Introducing Bike Lakewood’s Walk Audit Toolkit
Introducing Bike Lakewood’s Walk Audit Toolkit
Making routes to school safer—starting with Winter Walk
Walking to school offers kids so much more than just a way to get from point A to point B. It supports physical health, independence, connection to the neighborhood, and confidence navigating the world around them. For many students, walking is also not optional, due to factors such as family schedules, access to transportation, or a limited social network.
At the same time, many families don’t currently walk to school—and for good reasons. Busy schedules, traffic conditions, weather, distance, or concerns about safety can all make walking feel challenging or unrealistic.
That’s where Walk Audits can help.
What Is a Walk Audit?
A Walk Audit is a simple way for families to share what they notice when walking along routes that connect neighborhoods to schools.
Whether you’re walking a route you use often or trying a walk in your neighborhood for the first time, Walk Audits invite you to observe things like:
- Aspects of your route that feel pleasant, comfortable, and safe
- Sidewalk conditions
- Crosswalk visibility and driver behavior
- Snow, ice, or drainage issues
You don’t need to be an expert or know what the “solution” is—just sharing what you see and how it feels is incredibly valuable.
Why Walk Audits Matter
Walk Audits give families a direct voice in shaping safer routes to school—especially for those who may want to walk more but don’t currently feel comfortable doing so.
Feedback collected through these audits is shared with our partners, including the City of Lakewood, Lakewood City Schools, and the Lakewood Police Department, to help inform planning, maintenance, enforcement, and future improvements near schools.
In short: your perspective matters, whether walking feels easy, difficult, or somewhere in between.
Explore the Walk Audit Toolkit
Bike Lakewood’s Walk Audit Toolkit includes:
- A brief guide explaining how Walk Audits work
- Examples of what to look for
- Frequently asked questions
- School-specific Walk Audit forms for each elementary school boundary
- Instructions for printing the one-page, double-sided audit form
Visit: Download the Walk Audit Toolkit (PDF) and find the audit form for your school.
Winter Walk: A Low-Pressure Way to Try It Out
On Thursday, February 12, 2026 students across Lakewood are invited to participate in Winter Walk, a celebration of walking to school—even in colder weather.
For some families, Winter Walk is part of a regular routine. For others, it may be a first opportunity to try walking to school. Winter conditions can also highlight challenges that aren’t always visible during other seasons, like snow-covered curb ramps, icy sidewalks, or narrowed crossings.
Families are encouraged to pair their Winter Walk experience with a Walk Audit to help document what they notice.
Celebrate. Observe. Share.
Winter Walk is about celebrating kids who walk to school.
Walk Audits are about listening to families and learning where change is needed.
Together, they help move Lakewood toward safer, more welcoming routes to school—now and in the future.