You have collected valuable information about walking in your neighborhood. Listed below are some suggestions for making it easier to walk in your community. Your local traffic engineer may be the key person to contact about many of the things you want to change.

But before you do, learn about ideas other communities are trying. A new concept called traffic calming is transforming neighborhood streets from roads that encourage speeding to places that invite people to walk.

	What you and your child can do IMMEDIATELY	What you and your community can do with more time
1. Did you have room to walk safely?
Sidewalks or paths started and stopped Sidewalks broken/cracked Sidewalks blocked No sidewalks, paths or shoulder Too much traffic	Pick another route for now Tell local transportation engineers or public works department about specific problems, and provide a copy of checklist	Speak up at board/development meetings Write or petition the city for walkways Gather neighborhood signatures Make media aware of problem
2. Was it easy to cross streets?
Road too wide Traffic signals made us wait too long or did not give us enough time to cross Crosswalks/traffic signals needed View of traffic blocked by parked cars, trees, or plants Needed curb ramps; ramp needed repair	Pick another route for now Share problems and checklist with local transportation engineers or public works department Trim your trees and bushes that block the street, and ask neighbors to do the same Leave nice notes on problem cars, asking owners not to park there	Push for crosswalks, signals, or parking changes at city meetings Give report identifying parked cars that are safety hazards to transportation engineer Report illegally parked cars to the police Request that public works department trims trees and plants Make media aware of problem
3. Did drivers behave well?
Backed without looking Did not yield Turned into walkers Drove too fast Sped up to make traffic lights or drove through red lights	Pick another route for now Set an example: slow down and be considerate of walkers Encourage your neighbors to do the same Report unsafe driving to police	Organize neighborhood speed watch program Petition for more enforcement Ask city planners and traffic engineers for traffic calming ideas Request protected turn signals ask schools about getting crossing guards at key locations where children cross
4. Could you follow safety rules?
Cross at crosswalks or where you could see and be seen Stop and look left, right, left before crossing Walk on sidewalks or shoulders facing traffic (if no sidewalks) Cross with the light	Educate yourself about safe walking and teach your child Organize parents in your neighborhood to walk children to school	Encourage schools to teach pedestrian safety Help schools start Safe Routes to School programs Encourage corporate support for flex schedules so parents can walk children to school
5. Was your walk pleasant?
Needs grass, flowers, trees Scary dogs Suspicious activity Not well lit Dirty, littered	Pick another route for now Ask neighbors to keep dogs leashed or fenced Report scary dogs to animal control department Report suspicious activity to police Report lighting needs to the city Take a walk with a trash bag Plant trees, flowers, and bushes in your yard	Request increased police enforcement Start a crime-watch program in your neighborhood. Organize a community cleanup day Sponsor a tree planting day Sponsor a neighborhood beautification day
Quick health check
Could not go as far or as fast as you wanted Were tired, short of breath, or had sore feet or muscles	Start with short walks and work up to 30 minutes of walking most days Invite a friend or child along Replace some driving trips with walking trips	Get media to do a story about the health benefits of walking Call parks and recreation department about community walks Encourage corporate support for employee walking programs