Chapter 2: Who can help me make my neighborhood a safer place to walk?
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Step 2: Build awareness and community support
Depending on the types of problems you've identified and how they affect other residents, you will likely want to talk with others in your community before taking steps to contact local agencies or other authorities. Find people with common concerns and build support for your projects. This can help you:
- Exchange ideas with other concerned residents and identify additional pedestrian safety issues. Discuss ways the community can help improve conditions for pedestrians.
- Build the support, energy, and power needed to address the problems.
- Make other residents aware of pedestrian safety issues and how they can help make the community more walkable.
- Learn from others who have undertaken similar projects and gain knowledge from past experience. Some of the skill sets you need to bring about improvements may already exist within your neighborhood or community.
Reach out to the broader community quickly and efficiently by networking with other established community groups. These could include:
- Health/fitness or walking groups, bicycling groups, and advocates, such as the American Heart Association (http://www.americanheart.org), "Walking for Fitness" program at the Mayo Clinic (http://www.mayoclinic.com/health/walking/SM00101), Safe Kids national safety group (http://www.usa.safekids.org/wtw/), America Walks (http://www.americawalks.org/)—a national coalition of local walking advocacy groups with links to local organizations around the country—or the League of American Bicyclists (http://www.bikeleague.org/).
- Service-oriented groups, such as the Boys and Girls Club, senior centers, and YMCA, or providers of services for people with disabilities, including local chapters of the Center for Independent Living (http://www.cilberkeley.org).
- Business and civic groups, such as the chamber of commerce or civic organizations such as the Rotary Club, Lions Club, etc.
- School, neighborhood, and cultural groups, such as parent/teacher groups or safety committees, neighborhood and/or home-owner associations, local colleges and universities with community health programs, or cultural community organizations such as Latino or Native American organizations.
The Links and References section in Chapter 4 contains descriptions and contact information for many different organizations that may be able to help you address safety concerns in your community. You may want to research other groups and organizations to identify ones that share similar interests, and may provide resources and support for your efforts. Someone in your community may already have helpful knowledge and contacts. After you have figured out which groups to contact, try sending an email or a letter to provide background information and request an opportunity to make a presentation or join the group's meeting.
Community Success Story 1: Community Involvement During The Planning Process
Norfolk, Virginia
In the Five Points area of Norfolk, Virginia, the Civic League of Presidents (a community advocacy group) formed a partnership to improve a busy street as part of the city's "Commercial Corridors Program." A high school, middle school, elementary school, and community center are located along this corridor. The partnership undertook a planning study to look at the design of the street and revitalize the area for commercial development.
Rather than impose a plan on the residents, the group conducted in-depth community meetings and surveys to find out what the residents wanted their community to look like. In order to develop an identity for the area, more than 10 community meetings and focus groups were conducted throughout the process, including a "pancake dinner" to draw participants. Each meeting routinely drew between 40 and 50 residents.
Residents identified top priorities for the project. The community voted a "pilot star" to be the recurring community symbol for bus shelters, light poles, etc. Residents were most concerned about having a safe outdoor space to exercise and teach their children to ride bikes, a continuous and accessible sidewalk system, and improved lighting. In response to these concerns, Norfolk is in the process of developing a local trail system that loops around the high school and community center, providing a safe and useful space for jogging, biking, and other recreation.
For more information, contact Kevin Kluzak at 757-664-4698 or kevin.kluzak@norfolk.gov.
Community Success Story 2: Networking and Building Partnerships
Portland, Oregon
At the Oregon Department of Transportation (ODOT) in Portland, Oregon, a forward-thinking manager brought together a diverse coalition of community groups to form a Community and School Traffic Safety Partnership. Included in the partnership are members representing school boards, neighborhood associations, businesses, nonprofits, advocacy groups, insurance providers, enforcement agencies, and bike and pedestrian advocacy groups.
The coalition implements a wide variety of programs, such as an interactive 30-minute sidewalk pedestrian presentation. Another innovative program is the crosswalk enforcement action program, where ODOT partners with law enforcement officers to monitor intersections, enforce driver yielding, and provide informational pamphlets to drivers and pedestrians.
All of the partner organizations play an active role in improving pedestrian safety. For example, various senior centers work closely with representatives from ODOT to address problem areas and to develop localized pedestrian maps for use by members and residents. The maps show points of interest such as transit stops, benches, water fountains, curb cuts, etc., and designate a prioritized route to frequent destinations. Suggestions for revision are solicited from residents, a bilingual explanation of signals is included, and the maps are distributed at the senior center and to local Meals on Wheels partners.
For more information, contact Sharon White at 503-823-7100 or sharon.white@pdxtrans.org.
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