Identify and address barriers to make streets safe and convenient for people of all ages and abilities, including those using personal mobility devices
Communities should ensure that there are transportation choices for people of all ages and abilities. Transportation facilities should be accessible and provide safe, convenient, and interconnected transportation networks. For example, children should have safe and convenient options for walking or bicycling to school.
An important step to making streets safe for all is to assess the safety and comprehensiveness of biking and walking networks in your community. Assessments help a community define their pedestrian and bicyclist transportation challenges and needs by identifying potential safety issues. This includes addressing the needs of older adults and people with disabilities, who may have unique mobility challenges. Assessments help to foster discussion about pedestrian and bicyclist safety as well create an opportunity to use and support new, existing, and planned efforts and tools.
How do we know we have taken steps to identify and address barriers?
- Team includes or reaches out to representatives who can help ensure that the needs of all users are addressed, such as older adults, bicyclists, and people with disabilities, transit users, children, and low-income residents
- Evaluated transit stops for safe pedestrian and bicycle access
- Projects are routinely checked for adequacy to meet the needs of all road users and transportation planners and engineers plan and design for the needs of people of different ages and abilities
- Provided ADA-compliant access for persons with disabilities wherever a pedestrian way is newly built or altered
What is available to help make streets safer?
U.S. DOT Resources
- FHWA
- FTA
- NHTSA
- Department of Justice/Department of Transportation Joint Technical Assistance on the Title II of the Americans with Disabilities Act Requirements
Stakeholder Organization Resources
- Easter Seals Project Action
- Pedestrian and Bicycle Information Center
- Transit Cooperative Research Program
- Smart Growth America/AARP