Openly mapping for the pedestrian experience

Access to safe and functional sidewalks is essential for sustainable, equitable and inclusive communities. Yet in many parts of Washington, data about the pedestrian environment—such as sidewalk availability, condition, and connectivity—is either incomplete or unavailable. A caregiver with a stroller trying to navigate cracked, narrow sidewalks, a traveler with a wheelchair moving along the shoulder of a busy road because there’s no sidewalk at all. Or elderly residents using a walker to reach the bus stop, only to find the path riddled with broken pavement, making each step a hazard. For many Washingtonians, this isn’t hypothetical; it’s daily life. In countless neighborhoods, sidewalks are either deteriorating or simply don’t exist, and people choose against active transportation when they can for lack of knowledge where they would feel and be safe. Planners, too, are feeling the impact of this missing data. King County, for example, has a real need to improve sidewalks around transitional housing facilities but doesn’t know where to start. Without a clear picture of sidewalk conditions, they don’t know which areas lack basic accessibility or safety features like proper sidewalk width. This gap in information makes it nearly impossible to set concrete project plans or evaluate the environmental and access impacts of new work in these areas.

Under the directive of the state legislature and using innovative technology by the University of Washington, Washington is now creating a comprehensive, high-quality pedestrian network dataset that includes detailed sidewalk data across the state. This project supports equitable mobility by equipping state agencies, local governments, and community organizations with data to plan Complete Streets and prioritize resources where they’re most needed. The data also allows better support for state safety initiatives, including Vision Zero, and enhances agencies’ ability to make data-driven decisions to prevent serious pedestrian injuries. Ensuring this sidewalk dataset is updated and expanded will help Washington provide all residents, especially vulnerable populations, with safe, accessible, and sustainable transportation options. With this data, transportation planners and community members will have the information they need to address critical accessibility, safety, and equity gaps within the transportation network. In historically overburdened areas, this can mean identifying where crumbling or missing sidewalks are, and improving conditions for residents to safely access work, transit, schools, and other services.