Supporting accessible communities -

Mobility is a human right

Everyone should have the opportunity to travel through their community safely and conveniently. Help make your city more accessible by mapping and assessing sidewalks and pedestrian infrastructure.

Putting data into action

Sidewalks are an important part of communities. For people with disabilities, sidewalks support independence, mobility, physical activity, and can improve overall quality of life. Yet, in many cities, sidewalks are inaccessible. The problem is not just a lack of accessible sidewalks but also a lack of dependable information on where sidewalks exist and their quality.

We study ways to make it easier for cities to collect and use data on sidewalk accessibility. This includes the use of crowdsourcing tools like Project Sidewalk, along with disability viewpoints, to support, prioritize, and obtain resources to fix sidewalks.

Learn More about our work

Testimonials

Alison Murphy
Director of Communications & Development
40th Ward of Chicago

“We were lucky enough to work with Project Sidewalk in a volunteer-led mapping of the 40th Ward, and we’re so grateful to have them as partners. They were able to help us easily parse the resulting data, which ultimately helped us make better decisions in terms of how we prioritize our infrastructure spending, as well as alert the appropriate City departments to high-priority accessibility issues. We would recommend them to anyone who is invested in making their communities more welcoming and accessible.”

Brandon Goblirsch
Super Labeler
40th Ward of Chicago

“Just before discovering Project Sidewalk, I was exploring sidewalk networks, sidewalk data, and how one could potentially go about improving Redfin’s WalkScore. I soon discovered that sidewalk data itself, or lack thereof, would be a major hurdle to a project like that. My surprise at the lack of data turned to a bit of anger when I remembered that most cities, counties, and states have strict reporting requirements for all streets and roads in their jurisdictions, but not sidewalks (at least to my knowledge). Labelling and validating was a great way to channel that frustration into real outcomes, especially knowing that my work could directly help my new community.”

Abdul Zahir
Simon Frasier University
Civic Innovation Lab

The City of Burnaby, Canada used Project Sidewalk data to “inform a) implementation of the new sidewalks program (https://www.burnaby.ca/our-city/projects/new-sidewalks) and b) the expanded installation of bus stops program, (i.e.. where to prioritize placing them) (https://www.burnaby.ca/our-city/news/2024-02-20/city-burnaby-add-50-new-bus-shelters-2024).”

Project Sidewalk helps a variety of users…

ADA Coordinator/
City
Planner

Educator/
Workforce Development Professional

Community Organization

Community Member

Project Sidewalk can be used by ADA Coordinators, City Planners, and local government to support sidewalk auditing, barrier removal planning, other broader community planning efforts.

Project Sidewalk offers a curriculum that provides students the chance to build technical, civic, and social skills while contributing to real-world community needs.

Project Sidewalk is a great tool for engaging with organization members and volunteer groups. Our work aligns with disability advocacy, active transportation, and environmental missions.

Project Sidewalk can be used for advocacy at any level, including by just one person. If you are a resident interested in collecting data in your neighborhood, we can help coordinate training and mapping events for all skill levels and backgrounds.

Learn More