Walkability and Bikeability Audits

Communities that are walkable and bikeable are considered great places to live, work, and play, providing recreational opportunities, more diverse and active transportation options, and an opportunity to be physically active, all of which help us to improve our overall health and wellbeing. But how do we make our communities walkable and bikeable? We can start through walkability and bikeability audits.

Walkability and bikeability audits identify barriers that make it difficult for people of all ages and abilities to walk and bike. Communities can conduct audits to pinpoint these barriers and create pedestrian and bicycle-friendly infrastructure. These audits can be used to create travel plans, make infrastructure improvements, and earn Sustainable Jersey points.

RideWise can help you conduct audits in your own community by providing technical assistance, mapping a route, leading a community workshop, and providing a report on our findings. We can help you conduct audits on any scale, from your neighborhood street to the entire town. In Raritan Borough, RideWise partnered with the Raritan Pedestrian and Bicycle Safety Subcommittee of the Planning Board to conduct a series of town-wide audits, covering different neighborhoods throughout the entire borough. Results were collected and displayed in an ArcGIS Story Map, and are being used to update the borough’s Circulation Element of their Master Plan and create pedestrian and bicycle connections throughout town, including a pedestrian plaza by the Nevius Street Bridge.

You can use our worksheets below to identify barriers in your town or on your street. Share your findings with us or learn more by emailing staff@ridewise.org!

You can also watch these videos on how to conduct your own walk and bike audits: