This January, from the comfort of your own home, you’re invited to join a free, online map-a-thon training to learn how to virtually map the conditions of your local sidewalks and bikeways.
During the training, you’ll learn how to evaluate sidewalks, curb ramps, crosswalks, and bikeways to help ensure your community is safer and more accessible for everyone.
The training will be provided by the Active Transportation Alliance and University of Illinois-Chicago’s (UIC’s) Project Sidewalk team.
WHAT IS PROJECT SIDEWALK?
Project Sidewalk is a free, online tool that uses crowdsourcing to collect data on sidewalk and bikeway accessibility.
Broken, cracked, and missing sidewalks create hazardous conditions that limit mobility and exclude people with disabilities and other vulnerable road users from fully participating in their communities.
Similarly, when bikeways become inaccessible due to debris, potholes, faded paint or other obstacles, they no longer function as a safe option for a majority of people biking.
The data collected through Project Sidewalk can be used by city governments so they know which of their sidewalks, bikeways, and intersections need repairs and upgrades. Community members can also use the data to lobby for more funding for active transportation.
In Chicago, for example, Project Sidewalk participants have already mapped 11 percent of city sidewalks — equivalent to 534.4 miles of sidewalk!
As part of the process, Chicago volunteers have identified nearly 90,000 sidewalk and bikeway features that will help advocates and local agencies understand where repairs and improvements are needed most.
WHAT YOU’LL LEARN AT THE TRAINING
- How to use Project Sidewalk to identify accessibility barriers.
- Hands-on mapping experience to get you started working on your own local efforts.
- Recommendations on how to involve others in your community.
Eager to learn more before you commit to the training? Project Sidewalk has a brief online tutorial to give you an idea of the work that you’ll do, and how important it is for people on foot, on a bike, or using a mobility mobility device.
Here are some of the sidewalk problems you’ll be looking for:
WHO SHOULD GET INVOLVED?
If you’re looking for a fun, engaging winter activity that can help make a difference in your community, this training is for you.
Community members, people who walk or bike, and anyone passionate about making Chicagoland more accessible are encouraged to attend a training.
Those who want to add some competition to the activity can track their progress and shoot for getting their name on the leader board in different categories.
HOW TO REGISTER
Map-a-thon trainings will be held on two Thursday evenings in January. Choose from one of the following training dates and register to receive a Zoom link:
Date: Thursday, January 9, 2024
Time: 5 PM – 7 PM
Location: Zoom – register here
Date: Thursday, January 16, 2024
Time: 6 PM – 8 PM
Location: Zoom – register here
If you have any questions, please email Maggie Czerwinski at [email protected].