Planning for All Ages and Abilities Through Inclusive and Virtual Walk Audits

Presenters:
Colin Harris, Alta Planning + Design
Emily Smoak, Minnesota Department of Health
Courtney Wood, Alta Planning + Design
Hannah Day-Kapell, Alta Planning + Design

Walk audits are a common public engagement activity used in pedestrian planning, but often are not accessible to or inclusive of people with disabilities. People with disabilities are more likely to rely on walking for daily trips and may be more aware of and impacted by problems in the transportation network. Planning and street design processes benefit from incorporating the expertise of people with disabilities; when a street is accessible for people with disabilities, it is accessible for all people. The Inclusive Walk Audit Facilitator's Guide, developed by the Minnesota Department of Health and Alta Planning + Design, provides specific guidance and information on how to better include people with disabilities and to highlight disability in walk audits so that planning processes are more inclusive.