Policy
These policies can create a broad-level framework for improving walking conditions and encouraging walking. Some of these tactics can be integrated into each other—for instance, measurable performance indicators can be incorporated into pedestrian master plans and complete streets policies—while others serve as catalysts for walk-friendly infrastructure improvements and programs.
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Establish an Executive Directive
Definition
Executive orders or mayoral directives can create or modify policies
that affect city operations. In the case of walking, mayoral directives can kick-start the creation of pedestrian action plans, pedestrian-oriented street design guidelines, and multiagency collaborations to meet safety goals set by mayors.
Guidance
- Outline a strong policy vision
- Set clear, measurable goals to keep efforts focused
- Create a strong role for advocacy groups to promote agency accountability
- Provide bold leadership at the agency level to support reflection and reform
- Provide initial and ongoing mayoral support:
- Reaffirm goals publicly
- Attend task force meetings
- Push agency heads to prioritize the directive’s goals
- Regularly evaluate progress toward the directive’s goals
- Publicly publish reports of those evaluations to foster transparency, keep the directive’s goals and progress in the media spotlight, and encourage agency accountability
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Establish an Advisory Council or Safety Task Force—or Both
Definition
A pedestrian advisory council is typically a volunteer committee of informed residents who provide guidance on a city’s pedestrian policies, programs, and plans, and make recommendations for pedestrian improvements. A task force, often created through an executive directive, is convened to develop the framework for short- and long-term actions to create safe, pedestrian-oriented public space. The scopes of advisory councils or task forces can also expand from walking to “active living” in order to include public health and bicycle advocates.
Council or task force members should include representatives from city agencies responsible for public space and streets, and representatives from other agencies that influence walking safety and policies, such as fire and police departments, senior services, utility companies, housing authorities, public health departments, etc. Members should also include community representatives, whether they are members of pedestrian advisory councils; community groups; associations for seniors, the disabled, or the medical profession; or walking-advocacy organizations.
Guidance
- Name an agency to lead the task force, and hold it accountable to meeting its goals
- The committee convener should demonstrate initial and ongoing support by:
- Attending meetings (where appropriate)
- Publicly reaffirming goals
- Applying continual pressure on city agencies to prioritize committee goals and recommendations
- Regularly report progress back to agencies and the general public
- Attend other meetings to advance efforts
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Prioritize Pedestrians in Street User Hierarchy
Definition
A street user hierarchy provides the framework for transportation policies, directing which mode should be considered first from a design perspective. A street hierarchy that prioritizes pedestrians would rank street users in the following order: pedestrians, cyclists, transit users, freight transporters, taxi drivers, and private-vehicle drivers. This policy framework also charges each street user to show increased prudence toward more vulnerable street users. The street user-hierarchy framework can also specify and standardize expected travel behavior by clearly identified zones, such as 45 mph, 30 mph, and 20 mph zones.
Guidance
The Association of Pedestrian and Bicycle Professionals specifies near-term actions to implement this policy, including:
- Strengthening and publicizing the U.S. Department of Transportation policy statement Accommodating Bicycle and Pedestrian Travel: A Recommended Approach
- Surveying best-practice policies that encourage safety and increased walking and bicycling, including U.S. Complete Streets policies, the German national bicycling plan, the United Kingdom Cycling City program, and Swiss legislation on human-powered mobility
- Developing a national strategy to improve education for transportation professionals on walking and bicycling design and planning
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Develop a Pedestrian Master Plan
Definition
A pedestrian master plan provides an overview of the walking transportation network and identifies improvements that will enhance and encourage walking throughout the community.iFederal Highway Administration Designing Sidewalks and Trails for Access. Part II of II: Best Practices Design Guide. May 2012.
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Use Measurable Performance Indicators in Pedestrian Policies
Definition
Measurable performance indicators are crucial elements of evaluating the effectiveness of a policy. Policies should specify goals and objectives for each initiative and create a set of indicators, or performance measures, that can be tracked to assess the effectiveness of that initiative. A monitoring program should also set a regular schedule for data collection and assessment. Typical performance measures include pedestrian counts, crash data, retail vacancy rates or retail revenue, vehicle speeds along identified corridors, and the quantity and quality of walking infrastructure such as sidewalks and ramps.
Guidance
- Performance measures should be:
- Quantitative and objective
- Supported by substantial evidence
- Clearly linked to plans and priorities
- Easy to collect data for, calculate, and interpret
- Linked to mitigation
- Each performance measure needs:
- A starting-point measurement with which to compare future data
- A desired trend line, or direction of the desired outcome for each performance measure, to judge the amount of progress made towards meeting a stated goal
- Evaluations should be scheduled at continual, regular intervals
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Incorporate PROWAG into Pedestrian Policies
Definition
The Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) requires ADA transition plans for jurisdictions. The Accessibility Guidelines for Pedestrian Facilities in the Public Right Of Way (proposed PROWAG) provide technical specifications required to make walking infrastructure accessible to people of all abilities. Once the Access Board issues its final rule, the Department of Justice and the Department of Transportation will adopt these proposed PROWAG guidelines as standards. While PROWAG is not yet finalized, all new and altered facilities have been required to be “accessible to and usable by” individuals with disabilities since the publication of the ADA implementing regulations in 1991. Accordingly, jurisdictions should incorporate PROWAG into pedestrian policies and plans.
Guidance
- Update the ADA transition plan as well as other relevant pedestrian policies to include proposed PROWAG
- Address all existing infrastructure, prioritizing transit access and corridors
- Require employees and contractors to demonstrate their knowledge of accessibility topics, and hold them accountable
- Partner with transit providers and require them to include accessible transportation infrastructure
- Consult with representatives from disability agencies and organizations throughout planning, design, and implementation of facilities
- Include a means for residents to suggest locations for accessibility improvements
- Ensure PROWAG are followed throughout planning, design, and implementation of transportation facilities
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Adopt a Complete Streets Policy
Definition
While traditional traffic engineering designs streets primarily for vehicles, a Complete Streets policy directs transportation planners and engineers to design and operate rights-of-way for safe access for everyone on the street, regardless of age, ability, or mode of transportation.
Guidance
- Build a Complete Streets coalition with transportation planners and engineers, public health professionals, public officials, and walking and cycling advocates and experts
- The National Complete Streets Coalition specifies that a Complete Streets policy should include the following:
- A vision for how and why the community wants to complete its streets
- The definition that “all users” refers to pedestrians, bicyclists, and transit passengers of all ages and abilities, as well as trucks, buses, and automobiles
- The specification the policy applies to new and retrofit projects, including design, planning, maintenance, and operations, for the entire right-of-way
- Clear procedures for any exceptions
- The goal to create a connected network for all modes
- Reference to progressive design guidelines
- Context-sensitive design procedures and solutions
- Performance standards with measurable outcomes
- Next steps for policy implementation
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Assess Pedestrian Projects, Plans or Policies with Health Impact Assessment
Definition
Health Impact Assessment (HIA) is a process that analyzes the potential health impacts of a proposed plan, project, or policy that is typically outside the public health realm,iHaggerty, B., Melnick, A., & Hyde, J. (2011). Transportation, Pedestrian Facilities, Bike Facilities. Pressentation at Planning Active Walkable Neighborhoods Conference. Washington.such as transportation or land use decisions. An HIA provides evidence to help health be considered in that decision-making process. An HIAiMelnick, A., Hyde, J., Haggerty, B., Lebowsky, L. (2010). Comprehensive Health Impact Assessment: Clark County Bicycle & Pedestrian Master Plan. Clark County, WA. usually suggests ways of mitigating, monitoring, and/or managing the health impacts of a project. It can also recommend project implementation or prioritization strategies to maximize the health benefits for a community.
Guidance
- Time an HIA carefully. HIAs must inform decision-makers before they make a decision. Schedule enough time for a full assessment, with flexibility to address community concerns
- Conduct an HIA only if decision-makers are interested in the outcome
- Tailor the approach and scope of an HIA to fit each identified project; HIAs can focus on broader health outcomes or the specific impacts of a project or planiHaggerty, B., Melnick, A., & Hyde, J. (2011). Transportation, Pedestrian Facilities, Bike Facilities. Pressentation at Planning Active Walkable Neighborhoods Conference. Washington.
- Incorporate relevant data, including literature reviews, primary-data collection, and stakeholder consultation
- Human Impact Partners suggests an HIA should follow six steps:
- Screening to identify projects or policies for which an HIA would be useful
- Scoping to identify the health impacts to evaluate, methods for analysis, and which populations are affected
- Assessment to evaluate a community’s existing health conditions and its potential health impacts
- Recommendations to manage those health impacts, including ways to better distribute health burdens and benefits or maximize secondary health benefits of a policy
- Reporting to communicate findings and recommendations to decision-makers
- Evaluation to track the HIA’s impact on the decision-making process, civic development, and the community’s overall health
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