Pedestrian planning prioritizes the safety and comfort of people walking. Planning for pedestrians includes evaluating road conditions, identifying potential dangers and constraints, and developing a comprehensive network of sidewalks and walkways that are accessible to people of all abilities and protect walkers from vehicles and other dangers. With pedestrians dying at increasingly higher rates, it has become clear in recent years that privileging car-centric development has had deadly results, and a paradigm shift is necessary to eliminate traffic deaths and make roadways safer for everyone inside and outside cars.
All Pedestrian Planning Courses
Walkable City 3: The Safe Walk (A)
Instructor: Jeff Speck
Pedestrian deaths are up 78% since 2009. While car use and size are long-term issues, safer street design — like narrower lanes and two-way roads — can reduce speeding now.
Urban Design for Planners 8: Parking and Traffic
Instructor: Emily Talen
The final course in the Urban Design for Planners series addresses the automobile as part of the urban fabric. The storage of cars and high levels of congestion can be very detrimental to neighborhoods, but good design can mitigate those negative effects.