Taking It To The Streets: Improving Pedestrian Safety

How walkable are New York State’s communities?

AARP New York is launching a series of walk audits around the state from November 14 to November 22 to evaluate how safe our streets are for pedestrians. You too can conduct your own walk audit. Read on for more information about walk audits and how you can be part of this project.

What is a Walk Audit?

A walk audit is an activity in which participants observe and evaluate the walkability of a location. Using our simple form, you can document if and how pedestrians can safely travel along a street or navigate an intersection.

The walk audits take less than an hour to do, but the information captured can make a huge impact. We want our crosswalks and intersections to be safe in New York. Too many communities are designed exclusively for vehicles, with little concern for pedestrian safety. Our goal is to highlight ways that a community can improve its walkways to enhance pedestrian safety, improve accessibility and promote healthy lifestyles.

Why do a Walk Audit?

Ultimately, AARP Walk Audits can empower community members and local leaders to become change agents. If you choose to conduct your own walk audit, you can provide the information to local officials, like your mayor, town supervisor or state representative.

Who can do a Walk Audit?

Anyone!

We will be organizing the walk audits in a variety of ways: AARP-hosted walk audits with volunteers and staff, with community groups leading their own walk audits, and with individuals conducting their own at their convenience.

We also invite like-minded organizations to join us or conduct their own walk audits during this period to build public awareness.

· Conduct your own walk audit. If you’d like to complete your own walk audit, click below to download the worksheet as a PDF. Use it as a guide to assess the safety of the intersection and take pictures of any trouble spots. Then when you’re done, please scan and email your results to nyaarp@aarp.org OR fill out this online form, where you can directly input your findings: Report Your Findings!

· AARP Walk Audit Tool Kit Worksheet

What happens to the audits after they are conducted?

AARP New York will compile all the data collected as we explore opportunities to increase pedestrian safety in New York State. We also encourage everyone who participates to share their findings with local elected officials to advocate for change.

Walk audits take less than an hour to complete, but they can make New York’s roads and streets safe for all ages!

Walk Audit How-To

1. Download the form: AARP Walk Audit Tool Kit Worksheet

2. Invite friends and neighbors to join you.

3. Gather information about the sidewalks, the street and any crossing signals. Be sure to take some pictures along the way!

4. Share images or videos on social media using the hashtag #WalkSafeNY and tagging @AARPNY.

5. Scan and submit the form and any photos to nyaarp@aarp.org or simply fill in this online form: Report Your Findings!

6. Share your findings with local leaders in your community.

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