Infrastructure and Policy Change

The first step in creating community change is taking stock of current conditions and identifying specific barriers to walking and bicycling in your community. The Bikeability Checklist and Walkability Checklist are tools that can be used to begin creating an inventory of existing infrastructure and conditions.

You may also want to review maps of bicycle and pedestrian facilities in your community and check out these routes. A number of maps are included in the Where section of the site.

After reviewing the area's existing infrastructure and policies, you may want to determine a few key changes that would greatly improve the safety, convenience or enjoyment of walking and bicycling in your community.

On the infrastructure side, you might consider asking your local government to install bicycle parking at schools and shopping centers and install or improve bicycle lanes, routes or paths in heavily traveled areas.

Supportive policies are also important, and may include employer incentives and supportive policies for employees who walk or bicycle to work.

Other ideas include organizing a Walk / Bike to School Day or Program in your community, participating in Bike to Work Week or asking your representative to support important bicycle and pedestrian-friendly legislation.