KTUA created a set of guidelines for elected officials, planning staff, community organizations and other interested parties to promote and create bicycle and pedestrian friendly neighborhoods and communities. The guide includes solutions tailored to small and mid-sized cities (population < 200,000) throughout the nation, particularly those with a high percentage of low and moderate income (LMI) individuals.

The guidelines are graphically-rich and accessible to a range of users. Key components include a discussion of the benefits and barriers of walking and biking; a community self-assessment tool; a planning process guide; design guidelines for land use, streets, bike and pedestrian facilities; an implementation guide; and case studies showing real world examples of pedestrian and bicycle improvements in comparable communities. To ensure the guidelines reflect best practices and the diversity of intended users, a Review Committee – comprising nationally renowned planning experts – provided project oversight.

A comprehensive community self-assessment tool was devised for guideline users to evaluate their community’s walkability and bikeability. The tool’s greatest strength is its inclusion of a menu of data collection and assessment approaches that allows guideline users to select methods based on level of effort and resources required. This makes the guidelines accessible to a range of users and agencies, irrespective of level of sophistication and/or capacity.

The design guidelines use 3D models, images and other graphics to demonstrate complex concepts, in particular the coordination of different design elements required to create walkable and bikeable places. Design guidelines are presented as succinct written directives, identified by unique codes (e.g. BG-4), and supported by 3D models illustrating the concepts. These codes are intended to simplify implementation and facilitate the funding processes.