Catalyzing Partnerships for Safe & Walkable Communities: Lessons Learned from the Community Pedestrian Safety Training Program

Background:

Studies have consistently documented that unsafe roadway conditions deter people from taking more active forms of transportation, such as walking and biking, and across the United States, these vulnerable road users disproportionately comprise traffic fatalities. To address pedestrian safety in California, UC Berkeley SafeTREC and California Walks partnered to deliver 27 Community Pedestrian Safety Trainings (CPST) throughout the state. The CPST convenes community members and agency stakeholders to work together to help improve safety and “walkability,” equipping local neighborhood residents with multi-disciplinary strategies based on research and best practice and providing a forum for dialogue with health and transportation professionals to develop action steps to improve pedestrian safety in their communities.

Methodology:

Twenty-seven trainings were conducted in California between 2009-2014. Training site selection criteria include statewide collision data and GIS mapping to identify communities with disproportionate injuries and fatalities; underserved communities; and local stakeholder readiness. Facilitators teach participants about advancing pedestrian safety and walkability strategies through a site-tailored curriculum, a walking assessment, and, outreach strategies for educating elected officials and health and transportation professionals. Finally, facilitated small-group planning identifies and prioritizes pedestrian safety interventions and implementation strategies.

Results:

Follow-up surveys reveal that after trainings, most sites have furthered local health and safety policies, sought and received funding to improve the built environment, and conducted broad-based programming supporting pedestrian safety from engineering, enforcement and education disciplines.