Walk and bike audits are great tools to gather information about street conditions, engage community members, and inform planning and traffic safety projects.
A walk audit is an assessment of the pedestrian safety, accessibility, and comfort of a particular area. A bike audit is a similar assessment, focused on bicyclist safety and facilities. Walk and bike audits can be done as part of a planning process or to inform a specific project. Walk and bike audits can also be used as a community engagement tool where community members with little to no technical knowledge learn about street design and infrastructure while providing their on-the-ground perspectives.
Resources
Created by AARP Livable Communities with the League of American Bicyclists, the AARP Bike Audit Tool Kit is a free, 32-page, information- and image-filled guide that can be used by cycling advocates and local leaders to assess and improve the safety and accessibility of a community’s streets and paths for all users, including cyclists. The tool kit provides a step-by-step approach to observing and documenting the safe or unsafe bikeability of a location. The results of a community bike audit can educate local decision-makers and provide them with the needed data, solutions and strategies for achieving change.
The AARP Walk Audit Tool Kit outlines a step-by-step process to assess and report on the safety and walkability of a street, intersection or neighborhood — and inspire needed change. The toolkit is available in English and Spanish and includes worksheets and instructions for conducting a walk audit on your own or with a group.
