Poudre River Trail Walk Audit
Facilitated by the Northern Colorado Bike & Ped Collaborative
On August 9th, 2023, the Northern Colorado Bike & Ped Collaborative conducted a walk audit along sections of the Poudre River Trail in the Town of Timnath.
Participants access the Poudre River Trail at the point where it aligns with Harmony Road in Timnath.
What is a Walk Audit?
As succinctly put by the non-profit America Walks , a walk audit is "an assessment of the pedestrian safety, accessibility, and comfort of a particular area."
Walk audits can range from being informal solo undertakings to being an organized group activity featuring a checklist for participants to document current walking conditions, identify current barriers to safety and comfort, as well as document positive features of the built environment.
More than 15 members of the community representing agencies such as the North Front Range Metropolitan Planning Organization (NFRMPO), the City of Fort Collins, Weld County Department of Public Health & Environment, the Town of Timnath, the City of Greeley, the Poudre River Trail, the Great Western Trail Authority, Cycling Without Age, and citizens participated in the 2-hour assessment.
Participants split into two groups to assess walkability and wayfinding along the Poudre River Trail in Timnath. Each group walked the entirety of the route. One group started the audit on the southside of Harmony Road while the others started on the northside of Harmony Road.
The route is displayed here.
In addition to taking notes with pen and paper, each group documented the pedestrian experience utilizing the NFRMPO Bike & Pedestrian Safety Reporter Tool . In total, 15 unique reports were made using this tool during the audit.
These reports are displayed here. Feel free to click on individual reports to explore participant's comments. For those who want to take a deeper dive, the end of this story map walks through all the media and comments submitted to the Bike & Ped Safety Reporter Tool during this walk audit.
The partners who facilitated this walk audit wanted to ensure that the perspective of people of all ages and abilities were taken into account.
Key Themes
Reviewing and synthesizing the reports submitted in the NFRMPO Bike & Pedestrian Safety Reporter and notes compiled by participants revealed a few overarching themes relating to the pedestrian experience along the Poudre River Trail in Timnath:
1. Poudre River Trail on Harmony Road
There is no signage indicating the Poudre River Trail continues along Harmony Road. Participants felt that this crossing was unsafe and confusing to traverse.
2. Trail Obstructions
There are obstructions throughout the trail. Sections of the trail are covered in sand and can be dangerous for bicyclists.
3. Visibility
There are sections along the trail where visibility is low. Oncoming bicyclists and pedestrians cannot see who is coming around the corner which is unsafe.
4. Lack of Wayfinding Signs
There is not adequate wayfinding signage along the Poudre River Trail. The existing wayfinding signage is small and not descriptive, which makes it difficult for pedestrians or cyclists to know where to go.
Key Segments and Intersections
1. Harmony Road
The pedestrian experience along Harmony Road can be considered unpleasant in general but is especially so at the following intersections:
Harmony Road and the Poudre Trail
Google Streetview of Harmony Road where the Poudre River Trail's aligns with Harmony Road
Harmony Road and LCR 5/Main Street
Google Streetview of the intersection of Harmony Road and LCR 5/Main Street where the Poudre River Trail departs from Harmony Road.
Recommendations and Takeaways
Walk audit participants recommended the following list of changes to improve the trail experience on the Poudre River Trail in Timnath:
- The Town of Timnath should implement more wayfinding signs to help guide trail users
- Installing sharp turn ahead signs and visibility mirrors can prevent potential collisions in low-visibility areas
- Painting a center line down the trail alignment along Harmony Road will help guide trail users to the off-street trail alignment
- Ensuring that trail is clear of foliage and debris would ensure that everyone will be able to use those passageways
- Ensuring trail infrastructure is in good condition and predictable to make it safer for individuals with visual impairments to cross at intersections
- Extending the crosswalk signal time on Larimer County Road 5/ Main Street to give pedestrians ample time to cross the street to access Old Town Timnath. Also consider implementing a leading pedestrian interval on Main Street
Walk Audit Tools and Resources
Organizations located in Larimer or Weld Counties interested in facilitating a walk audit are welcome to reach out to planning@nfrmpo.org for technical assistance.
