Physical Barriers
Physical barriers consist of partial or nonexistent walking paths, poor quality walking surfaces, nonexistent or inappropriate crossing treatments, speeding traffic, high speed traffic, etc. Each obstacle presents a different level of difficulty for different pedestrian populations. For example, a road with a high volume of fast-moving traffic may present a greater challenge for children or older pedestrians than it would for the average adult. There are a variety of ways to address physical barriers to walking, namely through the three E's—Engineering, Education, and Enforcement. Visit these sections of the web site to learn more about overcoming the physical barriers and increasing the ability and potential for more people to walk.
