Memphis Walkability Toolkit

Thanks to Our Partners

This Walkability Toolkit was developed through a

partnership between Livable Memphis, the Memphis

Center for Independent Living and the Memphis

Regional Design Center (now the University of

Memphis Design Collaborative) to equip community

members with a specific tool to measure the

accessibility of sidewalks to all members of society.

Funding and assistance from America Walks was integral in developing and testing of the toolkit.

Purpose of the Walkability Toolkit

This toolkit is meant to assist neighborhood

associations, CDCs, and/or community volunteers

who want to improve the conditions of sidewalks in

their communities.

The toolkit works best when the survey is followed

by a targeted campaign to advocate for sidewalk

and other pedestrian improvements.

This toolkit also contains advocacy strategies for

repairing and maintaining sidewalks in your

neighborhood.

Components of the Toolkit

Why Does Walkability Matter?

Assessing Pedestrian Infrastructure & Walkability

What to Look For

Assessment Checklist

Available Mobile Apps

See Click Fix – Memphis 311 App

Memphis Parcel Survey App (for Sidewalks)

Requires an organizational account

Advocacy Tools for Sidewalk Repair

Draft Letters to Property Owners & Reporting Tools

Property Owner’s Guide to Sidewalk Maintenance

Repair Resources

Local Contacts and Contractors

Walkability: Why?

SafetyHealth &

Well-Being

Equity &Economics

Sustainability

Walkability

&

Livability

Walkability: Safety

Every year there are between 300-400 pedestrian injuries and between 10-20 pedestrian fatalities in Memphis. Many of these injuries involve children and are preventable.

Transportation for America’s Dangerous by Design 2014 report ranks Memphis #5 of the most dangerous large metros, based on T4A’s Pedestrian Danger Index.

Walkability: Safety

The Memphis

Pedestrian &

School Safety

Action Plan,

completed in

2015,

analyzed

citywide crash

data to help

prioritize

pedestrian

improvement

projects.

Between 2007-2011, there were 1,800 pedestrian crashes in Memphis, including 75 fatalities.

Walkability: Health & Well-Being

The 2012 “F as in Fat,” a report funded by the Robert Wood Johnson Foundation, predicts

that by 2030, Tennessee will have an obesity prevalence rate of 63.4%, placing us as one of

the most obese states in the county. The financial consequence of this rate of prevalence

results in an annual additional medical cost of $3.6 billion for Tennessee.

Walkability: Equity & Economics

“Walkable urban regions in the U.S. have a

41 percent higher Gross Domestic Product

over non-walkable regions.” C. Leinberger, George Washington U. & President of Locus

“The cost of owning and operating a single

vehicle averages close to $9,000/year,

($750/month)… Given per capita income

for Memphis ($18,000- $24,000), many

people could spend the majority of their

entire incomes on housing and

transportation alone.” Mid-South Regional Greenprint

Walkability: Equity & Economics

Nearly 1/3 of

the U.S.

population is

transportation

disadvantaged

and without

reliable access

to food,

medical care,

employment or

educational

opportunities.

How to Use the Walkability Toolkit

Read through all sections of the Walkability Toolkit to

know what you’ll be looking for and why.

Choose your walk route and if possible, map it out.

Decide which assessment tool (paper or app) to use.

Start your walk. When you encounter an issue, log it

using your mobile device or survey tool, being sure to

clearly identify the property address or location.

Photograph issues if possible and note the location (the

mobile apps will associate pics with the reports).

Assessing Pedestrian Infrastructure

1. Missing Sidewalks

a. There are properties with missing sidewalks or

sidewalk panels

2. Impediments to Path of Travel

a. Permanent clear path of travel is less than 36”

b. At turning points/corners, sidewalk is not wide

enough for a wheelchair to turn 40”

c. There are trash cans, leaves, temporary structures,

or obstacles that do not leave 36” of clear travel

d. There is a height clearance less than 80”

3. Uneven Surfaces, Grates, and Gaps

a. There is a change in level over ½”

b. There is a hole, gap, or broken sidewalk – wider

than 2”

c. There is a drainage cover that is not secure

d. Grating has gaps larger than ½” running in the

direction of travel

4. Cross Slopes and Driveways

a. There is a noticeable cross slope

b. Driveway flares steeper than 1:12 or 8.33%

c. There is a compound slope (multiple slopes) in the

path of travel

d. The driveway apron (sidewalk crossing a

driveway) is steeper than a 2% slope

5. Intersections, Crosswalks, and Curb Ramps

a. Intersections did not have curb ramps for

wheelchairs, strollers and wagons

b. Crosswalk does not align with curb ramp

c. Crosswalk is not marked, is faded or

unrecognizable

Assessing: Missing Sidewalks

There are

properties

with missing

sidewalks or

sidewalk

panels

Assessing: Impediments to Travel

Permanent

clear path of

travel is less

than 36”

Turning point

is less than

40”

Obstacles do

not leave 36”

of clear travel

Height

clearance less

than 80”

Assessing: Uneven Surfaces & Gaps

There is a

change in

level over ½”

There is a

hole or gap

wider than 2”

Drainage

cover is not

secure or

grating has

gaps > ½”

There is

damage from

tree roots

Assessing: Cross Slopes & Driveways

Noticeable

cross slope or

steep

driveway

apron

Compound /

multiple slope

in the path of

travel

Assessing: Crosswalks & Ramps

No curb ramps

for

wheelchairs,

strollers and

wagons

Crosswalk does

not align with

curb ramp

Crosswalk is

not marked, is

faded or

unrecognizable

How to Use the Toolkit – The Tools

The old fashioned way!

Printable checklist

Memphis 311 App

“See-Click-Fix”

Reports to city staff and

user can track progress

Memphis Parcel Survey

Requires account to use

No auto-report to city

“Bluff City Snapshot” app

Memphis 311 App: See-Click-Fix

If “Sidewalk”

option isn’t

shown, choose

“Other.”

See-Click-Fix: Memphis 311 App

If “Sidewalk” option isn’t shown, choose “Other.”

Memphis Parcel Survey App

Select

“Sidewalk

Survey”

Memphis Parcel Survey App

Memphis Parcel Survey App

The Memphis Parcel

Survey app allows an

organization to track

multiple issues in a

neighborhood or block

over time.

However, it requires

an account and does

not currently interface

with the City of

Memphis’ reporting

system, so tracking

and reporting must be

done manually.

Memphis Parcel Survey App

Special thanks to CD Council member Binghampton Development Corp.

for creating the Memphis Parcel Survey app – contact

info@livablememphis.org to learn more.

Advocacy Tools

After conducting your Walkability Assessment, here

are a few steps you can take:

Send a letter to property owners alerting them to the

problem(s), their responsibility to maintain their sidewalks, and

assistance programs they might use.

Submit a complaint using the Memphis 311 app, online at

www.memphistn.gov/residents/311landingpage.aspx, or by

calling 311.

Reach out to your neighborhood association, community

development corporation, or other organization about

walkability, coordinating sidewalk repairs, and other neighborhood issues.

Tools: Ex. Letter to Property Owners

Date

Property Owner

Address

Dear neighbor,

Sidewalks are an important asset for our neighborhood – especially for children, seniors, and people with disabilities. In order to make our neighborhood a better place for residents, (Neighborhood Association, CDC, etc.) has been identifying hazardous sidewalk conditions and reaching out to property owners about their roles in making our neighborhood a safe place for people to walk.

Did you know that maintaining sidewalks is generally the responsibility of private property owners, as stated by Memphis City Ordinance? While the city may address things like curbs,

ramps, drains, and issues caused by utility poles, keeping the sidewalk itself in good repair is the responsibility of the home or business owner. The city does offer assistance to certain homeowners, based on their age, ability, and income.

We would sincerely appreciate your assistance with this matter. Should you have questions regarding the City’s specifications for sidewalk repair, please call the city’s 311 help line or

visit www.memphistn.gov/sidewalks.

Respectfully,

Your neighbor

Tools: Sidewalk Repair Assistance

For owner-occupied residential properties

whose owner has been notified of their

responsibility to make repairs to damaged

sidewalks in accordance with Memphis City

Code of Ordinances, Sec. 12-24-3, 100%

financial assistance is available for those

who meet certain criteria:

100% disabled & household income is $25,000 or

less

Aged 65+ & household income is $25,000 or less

Meets poverty threshold based on household size

& income

Tools: Additional Resources

City of Memphis Sidewalk Resources:

www.memphistn.gov/sidewalks

Pedestrian & School Safety Action Plan:

www.bikepedmemphis.wordpress.com/plans

-and-publications/publications/

Livable Memphis Walkability Toolkit:

www.livablememphis.org/pedestrians

List of bonded sidewalk repair contractors

www.livablememphis.org/pedestrians

Memphis Walkability Toolkit

Thanks for your interest in making your city and

neighborhood a better place for people to walk. For

questions about using the Toolkit, please contact us

at 901-725-3125 or at info@livablememphis.org.

Be sure to find us online at www.livablememphis.org

and www.facebook.com/LivableMemphis.

Livable Memphis is a program of the Community

Development Council of Greater Memphis.