What is a walk audit? Find out on  Saturday, September 25, 2010, 9 a.m. - 1:30 p.m. at North Park Elementary  when we talk with people from Transit for Livable Communities and go on a group walk audit. You will also learn about Fridley's recent review of biking and walking policies. 

Why is a Bike Walk Study needed?

The 2030 Comprehensive Plan approved by Council lists completion of a walkability bikeability study as an Action Step in Chapter 6: Transportation. Staff had an opportunity to complete this action step with the use of a State Health Improvement Program (SHIP) grant through Anoka County Community Health.

Additionally, in the Twin Cities 40% of trips taken by car are 2 miles or less. Of those trips, 28% are less than a mile. By promoting biking and walking for these trips we can greatly reduce car trips and increase physical fitness with 10 minute bike rides and 20 minute walks. *According to data found on the Transit for Liveable Communities website. 

In May 2010, planning and engineering staff began outlining the new Fridley Bike Walk Study. They started by reviewing other cities' plans, consulting with transportation planners at the Metropolitan Council and Transit for Liveable Communities, and reviewing their own 1975 Bike Walk Plan. A draft of the updated bike walk plan is expected to be available for review in spring 2011.

Return to the Fridley Connects page

Public Comment

From August 30 - September 30, planners gathered public comment about walking and biking attributes in Fridley. Residents participated in two ways: 

• A group of eight residents chose to join a walk audit on Saturday, September 25, from 9 a.m. - 1 p.m. in North Park Elementary School neighborhood in Fridley. They walked round trip from the school to the intersection of Highway 65 and Old Central.  A walk audit is used to assess the accessibility, perceived safety from traffic, perceived safety from crime, and walking enjoyment of pedestrians in a neighborhood.
• Block parties and active lifestyle residents used the downloadable Walkability Checklist or Bikeability Checklist to rate their neighborhood. They wrote about navigating busy intersections on foot or by bicycle.

Existing Conditions Maps

From May - August 2010, staff gathered data on street lights, bikeways, traffic accidents, road speeds and other features to make maps that show Fridley's infrastructure for a walkable and bikable community. The maps will be used to determine future sidewalk links or bike ways. While no city funding is available now to build additional sidewalks or trails, a completed Bike Walk Study will leave our city better suited to obtain funding should grants become available.        

Walkscore       Population and Employment         Existing Bike and Ped Network    

Street Lighting       Inter-City Existing Bike and Ped Network       Signals  

Bike and Ped Accidents        Primary Transit Network        Speed Limits  

Bike and Ped Network Widths         Traffic Lanes (3.5 Mb)      Future Land Use  (1.4 Mb)

Public Input Opportunities

Do you have a favorite walking route in your neighborhood? Have you recently navigated a busy intersection on foot or by bicycle? We want to know! You may use the downloadable Walkability Checklist or Bikeability Checklist to rate your neighborhood and share your results with the city. Send us a copy via email or by mail to Fridley Municipal Center, Attn: Rachel Harris, 6431 University Ave NE, Fridley, MN, 55432.