Map Sidewalk Gaps and Collect Input

The safest, most walkable communities know exactly where their sidewalk gaps are and prioritize improvements based on real community needs.

If your sidewalk planning relies only on engineering assessments, general complaints, or outdated infrastructure inventories, you're missing the location-specific community knowledge that makes pedestrian improvements truly effective. That's why smart transportation planners ask: can we map all our sidewalk gaps and collect community input about where walkability improvements matter most?

With Atlas, you can map sidewalk gaps and enable community input that identifies priorities, safety concerns, and local knowledge about pedestrian needs. No separate survey systems, no disconnected infrastructure data, no guesswork about community priorities. Everything connects spatially for comprehensive walkability planning.

Here's how to set it up step by step.

Why Sidewalk Gap Mapping with Community Input Matters

Mapping sidewalk gaps with community feedback creates more effective pedestrian infrastructure planning that reflects real community needs and safety priorities.

So mapping sidewalk gaps with community input isn't just infrastructure planning—it's community-responsive transportation planning that creates safer, more accessible neighborhoods for everyone.

Step 1: Set Up Your Base Map with Transportation Context

Atlas makes it easy to create comprehensive sidewalk gap mapping systems:

• Add street networks showing all roads where sidewalks could potentially be needed
• Upload existing sidewalk data from city GIS systems, field surveys, or previous assessments
• Import land use information showing residential areas, schools, commercial districts, and transit stops
• Include demographic data highlighting areas with high pedestrian activity or vulnerable populations

Once configured, your base map provides the context needed for comprehensive sidewalk gap analysis.

Step 2: Identify and Map Different Types of Sidewalk Gaps

Next, create comprehensive coverage of pedestrian infrastructure needs:

You can map different gap types:

• Complete sidewalk absence on streets where no pedestrian infrastructure exists
• Discontinuous sidewalks where pedestrian paths are interrupted by gaps or barriers
• Substandard sidewalks that are too narrow, damaged, or don't meet accessibility requirements
• Missing accessibility features lacking curb ramps, tactile indicators, or ADA compliance
• Unsafe crossing areas without proper signals, crosswalks, or pedestrian protection
• Connectivity gaps where sidewalks don't connect to transit stops, schools, or community destinations

Each gap type gets distinctive visual styling to help prioritize different kinds of pedestrian improvements.

Step 3: Enable Community Input on Sidewalk Priorities

To collect meaningful feedback about pedestrian infrastructure needs:

1. Create simple map access that works on any device without requiring technical expertise
2. Set up comment areas at each sidewalk gap where residents can provide local knowledge
3. Design feedback categories for safety concerns, usage patterns, and improvement priorities
4. Add photo submission capabilities so community members can document conditions and concerns
5. Configure priority ranking allowing residents to indicate which gaps matter most to them

Community members become active contributors to sidewalk planning based on their daily experiences.

Step 4: Collect Location-Specific Pedestrian Information

To make sidewalk gap mapping responsive to real community needs:

• Gather usage information about walking patterns, school routes, and daily pedestrian activity
• Document safety concerns including traffic conflicts, visibility issues, and accessibility barriers
• Collect accessibility feedback from residents with disabilities about specific infrastructure needs
• Record seasonal conditions that affect walkability like snow removal, flooding, or maintenance issues
• Capture connectivity priorities about which destinations most need better pedestrian access

Also read: Create a Public Feedback Map for a Project

Step 5: Moderate and Organize Community Feedback

To manage sidewalk input effectively while building comprehensive planning data:

• Create feedback categories organizing input by gap type, priority level, and improvement recommendations
• Set up validation processes to verify community input against field conditions and engineering assessments
• Design response procedures showing how community feedback influences sidewalk planning and project prioritization
• Configure summary reporting that highlights community priorities and frequently mentioned concerns
• Establish follow-up communication keeping residents informed about sidewalk improvement planning and implementation

Community input becomes organized, actionable data for sidewalk planning and capital improvement programming.

Step 6: Integrate with Transportation Planning and Capital Improvements

Now that sidewalk gaps are mapped with community input:

• Generate priority rankings combining engineering assessments with community feedback and usage data
• Create capital improvement plans showing which sidewalk projects offer the greatest community benefit
• Set up project planning that connects sidewalk gaps to broader transportation and development projects
• Design equity analysis ensuring sidewalk improvements serve all neighborhoods and demographic groups fairly
• Export planning data for integration with transportation budgets, grant applications, and construction planning

Your sidewalk gap mapping becomes part of comprehensive, community-responsive transportation planning.

Use Cases

Mapping sidewalk gaps and collecting input is useful for:

• Transportation departments planning pedestrian infrastructure improvements and capital projects
• Planning agencies conducting walkability assessments and complete streets implementation
• Public health organizations promoting active transportation and pedestrian safety initiatives
• Community advocates documenting infrastructure needs and advocating for equitable improvements
• Engineering consultants conducting pedestrian audits and infrastructure assessments for clients

It's essential for any community committed to creating safe, accessible pedestrian infrastructure that serves all residents.

Tips

• Start with high-priority areas like school zones and transit corridors before expanding to comprehensive gap mapping
• Combine community input with technical assessment to balance resident priorities with engineering feasibility
• Document existing conditions with photos and measurements to support funding applications and project planning
• Create regular update schedules to track progress on sidewalk improvements and identify new gaps
• Connect to broader planning including transit-oriented development, safe routes to school, and accessibility compliance

Mapping sidewalk gaps and collecting input in Atlas creates comprehensive pedestrian infrastructure planning.

No separate survey systems needed. Just map infrastructure gaps, enable community feedback, and create the walkability planning that connects resident knowledge with effective pedestrian improvements.

Planning and Public Feedback with Atlas

When you're planning projects that affect communities, the challenge isn't just creating good technical solutions—it's making sure those solutions work for the people who will live with them.

Atlas gives you the tools to make planning truly participatory: one map for proposals, community input, and transparent decision-making.

Share Plans and Collect Location-Specific Input

You can:

• Upload planning proposals with clear visual context and project details
• Enable public comments tied to specific geographic locations and planning elements
• Moderate and organize community feedback for meaningful analysis and response

Also read: Make a Zoning Map with Drawing Tools

Build Transparent, Responsive Planning Processes

Atlas lets you:

• Show how public input influences planning decisions and proposal modifications
• Create comprehensive engagement records for planning commission review and public accountability
• Export community feedback for integration with planning workflows and decision documentation

That means no more disconnected public input, and no more questions about whether community voices actually matter in planning decisions.

Plan Better with Community Knowledge

Whether you're updating comprehensive plans, reviewing development proposals, or planning infrastructure improvements, Atlas helps you tap into local knowledge that makes plans work better for everyone.

It's community-centered planning—designed for genuine public participation.

Boost Your Planning Process with the Right Tools

Planning moves fast, but communities need time to understand and respond to proposals. Whether you're collecting input, analyzing feedback, coordinating stakeholders, or making decisions—clarity and participation matter.

Atlas gives you both.

In this article, we covered how to map sidewalk gaps and collect input, but that's just one of many things you can do with Atlas.

From infrastructure planning to community engagement, accessibility improvement, and transportation equity, Atlas makes complex pedestrian planning accessible and participatory. All from your browser. No transportation planning expertise needed.

So whether you're managing municipal infrastructure, advocating for walkability, or planning community improvements, Atlas helps you move from "engineering assessments" to "community-informed infrastructure planning" faster.

Sign up for free or book a walkthrough today.