The District of Columbia Pedestrian Master Plan will identify a number of pedestrian safety and accessibility issues.
A variety of strategies are being used during the planning process to gather input from the public regarding their concerns for walking in the District. These include an online survey, focus groups, face-to-face intercept surveys, and a citywide public meeting.
The online survey was developed in the fall of 2006 with input from the Pedestrian Plan’s Technical Advisory Committee (TAC). The survey was available online for two months from December 11th, 2006 through February 12th, 2007. It was provided in English and Spanish, and made accessible for the visually impaired. The survey was publicized on the District Department of Transportation home page, through neighborhood listservs, on flyers distributed to public libraries with computer terminals, and through local media coverage.
Over 4,800 responses to the Pedestrian Master Plan online survey were received. The most frequently cited concerns expressed by survey respondents regarding walking in the District include:
·
· Motorist behavior; aggressive driving, failing to yield to pedestrians, exceeding posted speed limits, running red lights.
· Personal safety while walking
· Construction closing/blocking sidewalks
· Poor sidewalk surface quality and maintenance; uneven brick surfaces, inadequate snow removal, obstructions on sidewalks.
· Major corridors need the most improvements for pedestrians
It is important to note that this survey is self-selected, and the results are not statistically significant. An online survey was used to broaden the reach of public input that is typically heard in public meetings. Other strategies are being employed to insure that the concerns of communities underrepresented in the survey are taking into account.
On the following pages are summary tables and
charts illustrating the results of the survey questions.
For more information on the Pedestrian Master Plan, please visit the project
website at www.tooledesign.com/projects/dc.
Walking Behavior
If you walk in the District please tell us why and how often Columns 1 and 2: Frequently (3 or more days per week) Columns 3 and 4: Occasionally (several times per month) Columns 5 and 6: Rarely or never (less than 1 - 2 times per month)
|
I walk to reach destinations for running
errands shopping or entertainment |
3,108 |
71% |
990 |
23% |
285 |
7% |
|
I walk to the bus stop or metro station |
3,041 |
71% |
880 |
20% |
391 |
9% |
|
I walk for exercise or personal fitness |
2,107 |
50% |
1,345 |
32% |
791 |
19% |
|
I walk for leisure |
2,004 |
49% |
1,610 |
39% |
485 |
12% |
|
I walk to my car |
1,708 |
46% |
597 |
16% |
1,417 |
38% |
|
I walk all the way to work |
1,032 |
28% |
499 |
13% |
2,182 |
59% |
|
I walk the dog |
746 |
21% |
133 |
4% |
2,602 |
75% |
|
I walk all the way to school |
244 |
8% |
108 |
3% |
2,833 |
89% |
Approximately 3 out of 4 respondents walk frequently
(3 or more days per week) to run errands, shop or for entertainment
Approximately 3 out of 4 respondents walk
frequently (3 or more days per week) to a bus stop or metro station.
3 out of 5 respondents rarely or never walk all the way to work.
Almost half of survey respondents replied that unsafe street crossings are the most critical issue that people face while walking in the District.
One-fourth of respondents replied that lack of personal safety is the most critical issue facing pedestrians in the City.
Of the 14% of respondents who selected “Other”, close to half wrote in that motorist behavior (aggressive/careless driving, failing to yield to pedestrians, excessive vehicle speeds) is the most critical issue that people face while walking in the District.
Factors Making it More Difficult or
Unpleasant to Walk in the District
Which of
the following factors make it more difficult or unpleasant for you to walk in the
District? Please select up to 3 choices.
Columns
1 and 2: Choice #1 Columns
3 and 4: Choice #2 Columns 5 and 6: Choice #3
|
Drivers not stopping for pedestrians in crosswalks |
1401 |
32% |
687 |
16% |
389 |
9% |
|
Worries about personal safety (from crime) |
515 |
12% |
401 |
9% |
395 |
10% |
|
Poor sidewalk surface quality (cracks holes) |
344 |
8% |
351 |
8% |
375 |
9% |
|
No
sidewalks or gaps in the sidewalk |
291 |
7% |
185 |
4% |
180 |
4% |
|
Drivers running red lights |
269 |
6% |
516 |
12% |
327 |
8% |
|
Places I
need/want to go are not within walking distance |
261 |
6% |
203 |
5% |
208 |
5% |
|
Fast vehicle speeds |
262 |
6% |
439 |
10% |
402 |
10% |
|
Not enough
time given to cross intersections |
171 |
4% |
299 |
7% |
314 |
8% |
|
Other |
145 |
3% |
80 |
2% |
209 |
5% |
|
Heavy
traffic |
140 |
3% |
187 |
4% |
253 |
6% |
|
Unattractive/unappealing
streets (no trees large parking lots along sidewalk buildings without windows
to the street) |
138 |
3% |
218 |
5% |
310 |
8% |
|
Poor/inadequate
lighting |
126 |
3% |
247 |
6% |
191 |
5% |
|
Sidewalks
are too narrow |
126 |
3% |
194 |
5% |
165 |
4% |
|
I don’t
find anything difficult or unpleasant about walking in the District |
67 |
2% |
24 |
1% |
61 |
1% |
|
Weather |
36 |
1% |
73 |
2% |
127 |
3% |
|
Intersections
are too wide |
37 |
1% |
63 |
1% |
76 |
2% |
|
Sidewalks
are too close to the road |
22 |
1% |
42 |
1% |
55 |
1% |
|
Walking on
bridges or overpasses |
15 |
0% |
36 |
1% |
46 |
1% |
|
Inadequate
facilities for people with mobility limitations (such as curb ramps) |
13 |
0% |
14 |
0% |
27 |
1% |
|
I have
mobility limitations (poor health use of wheelchair or other walking aid) |
7 |
0% |
6 |
0% |
8 |
0% |
When asked which factors make it more difficult or unpleasant to walk in the District, one-third of respondents selected “Drivers not stopping for pedestrians in crosswalks” as the number one factor.
More than 10% of respondents replied that concern for personal safety (from crime) was the number one factor that makes it more difficult or unpleasant to walk in the District.
Of those respondents who selected “Other”, the most frequently cited factor that makes it more difficult/unpleasant to walk in the District is construction blocking sidewalks, followed by motorist behavior (talking on cell phones, not yielding, running stop signs), issues with intersections (long waits to cross, pedestrian-motorist conflicts), and sidewalk maintenance (uneven bricks, obstructions, snow removal).
Areas in Need of Improvement
Which
areas of the District need the most improvements (such as new sidewalks or
safer crossings) to improve your walking experience? Please rate each area
according to need.
Columns
1 and 2: No
improvements needed Columns 3 and 4: Some improvements needed Columns
5 and 6: Substantial improvements needed Column 7: N/A or Don't Know
|
On major street corridors (i.e. |
324 |
6% |
1,858 |
10% |
1,536 |
16% |
264 |
|
On neighborhood streets |
289 |
5% |
2,348 |
13% |
1,215 |
13% |
179 |
|
Near highway interchanges (i.e. |
173 |
3% |
569 |
3% |
1,115 |
12% |
1,983 |
|
Near bus
stops |
433 |
8% |
1,881 |
11% |
893 |
9% |
647 |
|
Near
retail/shopping centers |
564 |
10% |
1,859 |
10% |
827 |
9% |
587 |
|
Near metro
stations |
830 |
15% |
2,043 |
11% |
743 |
8% |
283 |
|
Near parks
and other recreation destinations |
497 |
9% |
1,906 |
11% |
726 |