Walk Friendly Communities Program Recognizes Excellence in Enabling Safe Walking
News Release
For Immediate Release
October 4, 2021
CHAPEL HILL, NC — The Pedestrian and Bicycle Information Center (PBIC) has officially launched Walk Friendly Communities (WFC), a national recognition program to encourage towns and cities across the United States to establish or recommit to a high priority for safe walking. Assessing the communities' commitment to improve conditions related to walking, including safety, mobility, access and comfort, PBIC will recognize communities that set the bar in fostering and accommodating walking. In August, the WFC program accepted nine communities to test the pilot application and the online assessment tool. The program will begin accepting applications nationwide on November 1, 2010.
"The Walk Friendly Communities program will enable unique insight into how cities and towns across the country are creatively improving walkability and demonstrating leadership in addressing pedestrian safety concerns," said Gabe Rousseau, bicycle and pedestrian program manager with the Federal Highway Administration. "With the widespread interest in the Walk Friendly Communities pilot program, we are excited about the official nationwide launch."
At the core of the WFC program is a comprehensive assessment tool that evaluates community walkability and pedestrian safety through questions related to engineering, education, encouragement, enforcement, evaluation and planning. The assessment tool questions are intended to both evaluate conditions for walking and provide communities with feedback and ideas for promoting pedestrian safety and activity. Communities that are interested in the WFC program are encouraged to visit www.walkfriendly.org to download a print version of the assessment tool.
PBIC staff will provide technical assistance to WFC applicants throughout the submission process and feedback on how to further address pedestrian issues in their community.
Walk Friendly Communities is a livability initiative jointly supported by the Federal Highway Administration and FedEx. A number of national partners collaborated with PBIC to develop and refine the program's assessment tool, which was developed with funding from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. For more information, visit http://www.walkfriendly.org, or direct your questions to info@walkfriendly.org.
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About The FHWA Bicycle & Pedestrian Program
The Bicycle & Pedestrian Program of the Federal Highway Administration's Office of Human and Natural Environment promotes bicycle and pedestrian transportation use, safety, and accessibility. The FHWA Bicycle & Pedestrian Program issues guidance and is responsible for overseeing that requirements in legislation are understood and met by the States and other implementing agencies.
About FedEx
FedEx Corp. (NYSE: FDX) provides customers and businesses worldwide with a broad portfolio of transportation, e-commerce and business services. With annual revenues of $36 billion, the company offers integrated business applications through operating companies competing collectively and managed collaboratively, under the respected FedEx brand. Consistently ranked among the world's most admired and trusted employers, FedEx inspires its more than 280,000 team members to remain "absolutely, positively" focused on safety, the highest ethical and professional standards and the needs of their customers and communities.
About PBIC
Since its inception in 1999, PBIC's mission has been to improve the quality of life in communities through the increase of safe walking and bicycling as a viable means of transportation and physical activity. The Pedestrian and Bicycle Information Center is maintained by the University of North Carolina Highway Safety Research Center with funding from the U.S. Department of Transportation Federal Highway Administration
Additional Resources:
- Walk Friendly Communities Web site: http://www.walkfriendly.org
- Pedestrian and Bicycle Information Center Web site: http://www.walkinginfo.org
- Federal Highway Administration Web site: http://safety.fhwa.dot.gov/ped_bike/
