Shawn Schaefer

SHAWN SCHAEFER | URBAN DESIGN STUDIO AT OU-TULSA USE THE WALKABILITY ISSUE TREE TOOL.

Walkability and pedestrian-friendly environments are often central to community design projects. How can we help community members learn to think about walkability while helping us evaluate walkability in their neighborhood. Shawn shared the Walkability Issue Tree, a tool developed by the Urban Design Studio with the Tulsa Health Department.

The Walkability Issue Tree could be used for community engagement and assessment of an area’s walkability. It could also be used as a checklist or process guide during a design process for a streetscape. It could be applied to a neighborhood, downtown, or district setting.

The Walkability Issue Tree starts with the basic question, “How walkable is your neighborhood?” From there, this one-page chart walks you step by step through items you should think about when evaluating walkability, broken into four big ideas.

Convenience: This portion of the issue tree focuses on the convenience of walking. Are there destinations like businesses, places of worship, public services, and facilities within a 10-minute (1/2 mile) walk? Is there some density of housing, jobs, or population? Does the street network include lots of connections in a grid pattern, or are there many barriers and dead ends? Are sidewalks or trails present? Can you find your way with street lights and wayfinding signs?

Safety: This portion of the issue tree helps evaluate feelings and perceptions of safety when walking. This includes the type and design of sidewalk and crosswalk infrastructure- Is the sidewalk appropriately designed to make people feel safe with the traffic volume and speed of vehicles on the street? The perceptions and appearance of the area also factor into safety. Does the area look and feel like it is safe from crime, and are there other people around?

Accessibility: While we might think immediately of people with disabilities when we hear the word, accessibility is for everyone. What material is used for the walking surface, and is it well-maintained in good condition? Are there obstructions in the walking surface like utility poles, tree branches, missing ramps, or cracks? Is the sidewalk wide enough for people to pass?

Comfort: The street can also make people feel comfortable walking. Are there protections in place that make it feel comfortable in various climate conditions like heat, cold, or wind? Strategies like trees or building orientation can help create shade or block wind. Are there places to rest, site, or take advantage of amenities like trash cans? Are there parks, transit, and public art that make walking more comfortable and interesting?