Looking out for your neighbors’ safety can be as simple as looking down.
Pittsburgh Walks' Safe Sidewalks Crew is building a network of volunteers to document risky sections of our city’s walkways. The collaborative project is led by BikePGH, Access Mob, and Pittsburgh’s Department of Mobility and Infrastructure.
“It’s really about equity,” says Seth Bush, Advocacy Manager at BikePGH. “We’re looking at the distribution of the quality of our sidewalks and how we can connect neighborhoods to resources more effectively.”
The crew’s observations will be used to assess sidewalk conditions throughout our 90 neighborhoods and help the city create long-term plans for upgrades.
This planning, Bush says, is essential to preventing pedestrian deaths. A 2024 report from the Governors Highway Safety Association shows that 65% of pedestrian fatalities in the U.S. happened in locations without a sidewalk.
“This program works best when volunteers report from their neighborhood. They know it best.” Bush says. “We have a lot of ground to cover, and we need a lot of people.”
Pittsburgh Walks trains a group of volunteers from Yinz Run Club. (Courtesy of Pittsburgh Walks)
Get Trained & Join the Crew
Discover what makes sidewalks safe and accessible at an upcoming training. Attendees will learn how to report sidewalk issues through a form where users can easily log a concern by noting the location and uploading a picture.
If you don’t see a training date that works for you, contact info@pittsburghwalks.org and they’ll coordinate a session. Once trained, you can submit reports from anywhere in the city.
Sign up for the next training on Saturday, Feb. 14 via Zoom. This session will have ASL interpretation.
Form A Volunteer Group
If you want to connect with more crew members, be sure to look out for neighborhood-wide “blitz” efforts on Pittsburgh Walks’ calendar. Note: Training isn’t required before attending one of these events; you’ll get a crash course and a partner to walk with.
Pittsburgh Walks can also train volunteer groups, such as clubs and workplace teams. Reach out to info@pittsburghwalks.org for more information.
Stay Engaged & Advocate
Disability advocate and Access Mob Pittsburgh Director Alisa Grishman says that poor sidewalks affect everyone — but especially wheelchair users like herself.
“In a world that has great sidewalks, sliding doors, and ramps, I wouldn’t be disabled; I’d be able to get everywhere just the same as someone who is currently able-bodied. It’s the world that creates the disability, not my chair.”
Stay engaged by following organizations like Access Mob Pittsburgh, using BikePGH’s grassroots advocacy toolkit, and reporting all kinds of neighborhood safety issues to 311.
