involved in pedestrian toward this bright vision for the future. issues. You need to speak up, however, if You should supply the media with a they radically change the target audience, broad schedule of what types of things the message or program being delivered, will be happening in the community or the schedule for completion. You will over the ensuing months to make a safer, also need to encourage the implementing pedestrian-friendly environment. agencies to collect and maintain the type of data you will need to measure success. After the kick-off event you will want to This means keeping good records of stay in close contact with the media and the number of presentations delivered, invite them to a variety of activities that citations issued, and traffic signals are newsworthy. Since your plan should modified. It is very difficult to go back encourage walking as part of its overall and try to reconstruct this information goal, you should have identified a variety after the work is completed. of strategies, such as street festivals and community walks, that will be A recurring theme throughout the implemented on a regular basis to implementation phase, and throughout encourage people to walk. These are ideal this User Manual, is keeping the media events for involving the media over the informed. Active support by the media course of your program. Other good can almost guarantee success for even events for media involvement include modest efforts. On the other hand, media school-based education programs, apathy or opposition can defeat even the pedestrian enforcement activities, public most well-designed and managed project. hearings on changes to ordinances and This is why it is so important to include policies (as long as you can ensure that media representatives on your advisory there is strong citizen turn-out), and committee, and to use them to design ribbon-cutting type events for new strategies to keep pedestrian issues in facilities or traffic calming measures. the public eye. You will also want to work with the A critical element of the implementation editorial staff at your local media outlets phase will be a kick-off media event. It to gain their commitment to speak out in should involve all of the agencies and support of your program initiatives. organizations involved in the advisory Many citizens do not pay attention to committee, as well as other organizations talk about future plans. They only take that can be brought in as partners. And, notice when something happens that as has been discussed earlier, it should affects them directly. This might occur involve walking. While most of your when they receive a ticket for speeding media efforts up to now have involved through a school zone or when speed making the public and the media humps are installed on their favorite aware of all of the problems that face commuter route. If they start speaking pedestrians, your kick-off event should out, you want the media on your side take a more positive tone with the focus during these debates. on how things will be improving. You It is important to recognize that even though you involved the public Key Resources throughout your planning process, and for Success believed your plan reflects what the community wants, once you start taking The Pedestrian Safety Toolkit Resource action, opposition may arise. Be prepared Catalog includes a wide range of materials to lose some battles. If an outraged citizen that can be used to support the elements can influence some of your elected of your action plans. You should borrow officials, those officials may retract and adapt whatever you can before you support from some of your programs. invest valuable resources in designing Opposition does not signal a complete materials and programs from scratch. rejection of pedestrian issues. It is important, however, to negotiate when opposing views arise.

Be careful when entering negotiations. If the issue in dispute is so fundamental that it jeopardizes the success of your entire program, then you must mobilize your support and fight to defend the principles at stake. In many cases, however, it will be better to isolate the object of controversy, negotiate a compromise, and move on with the rest of your program. Don’t give up on the concept, though. You probably just need to wait for a better time, possibly after you have had the chance to do more education about the benefits of these program initiatives or strategies.

For each action included in your plan, there is a correct way and an incorrect way to implement it. This User Manual cannot address all of the “do’s” and “don’ts” of program implementation. It is important, therefore, that you provide key players with as much training as you can on how to design and implement their programs. You should also connect them to the network of professionals dealing with pedestrian programs, so that they can share ideas and find solutions to the problems that arise. Remember to use resource materials, newsletters, conferences, and workshops in your training and problem solving sessions.

Evaluating & Revising

• Making adjustments to Phase I and Overview Phase II implementation plans While evaluation frequently is shown as the last stage of the program development, it must be considered from Details the very beginning. As you establish The essence of evaluation is determining your goals and objectives during the if you accomplished the goals you planning stage, you should also determine established. To do this, you will have to the measures you will use to assess your document what happened, and then you success. While you are implementing can relate that to the specific goals and your program, you must put in place objectives you established during the mechanisms for obtaining feedback planning phase. Many program planners from the public on how the individual undermine their evaluation efforts before elements of your program are working. they even begin because they fail to And finally, you must do something establish clearly defined measures of with the information you gather. This success during their planning process. might include dropping or revising If you have followed the process as certain strategies, and adding new ones. described in this User Manual, however, This means you will be revising your you will have already developed your plan and implementing new program performance measures. strategies. Before we begin a discussion of how to The specific activities you should be evaluate your program, we would like conducting during this step will depend to recommend that you consider seeking on the programs that you are evaluating. assistance from evaluation specialists as They are likely to include the following: you design and implement your evaluation effort. You could try to solicit evaluation • Determining performance measures assistance from a local college or university or others in the community • Monitoring pedestrian crash data who may have evaluation expertise.

• Conducting opinion polls The evaluation process essentially involves continuing many of the data • Soliciting citizen feedback at collection efforts you initiated during public meetings Gathering Data. During this step, you will be gathering crash data, soliciting • Documenting what has been done citizen input, and conducting pedestrian and what it accomplished counts. Whatever procedures you used during Gathering Data. you need to • Conducting pedestrian counts and replicate them precisely. This is necessary mode choice surveys to guarantee that you can compare before and after data and draw conclusions • Reporting results to the media about the effectiveness of your programs. If your program includes efforts to reduce of transportation they choose for each the incidence of pedestrian crashes, you trip. If you have gathered similar data at will need to establish procedures for the beginning of the your campaign, you monitoring crash data. This will entail might notice an increase in pedestrian coordinating with your local police trips. These types of data help you department to get copies of police crash determine if people are reacting to your reports or your local public health office program by actually changing their or hospitals to get information on transportation behavior. pedestrian injuries on a regular basis. You should track the same crash and A final data collection effort of this stage injury details (e.g., time of day, age of is the documentation of what has been pedestrian, etc.) you collected during done. This might sound easier than it your original data collection effort so really is. If you have designed a truly that you can monitor progress across comprehensive program, many activities multiple dimensions. The community’s will be supervised or controlled by a crash trends should be plotted against variety of organizations. One of the the timeframes during which you challenges facing your advisory group implemented any countermeasure will be staying in touch with each of programs to help you determine if the these organizations and monitoring what countermeasures had any impact on they are doing for pedestrian safety and the crash statistics. walkability. This information needs to be summarized and consolidated to present If you recall, you used citizen input to a concise overview of the scope and create a vision of a more walkable depth of your program. community. You will need to monitor citizen perceptions of how that vision is There are two things that you will be evolving as you implement your programs. doing with the information gathered You will also need to gather citizen during this step. First, you must continue reactions to the specific programs you in your efforts to keep the media implement, including public information informed about the results of your effort. campaigns, enforcement successes, and If your data indicate that more people traffic calming measures. You can are walking, bring the media out so they accomplish this by conducting public can see for themselves. If your plans opinion polls and focus groups, and by include the installation of improved continuing to hold public hearings to facilities for pedestrians, bring the media solicit citizen reaction to what has been out to a ribbon-cutting ceremony. If the implemented. You should be diligent schools are conducting a “Walk Our about the design of the data collection Children to School Day,” invite the instruments you use to monitor public media to follow a group of parents and opinion to ensure that they are giving school children on their walk. The you an accurate picture of citizen reactions. objective of all this nurturing of the media is to keep pedestrian issues as a priority Another measure of public reaction to in the news. what you have implemented will be counts of pedestrians using new and old facilities to determine if more people are walking. You can also gather these data through the use of travel diaries and mode choice surveys. Travel diaries ask people to keep track of all the trips they make over a short period of time, and the mode The second use of the information you gather during Evaluating and Revising is Key Resources to provide a foundation for fine-tuning for Success your program activities to increase effectiveness and to enhance public There are a few resources available to support. You will likely need to make you to guide your progress through the several mid-stream adjustments to evaluation process. programs that are in progress. You will also be identifying new activities that Walk Alert – A National will need to be added during Phase II Pedestrian Safety Guide implementation. In this way, Evaluating (NHTSA) and Revising marks the beginning of a new cycle rather than the end of the The Art of Appropriate original effort. Evaluation: A Guide for Traffic Safety Program Managers (NHTSA) Wrap-Up

f you have just finished more pedestrian-friendly place reading this User Manual, to live and work. Public opinion you may be wondering if polls increasingly are showing getting involved in a that people are concerned about I the quality of life in their commu- community pedestrian safety program is such a good idea. nities. They want safe places to You may be thinking that you have walk and they want a balanced much to accomplish, and that you transportation system that gives are just one person. The most them real choices among different important message that you need modes of travel. to take from this User Manual is that “You are not alone!” This manual has laid out a game plan for creating that safe walking You are the catalyst to mobilize environment with real a large group of elected officials transportation choices. It has and private citizens who want to identified a wide range of Margaret Mead make your community a safer, individuals and organizations that, with just a little encouragement from you, will devote their wisdom, time, and energy, to “Never doubt that building the community of your dreams. It has directed you to the technical resources that you will a small group of need along the way, and offered some suggestions to avoid the pitfalls that other community thoughtful, committed organizations have encountered.

The road to a more walkable citizens can change the community is clear. Are you ready to take the first step and world; indeed, it’s the only Make A Commitment? Your community is counting on you. thing that ever has.”