AARP Pittsburgh Announces 2024 Walk Audits
AARP Pittsburgh is announcing several Walk Audits in local communities this Spring. This collaborative effort will bring together local AARP volunteers, elected officials, community organizations, and stakeholders to assess the accessibility, pedestrian safety, and vibrancy of neighborhoods for people of all ages with a launch in Pittsburgh’s 31st Ward neighborhoods.
The upcoming Walk Audits will be coordinated by a variety of local partners, including AARP Pittsburgh, Councilperson Barb Warwick’s Office, the 31st Ward Community Action Group, the New Homestead Community Action Group, Mt. Rise Baptist Church, and residents from the 31st Ward’s Lincoln Place and New Homestead communities.
A Walk Audit is a proactive first step to help inform local decision-making by prioritizing areas in need of improvement and educating community members about the importance of street and sidewalk design.
Walk Audits are recognized as a valuable tool for evaluating the pedestrian environment. They enable participants to pinpoint specific strengths and challenges related to walkability, paving the way for targeted interventions and policy recommendations.
“The Walk Audit is an effective tool that can enhance the conditions of streets, intersections, sidewalks, and pedestrian safety for people of all ages,” says Colleen Cadman, Associate State Director of Advocacy and Outreach at AARP Pennsylvania. “By conducting a comprehensive evaluation, we can identify practical solutions to make our communities more accessible, cleaner, and safer for everyone."
These community Walk Audits follow on the footsteps of the City of Pittsburgh Mayor Ed Gainey’s recent commitment to making Pittsburgh a Vision Zero City. Vision Zero is a global movement to eliminate all traffic-related fatalities and severe injuries while increasing safe, healthy, equitable mobility for people of all ages, backgrounds, and abilities.
City of Pittsburgh District 5 Councilperson Barb Warwick has also championed local Vision Zero efforts with strong collaboration across City Council and Pittsburgh’s Department of Mobility and Infrastructure (DOMI) and is looking forward to launching this series of walk audits with residents in her district.
“We are really grateful to AARP for stepping forward as a partner in improving pedestrian access and safety in our city,” said Barb Warwick, District 5 City Councilmember. “Eliminating traffic-related deaths in Pittsburgh - Vision Zero - is a major undertaking. Walk audits like this one will help us better understand the most urgent needs in our communities and figure out the steps we can take to make walking safer for everyone.”
The series will consist of two Walk Audits. The first will commence in the Lincoln Place neighborhood on Thursday May 23rd at 1:30 p.m. starting and concluding at the Muldowney Park & Ride (Intersection of Beggs St and Muldowney Ave, Pittsburgh PA 15207). The second will take place in the New Homestead neighborhood on Thursday, June 13th at 2:00 p.m. starting and ending at the Revenue Parklet (Intersection of Revenue St and Benezette St, Homestead, PA 15120.)
Working closely with local residents, these audits aim to identify improvement areas and advocate for policies that enhance walkability and pedestrian experiences.
“The 31st Ward of the City of Pittsburgh is one of the most unique in the City. Not only is it separated from the rest of the City wards, but its 4 neighborhoods are separated from each other by heavily-trafficked roads and various municipalities,” said Ryan Herbinko, President of the 31st Ward Community Action Group. “Adding to this division both in and out of the ward, is the lack of sidewalks and safe areas for pedestrians to walk throughout the ward. As President of the 31st Ward Community Action Group, I believe it is our role to advocate for the residents of the Ward. To that end, we believe partnering with AARP on the Walk Audit will help us brainstorm how to keep people safe while navigating their daily activities.”
"AARP's walk audit will be highly beneficial to the New Homestead community. The 31st district, which includes Lincoln Place, Hayes, Gates Manor, and New Homestead, often receives minimal services. This audit will help gather crucial information to address areas needing attention, such as street maintenance, adequate lighting, safe driving speed humps, police visibility, and ensuring fire hydrants are up to code," said Tracey Bey, a resident of New Homestead.
AARP Livable Communities supports the efforts of neighborhoods, towns, cities and rural areas to be great places for people of all ages. AARP Pittsburgh and our local partners believe that communities should provide safe, walkable streets; age-friendly housing and transportation options; access to needed services; and opportunities for residents of all ages to participate in community life. AARP and partners look forward to working with city leadership, decision-makers, community leaders, and residents to ensure Pittsburgh is a safe and livable community for people of all ages.
For more information about the Walk Audits and how to get involved, please contact Colleen Cadman at ccadman@aarp.org
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About AARP
AARP is the nation’s largest nonprofit, nonpartisan organization dedicated to empowering people 50 and older to choose how they live as they age. With a nationwide presence and nearly 38 million members, AARP strengthens communities and advocates for what matters most to families: health security, financial stability and personal fulfillment. AARP also produces the nation's largest circulation publications: AARP The Magazine and AARP Bulletin. To learn more, visit www.aarp.org, www.aarp.org/espanol or follow @AARP, @AARPenEspanol and @AARPadvocates, @AliadosAdelante on social media.
