Walkability Programs

students conduct walk audit to address safety concerns
Youth and Government students at the William G. White, Jr. Family YMCA in Winston-Salem conduct a walk audit.
walk audit in Winston Salem to assess safety for pedestrians
Students conduct a walk audit near their high school in Winston-Salem to assess safety concerns for students walking to school and nearby businesses.
tractical urbanism to demonstrate pedestrian safety needs
YMCA of Southeastern North Carolina partnered with AARP NC Coastal on a tactical urbanism project to illustrate simple ways to improve pedestrian safety.
tactical urbanism volunteers
Volunteers use tactical urbanism on a street in Southport, NC, to support a healthy, active community in this resort town.

Improving Walkability in Communities

Improving walkability--and rollability--in North Carolina communities supports children, adults and seniors in being more physically active. 

The Alliance, through funding from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) Active People, Healthy Nation initiative and YMCA of the USA, supports YMCAs’ efforts to increase pedestrian safety in communities around the state.

Several NC YMCA leaders are trained in how to conduct community walk audits and then engage local policymakers in infrastructure changes to support healthy, active communities. The Alliance also participates in statewide coalition efforts around public policy related to walkability and pedestrian safety.

Rocky Mount walk auditors examining Pinehurst Dr. intersection

Rocky Mount Mayor and Leaders Join YMCA Walk Audit

Walkability
Rocky Mount Mayor Sandy Roberson and Kelvin Macklin, CEO of the Rocky Mount Housing Authority, joined Harrison Family YMCA staff and walking club members on July 15 for a walk audit in the Weeks Armstrong neighborhood to assess how safe it is to walk or wheelchair roll in the area.
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students conduct walk audit to address safety concerns

Youth Leaders Conduct Walk Audit to Advocate for Safety Needs

Walkability
In November 2019, 15 students from the Parkland High School Youth & Government delegation in Winston-Salem conducted a walk audit around their high school to assess how safe it is to walk or bike to their school and in the surrounding community, and to share their findings and recommendations with local policymakers.
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tractical urbanism to demonstrate pedestrian safety needs

Tactical Urbanism on the Streets of Southport

Walkability
The YMCA of Southeastern North Carolina partnered with AARP NC - Coastal on Sept. 13, 2019, on a tactical urbanism (TU) project to demonstrate the need for a crosswalk in Southport, N.C., to support a safe, healthy and active community in this popular resort town.
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