A Resident's Guide for Creating Safer Communities for Walking and Biking

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Table of Content

Section Six: Resource Materials

This section includes specific ways to take action, more detailed tip sheets, sample materials, and worksheets that can be used to generate and organize your ideas and efforts to improve the walkability and bikeability of your community.

Resource 1: A Quick Guide for Creating Safer Communities for Walking and Biking
Resource 2: Tips for Planning a Walkabout to Identify Pedestrian and Bicycle Safety Concerns
Resource 3: Local Sources of Information Worksheet
Resource 4: Tips for Working with Social Media
Resource 5: Engineering Concerns and Treatments to Improve Pedestrian and Bicycle Safety
Resource 6: Sample Fact Sheet: Making the Case for Walking and Bicycling
Resource 7: Sample Community Resolution
Resource 8: Tips for Traffic Safety
Resource 9: Enforcement Contact Worksheet
Resource 10: Sample "Warning" Letter to Drivers
Resource 11: Tips for Event Planning
Resource 12: Tips for Fundraising

Resource 1: A Resident's Quick Guide for Creating Safer Communities for Walking and Biking

This quick guide highlights some key activities that you and your community group can take to help improve road safety in your community. Use it to guide you through your role as an active participant in efforts to improve pedestrian and bicycle safety.

IDENTIFY PROBLEMS (Section 1)

• Document common problems using photos, video, or written descriptions. (See Resource 2 for guidance on conducting walkabouts).
• Determine the agency/organization(s) most responsible for making improvements to address specific problems in your community. Identify staff contacts in these organizations that can address safety concerns. (See Resource 3 for a resource for organizing your contacts).

ENGAGE WITH OTHERS (Section 2)

Engage with community members:

• Speak with the people in your neighborhood to identify shared interests and address pedestrian or bicycle safety concerns. (See Resource 4 for tips for working with social media to share or "crowdsource" concerns).
• Organize meetings or workshops in your neighborhood for interest groups to discuss pedestrian and bicycling issues. Ask other organizations to provide you with support or guidance.

Communicate with agency staff and elected officials:

• Contact the appropriate agency to express your concerns, provide evidence, and discuss how problems could be addressed. Follow up at a later date and record any progress. (See Resource 5 for common engineering concerns and treatments).
• Let your local planning and engineering staff and elected officials know that your organization exists and get on their mailing list, Facebook page, or Twitter feed for transportation-related matters, including meeting announcements and agendas. Attend government hearings to express opinions about pedestrian and bicycle issues and legislation. (See Resource 6 for a sample fact sheet on making the case).

Engage the local media:

• Engage the media on the issues by writing blogs, sharing videos and photos, writing to the editor of your local newspaper, or sending a press release to the media to invite them to cover an event. (See Resource 4 on working with social media, including blogging tips and posting info on YouTube and other sites).

SUPPORT OR IMPLEMENT CHANGES (Section 3)

Engineering/plan/policy efforts:

• Join or speak with your local pedestrian/bicycle advisory board or join or form a pedestrian coalition or bicycle advocacy group. Coordinate with the group to contact local elected leaders and/or transportation staff about possible measures to improve safety and to see how your organization can be involved in providing data, supporting plan development, reviewing plans, passing ordinances to promote street design that accommodates all road users, issuing a Safe Routes to School resolution, or other measures. (See Resource 7 for a sample community resolution).
• Make pedestrian and bicycle issues part of the political dialogue. Become a campaign worker for a ballot measure or bill that affects pedestrians or bicyclists. Campaign for a politician who actively supports pedestrian, bicycle, or transit goals; or find out how nominees support these issues.

Education efforts:

• Participate in a pedestrian and bicycle safety campaign and/or distribute safety information to community residents. (See Resource 8 for tips for traffic safety).
• Develop or volunteer for education programs within your schools (such as Safe Routes to School), parks and recreation programs, after- school programs, and/or churches.

Enforcement efforts:

• Understand your State and local laws that apply to pedestrian and bicycle safety; contact your local law enforcement agencies, public health/ injury prevention professionals, or traffic safety organizations to find out what is being done and what could be done in terms of enforcement. (See Resource 9 for working on enforcement issues).
• Start or participate in a community-based enforcement program. (See Resource 10 for a sample warning letter to drivers).

Encouragement efforts:

• Start or participate in an event to celebrate walking or biking, such as a Bike to Work event, Walk to School Day, or "Car Free" day, or Sunday Parkways event. (See Resource 11 for tips for event planning, and Resource 12 for fundraising ideas to support your event or other efforts).
• Organize walking groups or a cycle club in your community, or lead a historic walking tour. Walk or bike whenever you can do so safely: to work, to run errands, to go to the park, or to transit.

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Resource 2: Tips for Planning a Walkabout to Identify Pedestrian and Bicycle Safety Concerns

A walkabout (sometimes called an audit or field visit) is a useful process to help communities: 1) see/ experience and discuss pedestrian or bicycle safety issues and opportunities, 2) document concerns and needs through photos and videos, and 3) engage stakeholders and decision-makers in the conversation about pedestrian and bicycle safety. Informal walkabouts can be performed by any individual or community group. More formal audits (i.e., those that follow a standardized set of procedures) can also be conducted; these are usually performed by a multidisciplinary team of trained professionals, including engineers, planners, transportation researchers, pedestrian and bicycle specialists, and others.

Here are some steps you can take to help prepare for, participate in, and use the findings from a walkabout to improve conditions for walking and bicycling in your community.

STEP 1: PREPARE

Identify a site or route of interest – You may select a location because it is an intersection or corridor with a history of pedestrian or bicycle crashes, an "opportunity" site that may be redeveloped soon, a high-priority school or potential school site, a site identified by stakeholders as a problem area for pedestrians or bicyclists, one nearby important destinations, or the site represents a common type of concern in your community. The size of the site or number of locations you select will depend on the time and amount of resources (e.g., volunteers) that your group has.

Select a time to visit the site – The amount of time you set aside may depend on the scale of your walkabout and how many sites you plan to visit. Two hours for the full process (meeting before hand, visiting the site, and discussing afterwards) is typical. Allow more time for school campuses than individual intersections. When you select a time to visit, take into consideration: school pick up/drop off times or peak commute (if you want to be able to observe parent/child behaviors or driver/bicyclist/pedestrian interactions) and when elected officials or other important participants can attend.

Invite participants – These may include elected officials, local/State traffic engineers, local/ regional planners, school officials, public health representatives, police/fire representatives, advocates, parents and children, and representatives of pedestrians with disabilities. It is especially important to have someone from your engineering or public works agency represented, as their buy-in and expertise will be essential in discussing solutions and determining next steps. Aim for about 6-10 participants per event or site; you want a diverse and comprehensive team but a larger group gets unwieldy. In some cases, you may also want to alert the media or invite them to attend and cover the walkabout as part of a bigger story about local pedestrian and bicycle initiatives. However, be aware that if the media is present, you may get less participation from certain staff, such as the local engineer, who may be reluctant to have earnest conversations about safety concerns under a public spotlight.

Select or create a tool – There are many existing checklists, assessment forms, and other audit tools that can be used or adapted for your walkabout (see the "Example walkabout tools" section below for a few examples). Consider your end goals (what type of info do you want to collect), who will be using the tool (e.g., volunteers or trained practitioners), and the type of facility you will be visiting (school, transit stop, sidewalk section, etc.) when selecting or creating a tool. Don't get too hung up, though, on finding or developing a comprehensive assessment tool; the tool is just one part of the process to help jumpstart discussions about pedestrian and bicycle safety and access issues.

Share data – Before you go out, share details about the site with the participants. You can use Google Maps to provide satellite imagery or other types of maps of the location to show the site in relation to important destinations or the roadway network. Provide information about the development plans, existing and/or future road user needs, and the crash history if available. Often times, if police or city planning staff are part of your walkabout, they can provide details on any pedestrian or bicycle crashes that have occurred in recent years.

Gather materials – You and the other participants will need: 1) copies of your checklists or audit tool, 2) pens/pencils and hard surfaces to write, 3) phone/camera and/or video recorder, and 4) safety vests (recommended). If you have access to bicycles, you can also explore the site by bike to gain a better perspective on potential cycling concerns. Sometimes, experiencing an area by bike is the best way to understand the problems bicyclists are facing. However, using bikes during your site assessment can require some additional preparation to be sure that all participants have the proper safety gear, working bicycles, and are comfortable riding on the street of interest. Refer to the FHWA Bicycle Road Safety Audit Guidelines and Prompt Lists (http://safety.fhwa.dot.gov/ped_bike/tools_solve/fhwasa12018/) for helpful tips on preparing for a bike-based audit. Alternatively, you can bring wheelchairs for walkabout participants to use, which will enable them to experience simulated accessibility/mobility concerns first hand. However, this is not a substitute for having representatives from the disability community involved in the process.

STEP 2: PERFORM THE WALKABOUT

Perform the walkabout and identify priorities – Use your checklist or assessment tool of choice to help prompt you to think of safety issues at the site. For example: 1) are there safe and convenient crossings?; 2) is sight distance an issue for drivers and children?; 3) is the sidewalk and/or bike lane free from obstructions?; 4) do you observe any dangerous maneuvers by pedestrians, bicyclists, or drivers?; and 5) are appropriate traffic control devices (signs, signals, and pavement markings) available, uniform, and easy to understand? As you complete the walkabout, share and discuss your observations with your peers. You do not have to complete the entire checklist or form or give equal weight to all issues; instead, try to identify the most dangerous issue for road users and/or the most "achievable" opportunity and see if you can form a consensus among the group regarding the highest priority concerns. This can help you avoid the common pitfall of "drowning in data" gathered during walkabouts and instead help you hone in on key issues your group can address.

Document key issues using photos and videos – Videos and photos from a walkabout can be part of how you tell your community's story, including the challenges you face and what you want to do to create a healthier, safer community. After the walkabout, you can post videos or photos online (e.g., on YouTube, Twitter, Facebook, etc.) or share them with key decision-makers such as city council members or school board members or at community meetings or policy hearings. If you choose to make a video, here are some key tips for being effective in your presentation:

• Keep it short – Aim for a video of two minutes or less – any longer and you may lose your audience.
• Present the key facts – Answer questions such as 1) where are we?; 2) what is going on here?; 3) how is it affecting us?; and 4) what can we do about it? Be sure to speak loudly and slowly; you may have to step away from the roadway to avoid traffic noise affecting your video quality. It may help to have a high-profile person (e.g., mayor, council member, police chief, etc.) be the one filmed in the video, while another walkabout participant does the filming.
• Be comfortable with the technology – Take a practice try first, have a steady hand, move the camera slowly, and replay the video to be sure the speaker is audible. If you have the time and expertise, you can edit your video (there are a number of software programs available) to give it a more polished look, such as adding an introduction slide or smooth transitions.

For example walkabout videos, and how the experience was shared in a community newsletter, visit: http://bit.ly/1BpACVV.

STEP 3: FOLLOW UP

Reflect and discuss next steps – After the walkabout has been performed, talk with the group about: 1) what safety issues were observed?; 2) what improvements do you think are needed?; 3) what barriers/obstacles might exist to hinder making those improvements?; and 4) what opportunities exist to facilitate making the improvements? Document this discussion and create a findings report or memo to circulate to participants and decision-makers. You can also share your findings, photos, and videos using social media or other communications channels (see Resource 4 for details on using social media).

Continue follow-up – Depending on the next steps that you discuss, allow time for the walkabout participants to begin taking action, but be sure to follow up with group members at some point. Find out where progress is being made, what the schedule for treatments is or what obstacles need to be addressed first, and how your group can best lend support to implementing programs or treatments to improve safety.

EXAMPLE WALKABOUT TOOLS

The tools and guidebooks listed below can help you identify and document concerns and better advocate for changes in your neighborhood through this process.

General Tools

• PBIC Walkability and Bikeability Checklists – Evaluate a neighborhood's walkability and bikeability and identify both immediate answers and long-term solutions to a neighborhood's problems.
  http://bit.ly/1zfJSeL – Walkability
  http://bit.ly/13gHcTl – Bikeability
• Bike Friendly Community Assessment For Teens and Walk-Friendly Community Assessment for Teens – An adaption of the above Walkability and Bikeability checklists, these tools are designed for youth-led assessments.
  http://1.usa.gov/1vJa5O2 –Walk
  http://1.usa.gov/1DnoMAj – Bike
• AARP Sidewalks and Streets Survey – Adapted from PBIC's Walkability Checklist and focusing on older pedestrians, this toolkit is designed so that communities can make walking safer by teaching small groups to take simple walkability surveys and to take recommended actions for community improvements.
  http://bit.ly/1AtpDgu

TOOLS FOR ASSESSING ACCESSIBILITY

• A Checklist for Accessible Sidewalks and Street Crossings – Highlights ADA provisions for new construction.
  http://bit.ly/1AtpHg8
• Universal Design Audit Checklist (see page 212) – Tool developed by the Center for Inclusive Design and Environmental Access to assess the design of a facility for universal access.
  http://on.nyc.gov/1xZtFL7

Transit-related Assessment Tools

• Toolkit for the Assessment of Bus Stop Accessibility and Safety – Tool developed by Easter Seals Project Action to evaluate pedestrian access features and connections, assess passenger comfort amenities, evaluate safety and security features, and document information features.
  http://bit.ly/1xc5jtG
• Arlington Bus Stop Assessment (see Appendix A) – Tool to help you evaluate the location, surroundings, landing area, connections, amenities, seating, safety, and informational signage provided at bus stops.
  http://www.nctr.usf.edu/pdf/473-13.pdf

School-Related Assessment Tools

• Minnesota DOT Safe Routes to School: Neighborhood Assessment Guide – A comprehensive guide developed by Minnesota DOT to help communities assess conditions for walking and bicycling to school.
  http://bit.ly/14XKR99
• Maryland Safe Routes to School Walking/ Biking Audit (see page 12) – A comprehensive resource for examining conditions for walking and bicycling at the school site and surrounding neighborhoods.
  http://bit.ly/1tas93y

Tools for Transportation Professionals

• Pedestrian and Bicycle Road Safety Audit Guidelines and Prompt Lists – These FHWA resources can be used to formally assess the safety of bicycle or pedestrian facilities.
  http://bit.ly/1vJarUH – Pedestrian
  http://1.usa.gov/1xyP65L – Bicycle

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Resource 3: Local Sources of Information Worksheet

Use this worksheet to organize contact information for people and agencies in your community who are involved in pedestrian and/or bicycling issues.

Local or State pedestrian and bicycle coordinator

Name/Contact info: _________________________________________________________________________

Resources: _________________________________________________________________________

_________________________________________________________________________

Local or State Safe Routes to School coordinator

Name/Contact info: _________________________________________________________________________

Resources: _________________________________________________________________________

_________________________________________________________________________

Local or regional pedestrian and/or bicycle advocacy group or League Certified Instructor(s)

Name/Contact info: _________________________________________________________________________

Resources: _________________________________________________________________________

_________________________________________________________________________

Local or State safety organization (e.g., Safe Kids, Safe Communities, etc.)

Name/Contact info: _________________________________________________________________________

Resources: _________________________________________________________________________

_________________________________________________________________________

Local police department or sheriff's office

Name/Contact info: _________________________________________________________________________

Resources: _________________________________________________________________________

_________________________________________________________________________

Local or county health department

Name/Contact info: _________________________________________________________________________

Resources: _________________________________________________________________________

_________________________________________________________________________

Public works or engineering /transportation department

Name/Contact info: _________________________________________________________________________

Resources: _________________________________________________________________________

_________________________________________________________________________

Parks, trails, and/or recreation department

Name/Contact info: _________________________________________________________________________

Resources: _________________________________________________________________________

_________________________________________________________________________

School contact (e.g., board member, principal, physical education teacher, other staff)

Name/Contact info: _________________________________________________________________________

Resources: _________________________________________________________________________

_________________________________________________________________________

State DOT

Name/Contact info: _________________________________________________________________________

Resources: _________________________________________________________________________

_________________________________________________________________________

Others:

Name/Contact info: _________________________________________________________________________

Resources: _________________________________________________________________________

_________________________________________________________________________

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Resource 4: Tips and Examples for Working with Social Media

Social media, websites, apps, and similar tools have expanded the opportunities and ways that community members can send messages, share ideas, and deliver information to their neighbors and public officials. While these tools and platforms continue to rapidly evolve, the following sections describe a few key tools that you can tap into to help communicate and address local issues.

BLOGS AND SOCIAL MEDIA

Blogs and social media – such as Twitter, Facebook, Pinterest, and YouTube – have become commonplace tools for communities and interest groups to share ideas, express opinions, inform their friends and neighbors, and gather support for an interest. As smart phones become more affordable, available, powerful, and seamlessly integrated with social media platforms, the average person has a greater selection of tools available to use to take photos or videos, document problems, and instantly transmit the data to other people or social networks. These tools enable people to quickly and effectively collect real-time examples of issues, share such data with community members or public officials, and spark interactive discussions about the issues.

Examples of pedestrian- and bicycle-related groups using social media include:

• The New Jersey Department of Highway Traffic Safety created a Pinterest board on pedestrian safety to help share its visual campaign materials.
  http://bit.ly/1FaKXqQ
• The bicycle advocacy group, Washington Area Bicyclist Association, uses its Twitter feed to announce traffic issues that could impact bike commuters, promote events, and announce breaking news such as the status of local ballot measures affecting bicycling facilities or funding. https://twitter.com/WABADC

• The Alliance for Biking and Walking uses its Facebook page to circulate petitions, share photos of new pedestrian and bicycle facilities, and distribute reports and news related to walking and bicycling.
  https://www.facebook.com/bikewalkalliance
• The pedestrian advocacy group California Walks engaged local youth and other partners to create brief videos calling attention to the need for better pedestrian, bicycle, and transit facilities, which they edited using YouTube's Editor tools, posted on their channel (http://bit.ly/1wIEh2A), and shared with city councils and other decision- makers. For details on their process, which they dubbed "VideoVoice," see the case study:
  http://bit.ly/1ujHIVV.

CROWDSOURCING WEBSITES AND APPS

"Crowdsourcing" is a term for the process of gathering knowledge provided by various users through web and mobile applications. Currently, there are many websites and apps – such as MindMixer, SeeClickFix, Open Town Hall, and Open Street Maps – that make use of crowdsourcing and can offer additional ways for community members to communicate and build support or consensus for a pedestrian and bicycle project. For example:

• A community in Rockville, MD, used MindMixer to engage with the community to share ideas and suggestions for Rockville's future (http://rockvillemd.mindmixer.com/). Similarly, the City of Phoenix has a MindMixer site devoted to collecting community input on the city's transportation needs
  (http://www.talktransportation.org/).
• A neighborhood association in Philadelphia incorporated a SeeClickFix map into its website so its members could report nuisances and safety concerns, including problems with pedestrian and bicycle infrastructure (http://bit.ly/1r5frSJ). The information goes directly to the municipality, which can respond to/resolve the problem, provide feedback to the community about the status of the issue, or monitor consensus on the importance of an issue through the interactive map.

• Many communities and cycle clubs have used a community mapping website which provides a simple interface for creating personalized interactive maps, to map walking or biking destinations within the community and add photos and notes about each destination to help encourage physical activity. The maps can then be integrated into an organization's website or blog, with support and tutorials available.
  http://www.communitywalk.com

IMPORTANT CONSIDERATIONS

While social media and crowdsourcing tools can be a powerful part of community engagement, keep in mind that there may be some folks in the community who are not comfortable with these tools, have disabilities or limited access to such technologies, or require translation to other languages. Also, these services and applications may not be available everywhere (e.g., if a jurisdiction is not registered on SeeClickFix) or there may be an initial cost for gaining access to the services. Therefore, use social media and web-based tools to complement other forms of partnership and engagement that are inclusive to a broader set of your community.

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Resource 5: Engineering Concerns and Treatments to Improve Pedestrian and Bicycle Safety

Your local transportation or public works department or agency may have a number of options and also face a variety of challenges when it comes to addressing pedestrian and bicycle safety issues in your community. Understanding these potential challenges and having a sense of the types of treatments that may be available can help you to build a better dialog and be more successful in advocating for improvements.

COMMON ENGINEERING CONCERNS

"There's not a problem there."
Many agencies identify and prioritize pedestrian and bicycle safety concerns (and locations where improvements will be made) by analyzing the pedestrian- or bicyclist-motorist collision (or crash) data. While crashes are one way to determine problems, just because a collision has not recently occurred does not mean that there is not a problem. By providing evidence of your concern (e.g., photos, videos, witnesses) you will be more likely to convince officials to investigate the site and/or open up communication with the affected residents. See Section 1 or Resource 2 for more on ways to identify and document concerns. In some cases, you may have to recognize that there are other more pressing concerns that need to be addressed before the agency can focus attention on your community's issue.

"We don't have the money or budget to make pedestrian or bicycle improvements."
One common concern of agencies is: "We don't have the money or budget to make pedestrian or bicycle improvements." Having an idea of how a street improvement project can be funded and what upcoming opportunities can help you overcome this potential roadblock.

Generally, local governments have capital improvement plans (CIPs) that include the major roadway, sidewalk, and other infrastructure improvements the community plans to complete. The CIP is a multi-year list of projects that are updated regularly. Items included in the CIP tend to be fairly expensive and/or large scale and are planned years in advance. Smaller, less expensive construction and improvement projects may not be placed in a CIP, but could be considered on an as-needed basis. Federal and State funds can also be used to fund surface transportation improvements, trails, community based-projects, and pedestrian or bicycle projects and programs. The Statewide Transportation Improvement Program (STIP) and Transportation Improvement Program (TIP) are prioritized, fiscally-constrained, and multi-year lists of transportation projects for States and local areas. Find out if there are any projects currently in the CIP, TIP, or STIP that may affect your area of interest and if so, how they plan to address pedestrian or bicycle issues; if not, try to learn more about what projects may be selected for these improvement plans in the future.

Local funds such as local tax revenue or special bonds may be another option. If a special bond is passed, depending on the size of the bond, there may be a substantial amount of funding available for sidewalk improvements, enhancements around transit facilities, or integration of pedestrian and bicycle treatments at new school sites. For smaller projects, local operating and maintenance budgets (allocated through yearly budgets) can typically support short-range or low-cost improvements such as signing and pavement markings. Your organization may be able to support a ballot measure, or work with town council to advocate for additional local operating funds. An innovative approach to funding pedestrian safety improvements is to break a large project into small pieces or phases that can be "purchased" by the public. Civic organizations (such as Lions Club), youth groups (such as YMCA or Girl Scouts), retirees, health and safety organizations, or even church groups might be willing to partner with you to help raise community funds. Also, contact your local chamber of commerce to identify ways in which the corporate and business community might be able to participate in fiscal support or program sponsorship. Be sure to publicize the participation of any group that supports you. See Resource 12 for more fundraising tips.

Ultimately, residents may have to accept that there is limited funding available but there are innovative techniques and strategies that communities can undertake to help provide funding for improvements or programs identified through a collaborative process with local stakeholders.

"I'm worried about the effects of pedestrian or bicycle improvements on other transportation modes." Sometimes, pedestrian or bicycle improvements (such as changes in signal timing to allow more time for pedestrians and bicyclists to cross roads) may increase the delay experienced by other road users, such as transit riders and automobile drivers. Transportation agencies with a focus and priority on safety will usually tolerate increases in delay to other road users, so long as there is a clear safety benefit. Effectively communicating pedestrian and bicycle issues to agencies and agency officials regularly may encourage a more balanced approach to transportation engineering and planning, thus ensuring all modes, including pedestrians and bicyclists, are adequately considered in the process. Another approach is to advocate for a temporary installation of the treatment, which can enable agencies to see firsthand the benefits of a new facility and better understand its potential impact on other modes. For example, many communities around the U.S. are participating in Better Blocks programs to demonstrate new facilities: http://betterblock.org. See the Community Success Story section for more on how Memphis and other cities incorporated Better Blocks events into their efforts to improve safety for pedestrians and bicyclists.

"If we make this improvement here, we will have to do it everywhere." Transportation agencies may fear making an improvement in one location if they think they would then be required to make it everywhere, which may incur additional costs. One way to avoid this concern is to work with agencies to help them establish clear guidelines that describe when an improvement is appropriate, a method for prioritizing projects, and/or how such improvements might be funded (see the discussion on budgeting for improvements above).

POTENTIAL ENGINEERING TREATMENTS

Following are some potential treatments that your agency may consider to improve safety or mobility of pedestrians and bicyclists. Having a shared vocabulary of these can help you understand and discuss the options available, but remember that your job is to primarily identify the problems, and the engineer is ultimately responsible for identifying the most appropriate solution(s).

Sidewalk

A paved walkway that allows pedestrians to walk next to the roadway without interference from traffic.

Purpose/Benefits

• Provides safe places to walk, run, skate, and play.

Agency Considerations

• May be difficult or expensive to provide sidewalks because of topography, structures, limited right-of-way, etc.
• Some community groups may oppose the construction of sidewalks.

Common Resident Questions and Answers

Q: Will sidewalks increase crime?

A: More pedestrian activity usually reduces street crime by providing more "eyes on the street."

Q: Will sidewalks decrease property values?

A: Walkable neighborhoods often have higher property values because homes in locations where residents can safely walk to schools and other nearby destinations are desirable.

Q: Do we have to cut down trees to create space for sidewalks?

A: Sidewalks can often be constructed without damaging trees by building around significant trees or narrowing/removing traffic lanes to provide space for sidewalks.

Buffer or planting strip

A zone separating pedestrians on sidewalks from moving vehicles on the road.

Purpose/Benefits

• Makes walking along the roadway more comfortable.
• Provides space for utilities, trees, grass, benches, piled snow, or leaves.
• Bike lanes and on-street parking may also act as buffers.

Agency Considerations

• May be difficult or expensive to provide buffer space because of topography, limited right-ofway space, the need to move existing curbs, etc.
• Maintenance for landscaped buffers may be costly.

Common Resident Questions and Answers

Q: Will adding buffer space mean the sidewalk will be located closer to houses or businesses?

A: Buffer space can be added by removing or narrowing roadway travel lanes in established neighborhoods, as well as by moving the sidewalk further from the roadway.

Marked crosswalk

Areas on the street (delineated by pavement markings) indicating to pedestrians where they should cross the road.

Purpose/Benefits

• Warns motorists of the potential presence of pedestrians or/ bicyclists.
• State laws and local ordinances usually require drivers to yield to or stop for pedestrians in marked crosswalks.

Agency Considerations

• High-visibility pavement markings may help drivers anticipate pedestrians better than textured pavement, but they can be used together.
• Marking a crosswalk alone may not create a safer crossing for pedestrians due to motor vehicle speeds, visibility, or number of travel lanes.

Common Resident Questions and Answers

Q: Will adding a marked crosswalk to an intersection or midblock location make it safer?

A: A marked crosswalk does not ensure a safe crossing. Signs, signals, lighting improvements, or traffic calming devices may also be needed, in combination with marked crosswalks, to improve pedestrian safety. If facilities are in place and drivers still fail to yield to pedestrians in marked crosswalks, sometimes targeted, high-visibility law enforcement is needed.

Curb ramp or curb cut

A ramp providing a smooth transition between sidewalk and street.

Purpose/Benefits

• Makes facilities more accessible to all pedestrians, including people using wheelchairs or other assistive devices, strollers, or bicycles.

Agency Considerations

• Agencies are required to develop and follow a transition plan to bring facilities up to current Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) standards.

Common Resident Questions and Answers

Q: I see many types of curb ramps in my neighborhood. What type is the most effective?

A: The ADA Accessibility Guidelines describe required design elements for curb ramps such as landing space, specific width and slope, and tactile warning strips (bumps). Consult your local transportation or public works department for more information.

Q: Where are curb ramps required?

A: Curb ramps are required wherever there is a pedestrian crossing.

Raised medians and crossing islands

These provide pedestrians with a safe place to wait while crossing a street in multiple stages.

Purpose/Benefits

• Simplifies street crossings by allowing pedestrians to cross one direction of traffic at a time.

Agency Considerations

• May be difficult or expensive due to construction costs, limited right-of-way, etc.
• Landscaped medians may limit the ability of drivers to see pedestrians trying to cross.
• Maintenance concerns, especially in areas with snowfall.

Common Resident Questions and Answers

Q: Do raised medians make it more difficult for cars to use driveways or access buildings?

A: A raised median will not affect right turns in and out of driveways or side streets. Left turns would be redirected to a major crossing, which reduces potential conflicts and increases safety for drivers and pedestrians.

Q: What would warn motorists of a person wanting to cross?

A: Signs, pavement markings, and sometimes flashing beacons alert motorists of a pedestrian waiting to cross.

Curb extension

An extension of the sidewalk into the street that reduces the distance pedestrians must cross.

Purpose/Beneits

• Improves ability of pedestrians and motorists to see each other.
• Forces vehicles to turn slower at intersection corners.

Agency Considerations

• Should not reduce bike lane width.
• Can be designed with mountable curbs for emergency vehicle access.
• Appropriate for intersections or midblock crossings.

Common Resident Questions and Answers

Q: Won't curb extensions eliminate on-street parking?

A: Curb extensions do not typically affect on-street parking, as parking is not permitted at corners.

Q: Why aren't these installed at every crossing?

A: Curb extensions are most effective on streets with on-street parking. They are not an alternative for streets with high-speed traffic or without on-street parking because drivers would not expect sudden changes in the roadway width.

Bike lanes

Striping and symbols are used to delineate the portion of the roadway that is for exclusive use by bicyclists.

Purpose/Benefits

• Provide on-street, separated travel facilities for bicyclists.
• The presence of a bike lane visually narrows the roadway to encourage lower motor vehicle speeds.
• May reduce the occurrence of sidewalk riding.

Agency Considerations

• A bike lane should have a smoothly paved surface that is kept free of debris.
• Bike lanes should not be terminated where bicyclists are left in a vulnerable situation.
• Markings can be used to create a buffer between bike and motor vehicle lanes or on-street parking.

Common Resident Questions and Answers

Q: Why aren't bike lanes installed on every street?

A: Not every street has adequate space for a bicycle lane. A bicycle lane should be a minimum of five feet wide for a bicyclist to ride comfortably.

Q: Do bike lanes improve safety for bicyclists?

A: Bike lanes have been found to provide more consistent separation between bicyclists and passing motorists than shared travel lanes.

Shared lane markings (sharrows)

A pavement marking that offers guidance to bicyclists on where to ride while alerting motorists to the presence of bicyclists within a lane shared by both bicyclists and drivers.

Purpose/Benefits

• Help bicyclists visualize his or her positioning in a shared lane, especially when the road is too narrow for a car and bicycle to travel side by side in the same lane.
• Reduce the risk of bicyclists being struck by the open door of a parked vehicle.
• Encourages safe passing of bicyclists by motorists.

Agency Considerations

• Shared lane markings are not recommended for roads with speed limits above 35 mph.
• May be more appropriate, compared to bike lanes, on downgrades where bikes might be traveling at higher speeds adjacent to parked cars.

Common Resident Questions and Answers

Q: Why should a shared lane marking be used instead of striping a bike lane?

A: Shared lane markings and bike lanes are not interchangeable. If a road is not wide enough for a bike lane to be striped next to a motor vehicle travel lane, then a shared lane marking may be useful to help bicyclists and motorists understand where the bicyclist should be positioned within the shared lane. Shared lane markings can also be used to fill in the gap between two sections of roadway with bike lanes.

Q: Is the bicyclist required to ride across the path of the shared lane markings?

A: No, but riding in the path of the markings should encourage safe passing by motor vehicles and, with proper placement, help ensure that the bicyclist is not riding in the "door zone," where the opened door of a parked vehicle could strike the bicyclist.

Separated bike lanes

Bicycle facilities that run alongside a roadway separated from automobile traffic by a physical barrier, such as parked cars, bollards, or a curb.

Purpose/Benefits

• Provide separated facilities for bicyclists with a range of riding abilities.

Agency Considerations

• Maintaining accessibility for pedestrians.
• The need for intersection improvements, such as Photos: 1) Pedestrian crossing warning sign; 2) Regulatory Sign – Stop sign Warning Sign Regulatory Sign signaling and detection for bicyclists, due to the introduction of additional turning movements from parallel facilities.
• Maintenance issues – debris removal, snow clearance, etc.
• May be difficult or expensive to provide separated bike lanes because of limited right-ofway or the number of driveway entrances on a roadway.

Common Resident Questions and Answers

Q: Are separated bike lanes used in residential neighborhoods?

A: Separated bike lanes may be one component of a community's bicycle network, which also could include bike lanes, shared use paths, neighborhood greenways, and other types of facilities. Separated facilities are most commonly installed on high-traffic corridors where there is likely to be a high volume of bicyclists (i.e., near an urban center or university campus). However, this is a relatively new design in the U.S. and engineers are still determining the best applications. For example, they can also be used to provide connections from residential neighborhoods to transit stops, or to provide an on-street connection between off-street paths.

Q: Do separated bike lanes require eliminating parking spaces?

A: Sometimes parking spaces are removed or reassigned, but if there is adequate right-of-way, parking lanes can be moved away from the curb to create a separated bike lane and provide a buffer for bicyclists from moving traffic.

Traffic sign

An official device that gives a specific message, either by words or symbols, to the public. Examples are "Stop," "Yield," etc.

Purpose/Benefits

The two types of signs affecting pedestrian safety are:

• Regulatory signs: direct motor vehicles and pedestrians; are typically red or white. Examples include: stop, no turn on red, yield here to pedestrian signs, etc.
• Warning signs: warn drivers to yield to or stop for pedestrians; are typically fluorescent yellow- green. Includes devices such as pedestrian warning signs, in-street pedestrian crossing signs, school advance warning signs, etc.

Agency Considerations

• Local laws and ordinances must be followed.
• The Manual on Uniform Traffic Control Devices (or a State MUTCD) must be followed.
• Right-turn-on-red restrictions can help pedestrians avoid conflicts with turning vehicles. Agencies must consider the impacts on vehicular traffic.
• n engineering study must often be conducted before installing signs. Posting too many signs can sometimes desensitize motorists to the signs.

Common Resident Questions and Answers

Q: Motorists don't obey signs in my neighborhood. How are placing these signs going to help?

A: In some cases, simply installing a sign is not enough to change driver behavior or improve pedestrian safety. Signs should be used in conjunction with enforcement and other improvements that physically change the roadway environment.

Q: I don't see why a sign in my neighborhood is needed. What should I do?

A: Talk to your local transportation agency or department of public works to find out if the sign is needed. Sometimes a previously-needed sign may not have been removed as conditions on the street changed. Typical examples of this are school warning signs and bus stop warning signs. School zones and school bus stops are determined by the school district and may change without immediate knowledge of the local transportation agency.

Traffic signal

A visual signal to control the flow of traffic. Pedestrian signals let pedestrians know when they can enter the street to start crossing.

Purpose/Benefits

• Includes devices such as traffic signals, pedestrian signals, and countdown signals.

Agency Considerations

• Effect on traffic operations of changing signal timing.
• Amount of time pedestrians need to cross the street (and what types of pedestrians are crossing, such as children or older pedestrians).
• Necessity of push buttons and accessible location.

Common Resident Questions and Answers

Q: How can a traffic signal improve pedestrian safety?

A: Having more time to cross a street, giving pedestrians a head-start, or timing a signal so vehicles cannot turn while pedestrians are crossing the road can all improve pedestrian safety. Consult your local transportation or public works department to see if improvements at particular intersections are possible.

Q: Why do I have to press the push button: won't I get a walk signal anyway?

A: On some streets pedestrians may have to push the button to get a signal that gives them enough time to cross the street. Talk with your traffic engineer about the pros and cons of having a push button to activate the signal versus automatically including the walk signal.

Pedestrian hybrid beacon

An overhead beacon that assists pedestrians at crossing locations that do not have a traffic signal.

Purpose/Benefits

• Warns and controls traffic at marked crosswalks that do not have a traffic signal.

Agency Considerations

• Best suited for multi-lane, higher speed or volume roadways where there is the need to provide occasional pedestrian crossings (e.g., schools, trails, transit stops, etc.).
• Must include a marked crosswalk and pedestrian signals.
• May be appropriate where traffic signals are not warranted.

Common Resident Questions and Answers

Q: How is the pedestrian hybrid beacon different from a traffic signal?

A: The beacon rests dark until a pushbutton or detector is activated by a pedestrian or bicyclist. The beacon does not have a green indication, but uses alternately flashing and solid amber and red beacons. Similar to a traffic signal, drivers will get a red indication while pedestrians get a WALK signal. However, during the flashing don't walk interval, drivers will get a flashing red indication allowing them to proceed after stopping if they are not in conflict with the crossing pedestrians. Pedestrian hybrid beacons can be used at corners and at midblock locations, like where a trail crosses a roadway and continues on the other side.

Rectangular rapid flashing beacon (RRFB)

A bright, irregularly flashing beacon that is placed at crosswalks without stop signs or traffic signals to warn drivers about the presence of crossing pedestrians.

Purpose/Benefits

• Supplements standard crossing signs by providing a high-visibility, strobe-like warning to drivers when pedestrians use a crosswalk.

Agency Considerations

• Good for two-lane streets, but less well-suited for multilane roadways.
• If there is a median refuge or other type of median, a beacon should be installed in the median rather than the far-side of the roadway.
• The flashing pattern can be activated with pushbuttons or with automated pedestrian detection.
• Using solar power can simplify the installation.
• RRFBs should not be used in conjunction with stop or yield signs, or with traffic signal control.

Common Resident Questions and Answers

Q: How effective is this in getting drivers to yield?

A: Several studies have shown that RRFBs, in the appropriate context, are more effective in getting drivers to yield to pedestrians in marked crosswalks than other treatments such as in-street "Yield to Pedestrian" signs, overhead signs, or in-pavement flashing lights.

Q: Will the bright lights be flashing 24/7?

A: An RRFB is different from a standard flashing beacon because it is only activated when a pedestrian is automatically detected or presses a pushbutton. If the beacon was flashing all the time, drivers may become accustomed to the lights and less likely to detect when a pedestrian is there or not.

Traffic calming

Physical changes to a street to encourage drivers to drive slowly or to discourage cut-through traffic.

• Improves safety for pedestrians and bicyclists, as well as drivers.

Agency Considerations

• Street type – usually applied only to minor streets.
• Potential effect on nearby streets – installing traffic calming on one street may divert more traffic to other residential streets.
• Some traffic calming devices may limit emergency vehicle access or negatively affect the comfort of bicyclists.

Common Resident Questions and Answers

Q: Why can't we just install stop signs at every intersection to slow traffic?

A: Residents often believe that stop signs are the best way to reduce traffic speeds. Using too many stop signs can breed disrespect for signs among drivers and lead to increased running of stop signs and higher speeds between stops. Certain conditions must be met before stop signs should be added as an effective solution for controlling traffic. For a summary of traffic studies conducted on this topic visit: http://bit.ly/1wj7jE3

Q: Won't installing speed humps slow down traffic?

A: You may first think of a speed hump when thinking about slowing down traffic. Consideration must, however, be given to the impact on:

• Noise level
• Emergency vehicle, school bus, and transit service access
• Bicycle access

Road diet

Narrowing or eliminating travel lanes on a roadway to make more room for pedestrians and bicyclists.

Purpose/Benefits

• Reduces motor vehicle speed.
• Provides more space for pedestrian and bicycle facilities.
• Improves safety for all road users.

Agency Considerations

• The road must adequately accommodate traffic flow.
• Extra lanes can be converted to bike lanes, on- street parking, a raised median, or buffers.
• A road diet may divert traffic to a nearby street or neighborhood.

Common Resident Questions and Answers

Q: Won't this cause more traffic congestion?

A: A road diet can't be applied to every street. Road diets are most effective where traffic volumes can be accommodated with fewer lanes. When applied appropriately, traffic will remain relatively unchanged.

Overpasses/underpasses

A street crossing separating pedestrians and bicyclists from motor vehicle traffic (i.e., bridge or tunnel).

Purpose/Benefits

• Provides a safer street crossing for pedestrians and bicyclists when an on-street crossing is not possible.

Agency Considerations

• Both overpasses and underpasses are typically very costly.
• Most effective in areas where topography enables more direct paths for bicyclists and pedestrians.
• Crossing level area may have right-of-way issues because of ADA requirements for gradual ramps.
• Must consider security and lighting of separate pedestrian or bicyclist route.

Common Resident Questions and Answers

Q: Why aren't overpasses or underpasses always used for dangerous street crossings?

A: Overpasses and underpasses are not the right solution for every dangerous crossing. Not only can they be expensive, but sometimes it is better to make the crossing safer at the roadway level. If overpasses/underpasses require pedestrians and bicyclists to travel out of their way, the crossing is often not used. To ensure pedestrians and bicyclists use an overpass or underpass, it must provide an easy and direct path to key destinations.

Q: Aren't underpasses unsafe?

A: Residents sometimes voice concerns about the security of an underpass. Design elements can be considered to make them more secure: 1) underpasses should be straight to eliminate hiding places and so users can see the "light at the end of the tunnel"; 2) they should be as short and wide as possible and open so pedestrians and bicyclists don't feel trapped; and 3) they should be well-lit.

Photo: Street lights

Street lighting

This illuminates the roadway and intersections to help motorists see other motor vehicles and pedestrians crossing the roadway.

Purpose/Benefits

• Makes streets more secure and inviting for pedestrians at night.

Agency Considerations

• Challenges and costs to install and maintain lighting. Potential right-of-way constraints or environmental factors.
• Lighting should be consistent and free of dark spots.

Common Resident Questions and Answers

Q: Will lighting increase pedestrian activity?

A: Lighting may help pedestrians feel safer and more secure, which may mean more people will walk. More "eyes on the street" can help deter criminal activity.

Q: Will new lighting destroy the character of our neighborhood?

A: Some residents may be concerned about lighting and its impact on the nature of the neighborhood. There are many options for lighting design including height, direction, and luminosity that can be tailored to fit the community.

Temporary walkways

These provide pedestrians with designated routes along a construction site when sidewalks and other pedestrian travel ways have been closed.

A Stable, Temporary Curb Ramp

Purpose/Benefits

• Provide appropriate signs and facilities (such as stable curb ramps or sheltered pathways) during construction to maintain pedestrian access.

Agency Considerations

• Agencies may favor a shorter construction schedule over providing more convenient paths to minimize costs and impacts on the community.
• Available (or lack of ) right-of-way may affect location of alternate paths.
• Paths may change frequently because of construction activities.

Common Resident Questions and Answers

Q: I have to walk through a construction zone every day and it changes almost as frequently. How can I anticipate my walking route?

A: Construction firms are required to submit traffic control plans that specify how they will maintain pedestrian and motor vehicle access. These will be on file with your local transportation agency or department of public works.

Q: What do all these signs in construction zones mean?

A: Construction signs usually warn motorists, bicyclists, and pedestrians of changes in the street environment. All signs must be prominently displayed in advance of the hazard.

FOR MORE INFORMATION

For more details on common pedestrian and bicycle treatments, visit the following resources:

• PEDSAFE: Pedestrian Safety Guide and Countermeasure Selection System http://www.pedbikesafe.org/PEDSAFE/
• BIKESAFE: Bicycle Safety Guide and Countermeasure Selection System http://www.pedbikesafe.org/BIKESAFE/
• FHWA Office of Safety Proven Safety Countermeasures http://safety.fhwa.dot.gov/provencountermeasures/

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Resource 6: Sample Fact Sheet: Making the Case for Walking and Bicycling

Here are some points you can use when talking to elected leaders, neighbors, or others about why it is important to make your community safe and inviting for bicyclists and pedestrians:

1. It could save lives – Making streets safer for pedestrians and bicyclists, the most vulnerable people on the road, usually makes the roads safer for everyone. Biking and walking comprise a small share of total trips, but unfortunately bicycle and pedestrian crashes account a disproportionate share of all traffic fatalities – 15 percent or more in many communities – and more attention is needed to help save lives.
2. People need options – People who walk, bike, or take transit often cannot drive or can't afford to drive, such as children and adolescents; people with physical, visual, and mental disabilities; people with financial constraints; people who are temporarily disabled; and many older adults. In many communities, more than a quarter of households do not have access to a car. Households with an annual income of less than $25,000 are nine times more likely to have no car than households with incomes of greater than $25,000. For these individuals in particular, safer conditions for walking and bicycling are critical in order to access healthcare, jobs, schools, and other destinations.
3. It's good for businesses and local economies – Providing pedestrian and bicyclist access to retailers and commercial centers provides economic benefits and can promote tourism and further economic development. W hen people save money on their travel costs by walking or biking, they have more money to spend on local businesses. Communities have found that bicycle and pedestrian projects create more jobs than traditional highway projects; people on bikes are more likely to make repeat trips to local shops; and that proximity to trails can increase property values.
4. Biking and walking can improve health – Regular walking and/or biking can aid in weight loss; lower blood pressure; improve cholesterol, blood sugar, immune system function, and insulin dynamics; prevent bone-loss; reduce the risk of coronary heart disease, stroke, and other chronic diseases; and improve mood and mental performance. States with higher rates of bicycling and walking to work also have a higher percentage of the population meeting recommended levels of physical activity and lower rates of certain chronic diseases. Additionally, walking and biking can save individuals and communities money by reducing health care costs. Researchers have estimated that the annual healthcare cost of physical inactivity is $544 per person. However, one-third of transit users achieve the recommended amount of physical activity simply by walking to and from transit stops.
5. Walking and biking can reduce the demand for (and cost of) new roadways – Many streets carry more traffic than they were designed to handle, resulting in gridlock, wasted time and energy, and pollution. While nearly half of all trips in the U.S. are less than three miles and more than a quarter are less than one mile, as many as 69 percent of these trips are taken by car. Providing opportunities to walk and bike can help get more people out of frustrating traffic congestion and lessen the demand for costly new or expanded roadway.
6. Active travel is good for the environment – Unlike driving, walking and biking do not contribute to air, noise, or water pollution. A bicycle commuter who rides four miles to work, five days a week, avoids 2,000 miles of driving and (in the U.S.) about 2,000 pounds of CO2 emissions, each year. This amounts to nearly a five percent reduction in the average American's carbon footprint.
7. Walking and biking improves the quality of our lives and communities – Walking and biking provide intangible personal benefits (such as a sense of independence and freedom of choice), as well as social benefits (such as opportunities to interact with others and build community closeness and trust) that enrich the lives of children, families, and neighbors. Communities that have vibrant walking and biking opportunities are more successful in attracting the "creative class" workforce and in appealing to the millennial generation that researchers have noted has less interest in driving than previous generations.
8. We're all pedestrians – Whether for recreation or practical purposes, most people make several trips a day on foot, even if it's only a block or so from a parked car to the entrance of a building. To safely and conveniently get from places to their cars, buses, or trains, people need to be able to walk and bike.

For more talking points and research findings on the benefits and importance of walking and bicycling, please visit:

http://www.pedbikeinfo.org/data/factsheet.cfm
http://bikeleague.org/reports
http://bit.ly/1t7NgHU

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Resource 7: Sample Community Resolution

Here is one example of the typical format of a city resolution. This one was used by communities that pledged to support a comprehensive pedestrian and bicycle safety program in North Carolina. To learn more about the program, visit www.watchformenc.org.

RESOLUTION OF THE [Name of City] CITY COUNCIL
SUPPORTING PARTICIPATION IN THE WATCH FOR ME NC PEDESTRIAN/BICYCLE SAFETY CAMPAIGN
IN COOPERATION WITH THE NC DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION

WHEREAS, it is a priority of the City to protect human health and safety; and

WHEREAS, the City recognizes bicycling and walking as important and viable modes of transportation and recreation; and

WHEREAS, the City recognizes the importance of educating pedestrians, bicyclists and drivers on how to share the road safely; and

WHEREAS, the North Carolina Department of Transportation is leading a pedestrian and bicycle safety campaign known as Watch for Me NC; and

WHEREAS, the North Carolina Department of Transportation is seeking commitment from NC communities for involvement in the Watch for Me NC campaign; and

WHEREAS, the Watch for Me NC campaign would provide safety education for pedestrians, cyclists, and drivers through various strategies; and provide training to officers to support enforcement activities and provide information for campaign evaluation.

NOW THEREFORE BE IT RESOLVED THAT THE CITY COUNCIL, pledges in cooperation with the North Carolina Department of Transportation to participate in the Watch for Me NC campaign.

Adopted this (INSERT DATE).

ATTEST:

Name (Mayor) ________________________________________________________________________________________
Name (City Clerk)________________________________________________________________________________________

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Resource 8: Tips for Traffic Safety

PEDESTRIAN SAFETY TIPS

1. Look for cars in all directions – including those turning left or right – before crossing the street; never assume a driver will stop.
2. When crossing multiple lanes of traffic, make sure each lane of traffic is clear before you cross.
3. Enhance your visibility at night. Walk in well-lit areas, carry a flashlight or wear something reflective, such as armbands, to be more visible.
4. Avoid distraction, particularly when crossing streets, put down the phone for a few seconds.
5. Be predictable to drivers and follow the rules of the road – obey signs and signals.
6. Obey all pedestrian traffic signals.
7. Watch for cars backing up in parking lots; brake lights can mean that a car is about to back up.
8. Cross the street where you have the best view of traffic. At bus stops, cross behind the bus or at the nearest crosswalk.
9. Always walk on the sidewalk; if there is no sidewalk, walk facing traffic and as far from the roadway as you can.

BICYCLIST SAFETY TIPS

1. Wear a helmet. It could save your life.
2. Use lights and reflectors when bicycling at night – it's the law in most places – and be as visible as possible.
3. Ride in the direction of traffic. Drivers may not be looking for you if you are riding the wrong way. If you use the sidewalk or side path for part of your trip, it may be best to dismount and walk your bike. At a minimum, ride slowly, and watch for traffic that may be turning in or out at every driveway or intersection.
4. Obey all signs and signals. This includes stopping at stop signs and red lights. If the traffic signal doesn't change for you, make a report to your local engineering agency.
5. Use all of your senses – watch and listen for cars, particularly at intersections and driveways.
6. Avoid distractions such as listening to headphones or answering phones when riding.

MOTORIST SAFETY TIPS

1. Be watchful for pedestrians and bicyclists, drive no faster than the speed limit, avoid distraction, and know the laws regarding pedestrian right- of-way and about safely passing bicyclists.
2. Be prepared to yield to pedestrians in crosswalks.
3. Never pass a vehicle that is stopped for pedestrians.
4. Before making a turn, be sure the path is clear of any pedestrians or bicyclists.
5. Slow down in areas where you might find pedestrians and bicyclists, such as near bus stops, schools, trails, parking lots, and playgrounds.
6. Look carefully behind your vehicle for approaching people before backing-up.
7. Keep an eye out for people at night that may be walking or bicycling near or in the road.
8. Avoid distractions such as food, passengers, and using mobile devices. Talking and texting while driving is dangerous and illegal in many places.

For more personal travel safety tips and instructions on properly fitting a helmet, visit http://bit.ly/14XP9h0.

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Resource 9: Enforcement Contact Worksheet

LAW ENFORCEMENT CONTACTS

Chief of Police or Sherriff:_________________________________________________________________________________________________

Head of Traffic Squad: _________________________________________________________________________________________________

Head of Bike Patrol Squad: _________________________________________________________________________________________________

Key Community Patrol Officer: _________________________________________________________________________________________________

Key School Resource Officer: _________________________________________________________________________________________________

RELEVANT PEDESTRIAN- AND BICYCLE-RELATED LAWS AND RELATED PENALTIES

Speeding: _________________________________________________________________________________________________

Failure to yield to pedestrians in/at crosswalks: _________________________________________________________________________________________________

Clearance requirements for vehicles when passing bicyclists: _________________________________________________________________________________________________

Reckless driving:_________________________________________________________________________________________________

Distracted driving/cell phone use:_________________________________________________________________________________________________

Requirements for where bicyclists can ride (e.g., take whole lane):

Helmet and/or bike light requirements:_________________________________________________________________________________________________

Jaywalking or pedestrian failure to give right-of way: _________________________________________________________________________________________________

Others:_________________________________________________________________________________________________

POTENTIAL DISCUSSION QUESTIONS

• Who are the contacts in the department who are interested in pedestrian and bicyclist safety or are working on these issues?
• Has the department looked at bicycle and pedestrian crash data to identify high-crash locations, or do they have a sense of where/ when crashes are occurring?
• What enforcement measures are currently in place to protect pedestrians and bicyclists? For example, how often are drivers ticketed for failing to yield to pedestrians in crosswalks? What additional measures are needed?
• Have officers received training on pedestrian and bicycle laws, or are they aware of the training resources available such as a League Certified Instructor?
• Is the departmental budget adequate to allow for nforcement of pedestrian and bicyclist safety issues?
• Have field officers identified infrastructure concerns, and are they coordinating with appropriate departments to discuss improvements?
• Are there any officers that would be available to coordinate with us to support outreach in schools, businesses, at community events, etc.?

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Resource 10: Sample "Warning" Letter to Drivers

Following is a sample "warning" letter to drivers, adapted from the Harborview Injury Prevention & Research Center's Streets For People, Too! guide. It can be used by police when stopping drivers to help raise awareness of pedestrian and bicyclist safety needs and laws without having to issue a formal citation.

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Dear (driver):

You have received the enclosed written materials because your vehicle was seen traveling through the (insert name of community) neighborhood along (insert street location) on (insert date). The car was also observed failing to stop for pedestrians in a crosswalk [or speeding, passing too closely to a bicyclist, etc.]. The purpose of this letter is to make you aware that (insert name of community), along with several other neighborhoods, is participating in a special program to help make streets safer for people who walk and bike.

Extra traffic police have been assigned to (insert name of community) to ticket drivers who fail to stop for pedestrians, pass too closely or drive recklessly around cyclists, or who speed through this community. The intent of this message is to help you avoid a hefty (insert dollar amount) fine as well as to reduce the number of tragic pedestrian and bicyclist injuries and deaths that occur in (insert name of community) each year. More and more people are walking and bicycling, and we need your help in making the streets safe for everyone. Please read the enclosed materials (insert information about the law) and familiarize yourself with laws affecting pedestrians and bicyclists and your obligation as a driver. Pass the word along to your friends and family, too! Thank you for your attention to this message and to people who are walking and bicycling in this community.

Drive safely!

(name of safety coalition chair or law enforcement representative)

Remember… Safety is a shared responsibility!

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Resource 11: Tips for Event Planning

Whether you are bringing together community members and stakeholders to exchange ideas, support a cause, or celebrate walking and bicycling, hosting an event – such as a Walk to School Day, Bike to Work ride, Sunday Parkways event, etc. – can be a major undertaking. Below are some simple steps you can take to make the planning easier and the big event more successful.

ENVISION THE EVENT AND WRITE A PLAN

Think about the timing of the event, where it can be located (or the route a ride or walking tour will take), and who needs to be involved in order for it to be a success. Bring those people into the process early by forming a planning committee. Also consider the safety of people participating and if liability insurance is needed – this can take time to sort out, so advance planning is important.

GET SUPPORT, BUY-IN, AND FUNDING

Think about what materials you will need (giveaways, marketing materials, signage, etc.), and how to cover such costs. For example, if you're planning on hosting a cycle clinic and handing out bike helmets, you can try working with a local Safe Kids coalition or bike shop to get helmets donated for the event. For more ideas on fundraising, see Resource 12. If you are planning a large event in a public space or road, you may need to coordinate with police, schools, or town/city staff to get appropriate permits or use agreements or to have city staff provide support for your event. Consider how many people are needed to help work the event and then recruit and coordinate with volunteers. You may find volunteers through your neighborhood, local bike clubs/advocacy groups, members of your town's pedestrian/ bicycle advisory council, civic groups, or other organizations.

PROMOTE THE EVENT

Spread the word about your event in as many ways as possible. Depending on the audience you wish to reach, you can post ads in the local paper; make announcements through the school PTA newsletter; use a neighborhood or workplace listserv; post yard signs; and invite participants using social media. For more tips on using social media, see Resource 4.

FOLLOW UP

After your event, be sure to recognize and thank your volunteers, sponsors, and others that provided support. If you can, try to gather feedback from event participants and coordinators to help you evaluate successes and make improvements if you have another event in the future.

ADDITIONAL RESOURCES

For more details, check out the following event- specific planning guides:

National Bike Month Event Planner Kit
http:/bit.ly/1vwpW8s

Walk to School Day Getting Started Guide
http://bit.ly/1xccW3k

NHTSA Cycling Skills Clinic Guide
http://1.usa.gov/1qHWJ9j

City of Portland Sunday Parkways Manual
http://bit.ly/1p6cAxo

The Open Streets Guide
http://openstreetsproject.org/guide/

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Resource 12: Tips for Fundraising

Whether you are seeking funds to support a local event, raise money for a Safe Routes to School program, pay for educational/outreach materials, or other effort, there are many opportunities for finding funding and other forms of support. Below are a few ideas to help you brainstorm what may be available and appropriate in your community.

MUNICIPAL AGENCIES

City, police, recreation departments, and schools may be able to set aside funding in their operating budgets to support non-infrastructure activities or low-cost improvements. Some cities, such as Washington, DC, have local neighborhood commissions with budgets that can be used to address neighborhood issues. Ask your elected council person what options may be available, and what the process or timeline is for making budgetary requests.

LOCAL ORGANIZATIONS

PTAs, homeowners associations, or other local groups could be a resource for finding or raising funds. If you're seeking bike helmets to donate, local Safe Kids chapters often are able to donate such materials to local events. Local A A A or A ARP chapters could also have funding available if a case can be made for how your initiative relates to its goals or members.

PRIVATE FOUNDATIONS

There are thousands of charitable funds and foundations across the U.S., many of which may be willing to support efforts to improve walking and bicycling safety. The key is identifying what local opportunities exist, understanding which ones may be a good match for your goals and interests, learning about their process for applying for funding, and writing a strong proposal. To start, you can go to http://bit.ly/1zJYMth and search the Free Online Foundation Directory to locate potential funders. In many instances, your local library will have access to a more robust subscription service that can help you identify a shortlist of appropriate funders. When applying for funding, be sure to tell a compelling story about yourself and the work you are looking to do in the community and the impact you believe it will make. Also, showcase your group's ability to perform the work; one strateg y to do this is to show that you have strong partners in place and provide letters of support from your partner network. See Section 2 for more on partner formation.

HEALTH PARTNERS

Hospitals, health insurance companies, and foundations with an interest in health, such as the Robert Wood Johnson Foundation (RWJF), have been active in many local efforts to improve walking and bicycling and are a natural partner. Many communities have been able to use grants from tobacco settlements or other initiatives to improve health through walking and bicycling initiatives. Visit the RWJF grant website (http://bit.ly/1F93MbW) and talk to others in your community, including city and health department staff, regarding how your organization can partner with the municipality or others to pursue a health- related grant.

LOCAL BUSINESSES

Local businesses including grocery stores, outdoor merchandisers, restaurants, shoe stores, and bike shops – may be willing to provide funding or to sponsor an event. FedEx, Food Lion, REI, and Performance Bike are just a few examples of large retailers that have donated materials or provided support or in the past to local pedestrian and bicycle safety initiatives. In some places, the local power company has supported efforts to install street lighting. Locally-owned restaurants often donate food for meetings and/or events or are willing to provide coupons that can be printed on event fliers and promotional materials to attract participants. Franchised or chain restaurants may also be supportive, but many have more lengthy corporate processes to go through before they can proceed, so plan to reach out to them well in advance. Local graphic design firms may offer pro-bono design services, such as designing signs and materials such as fliers and t-shirts for an event, or even a website. If you are reaching out to local businesses, it will be important to show how supporting your cause, event, or improvement will be good for their business (e.g., more/healthier/ safer customers and employees, exposure of their brand, etc.). Have your "elevator speech" and specific "ask" ready before you approach them.

OTHERS

Many organizations – such as the National Center for Safe Routes to School, Smart Growth America, People for Bikes, the Alliance for Bicycling and Walking, and the Safe Routes to School National Partnership – periodically offer mini-grants and or free technical assistance workshops to support local efforts. Visit their websites or join their mailing lists to find out about when such opportunities arise.

ADDITIONAL RESOURCES

National Center for Safe Routes to School

The funding portal includes info about available mini-grants and details on local, private, and federal funding that can be used for SRTS programs.
http://bit.ly/1ujJLt1

SPARK Grant-Finder Tool Helps you locate funding for your Physical Education, After School, Early Childhood, Classroom Activity, or Coordinated School Health program. Grants can be used for curriculum, teacher training, or equipment.
http://bit.ly/1xyW0Ie

The Art and Science of Personal Solicitation A guide for seeking large gifts (of $25,000 or more) from private donors.
http://bit.ly/11CUDLN

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