PAC* ?# Year 2005
Section 1. Policies and Planning for Non-Motorized Transportation     
 

 
Taking Responsibility and Planning     
1.1 The governing body (i.e., city council, township board, etc.) has formed a citizens' advisory group to increase and improve the opportunities for walking and biking in the community.  1.1 1
1.2 The community's governing body has assigned a staff person to be specifically responsible for pedestrian and bicycle transportation.  1.2 0
1.3 The governing body has adopted an official plan for improving non-motorized transportation, including a timetable and a budget.  1.3 0
1.4 The community's operating budget includes tax dollars for non-motorized transportation facilities and activities. (This would include money for any improvements that would make walking and biking easier and safer, such as bike racks, new side walks and bike lanes, as well as staff positions and responsibilities for suggesting and overseeing such improvements.)  1.4 1
1.5 The community has shown a commitment to creating opportunities for physical activity by passing bonds, levying taxes, or getting grants to finance trails, recreation facilities, and/or sports complexes.  1.5 2
1.6 Transportation planning and funding address the following important safety concerns for bicyclists and pedestrians:  1.6  
Making all walking or biking surfaces level, with sewer grates and utility access covers even with the surface.   0
Making sewer grates bicycle friendly. This means the metal surfaces are roughened to prevent skidding, and that bike wheels cannot get caught in the grates.   1
Installing at busy intersections signal actuators that pedestrians and bicyclists can control, to stop traffic and allow safe crossing.   1
Creating well-marked crosswalks at high traffic intersections.   1
Performing regular maintenance on street shoulders, transition areas between streets and bridge decks, areas around grates, and surface between streets and gutters.   1
1.7 The community works to reduce traffic congestion by actively facilitating ride sharing or car pooling for frequently used commuter routes (i.e., constructing and maintaining commuter lots, creating ride share bulletin boards or ride share web pages).  1.7 0
1.8 Traffic regulations requiring cars to yield to pedestrians at crosswalks are vigorously enforced.  1.8 2
Zoning/Policies     
1.9 Zoning regulations permit mixed land use. This means that retail establishments and community services can be placed within walking distance of residential areas.  1.9 2
1.10 Zoning regulations permit cluster zoning. This means developers can design higher density communities as long as a portion of the community area is preserved as open space.  1.10 2
1.11 Zoning regulations require that new commercial or residential developments minimize the number of driveways that open onto streets and roads.  1.11 2
1.12 The community's master plan identifies valued natural resources including natural areas, woodlands, abandoned rail and utility corridors, river or pond access, and wetlands.  1.12 2
1.13 The community’s master plan includes provisions to protect or create linkages between greenways, open spaces and outdoor recreation areas.  1.13 2
1.14 The community works cooperatively and effectively with subdivision applicants and developers to ensure walkability and the protection of recreational space in growth areas.  1.14 1
1.15 Policies exist to include designated bike lanes, where feasible, when roads and streets are built or repaired?  1.15 1
When roads are built or repaired, how often are designated bike lanes included?   1
1.16 All municipally owned buildings are required to have bike racks or bike storage facilities available.  1.16 1
1.17 Municipal playgrounds meet safety standards set by the U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission and playground equipment meets safety specifications set by the American Society of Testing and Materials. 1.17 1
Sidewalks    
1.18 New residential areas are required to have sidewalks.  1.18 2
1.19 All new sidewalks are required to be at least 5 feet wide, to allow safe walking in two directions.  1.19 1
1.20 All new sidewalks are required to be positioned far enough from highways and roads to permit snow storage that does not obstruct sidewalks.  1.20 0
1.21 The community does an effective job of removing snow from pedestrian and bike routes.  1.21 0
1.22 Public ordinance require businesses to clear snow from adjacent sidewalks.  1.22 1
The ordinance is enforced.    1
1.23 Financial responsibility for residential sidewalk maintenance has been assumed by the community government rather than by individual homeowners.  1.23 1
1.24 Sidewalk furniture such as newspaper vending machines, advertising signs, flags, etc., is required to be out of the path of walkers or wheelchair users.  1.24 2
Policies and Education for Safety     
1.25 The community offers educational programs to encourage bicyclists and skaters to wear safety helmets and follow safe biking and skating practices.  1.25 1
1.26 Safety helmet use is required in publicly-operated recreation facilities such as trails in city parks.  1.26 0
1.27 The community offers educational programs for motorists on sharing the road legally and safely with bicyclists.  1.27 1
Promoting Physical Activity     
1.28 Someone from the community actively participates in the Regional Fitness Council serving the area.  1.28 1
1.29 There are groups in the community working together to encourage physical activity and create opportunities for activity in the community (i.e., public health agencies, recreation agencies, the local American Heart Association affiliate, bicycle clubs, etc.).  1.29 1
1.30 Use of stairways is encouraged in public buildings where stairways are present. This means the stairways are easy to find, they are clean and appealing and signs promote stair use for exercise.  1.30 0
1.31 This governing body provides wellness and other physical activity opportunities for its employees.  1.31 1
1.32 An inventory of physical activity facilities and/or opportunities has been compiled for the community and is available to the public.  1.32 1
1.33 The community sponsors events that promote physical activity, such as, public walks, biking events, corporate challenges, etc.  1.33 3
 
 

Section 2. Pedestrian and Bicycle Safety and Facilities 

    
 

 
Routes and Facilities     
2.1 There is a comprehensive system of routes connecting residential areas with shopping, dining, and entertainment areas.  2.1  
For walkers and wheelchair users   1
For bicyclists   1
(The system could include paved shoulders without rumble strips, wide right lanes, striped bike lanes, roads with signs that identify them as bike routes, bike paths or shared user paths.)  
2.2 Major transportation routes in the community are continuous with no impassible barriers.  2.2  
For walkers/wheelchairs   1
For bicyclists   1
2.3 Abandoned railroad beds or utility corridors (where present) have been or are being converted to walking/bicycling trails.  2.3 1
2.4 Multi-use recreational trails are available.                                                                                                         2.4 1
If so, trails meet or exceed standards set by the American Association of State Highway and Transportation Officials (AASHTO).    1
2.5 Crosswalks on roads with four or more lanes have medians (with curb cuts) that provide resting space for pedestrians with limited mobility (older persons, wheelchair users, children, etc.).  2.5 1
2.6 Sidewalks have curb cuts (for wheel chairs and people with limitations in mobility) at all intersections.  2.6 2
2.7 During road and sidewalk repair, physical accommodations and signs are used to keep pedestrians and disabled people safe.  2.7 1
2.8 Benches are placed at regular intervals along walking routes to allow people with physical limitations to rest.  2.8 1
2.9 Walking and biking routes are lighted to enhance safety.  2.9 2
2.10 Walking and biking routes are patrolled for safety by law enforcement officers or trained volunteers.  2.10 2
2.11 Shopping malls and strip malls have safe approaches for pedestrians and cyclists.  2.11 1
2.12 Bike racks or bike storage lockers are available in business districts.  2.12 1
If so, the bike racks are designed in a way that enables users to secure both the frame and the rear wheel.   2
Injury Prevention     
2.13 The community tracks the number of motor vehicle crashes in the community involving pedestrians and bicyclists. 2.13 1
2.14 There is a mechanism in place to evaluate the causes of pedestrian and bicyclist injuries and recommend needed saf*ety improvements.  2.14 1
2.15 In neighborhoods where speeding automobiles have consistently presented a risk to pedestrians and bikers, "traffic calming" measures have been introduced to slow down the traffic (e.g., speed bumps, trees planted close to the shoulder, trees or flowers planted in medians, converting auto lanes to bike lanes, roundabouts, etc.).  2.15 3
2.16 Crosswalks in school areas and other major pedestrian routes are well-marked on the pavement (i.e., with zebra stripes and stop bars) and are supported by clear signage and lighting.  2.16 3
2.17 Intersections and curves are designed with adequate "sight distance", so that drivers and bike riders can see all other road users in time to avoid potential crashes.  2.17 2
 
 

Section 3. Community Resources for Physical Activity 

    
 

 
3.1 Shopping malls or other in-door community facilities (i.e. schools, recreation center track, university indoor tracks) are open for community walkers.  3.1 1
3.2 Walking incentive programs are available to residents (excluding employer-offered programs mentioned in Section 4)  3.2 1
3.3 All senior citizen centers and nutrition sites offer exercise programs on an ongoing basis.  3.3 1
3.4 Medical Practices: 3 providers of family health care that that serve the largest number of patients -- private medical practices, HMOs or managed care organizations.  3.4  
Include counseling about the importance of physical activity as part of a written checklist used in all routine office visits.   3
Display and offer to all patients written materials about the health value of physical activity.    3
3.5 Financial commitment to community recreation: Tax dollars are allocated for parks and recreation facilities and activities in the community's current operating budget.  3.5 1
Total allocation per person    2
3.6 What percentage of children in the community have available to them safe, supervised recreation facilities in the after-school and weekend hours?  3.6 3
3.7 Sports leagues are available for adults.  3.7 2
3.8 Sports leagues are available for youth (over and above school athletic programs).  3.8 2
If youth sport leagues are available, is financial assistance available so children from low-income families can play?    1
3.9 Check which of the following exercise and recreation facilities are open to the public. 3.9  
Community ice skating arena   2
Roller skating/In-line skating facility   2
Swimming pool   2
Weight-training facility   2
Tennis courts   2
Soccer fields   2
Baseball/Softball fields   1
Basketball courts   2
Golf courses   1
Volleyball facilities   2
Handball/Squash/Racquetball facilities   2
Cross country ski trails   1
For the exercise and recreation facilities in your community that are open to the public (see above), how many make provisions for low income families to gain access?    1
3.10 Media work for physical activity in the community: The number of press releases to promote physical activity distributed by any unit of local government or wellness/health organization in the past six months. This can include announcements inviting use of local facilities.  3.10 3
The number of special interest stories about physical activity in the local media the past six months. (By local media, we mean radio, print, television including cable TV.)    3
 
 

Section 4. Worksites (see page 9 for detail)

    
 

 
The following questions apply to the four employers in the community with the largest work forces. Please list these four employers:     
Size of Company    
Please check which of these major employers promote physical activity in the following ways:    
Provides showers    0
Provides safe area to walk or exercise    0
Offers flexible work/break times to allow physical activity    0
Offers exercise classes    0
Offers a walking club    0
Provides bike racks    1
Offers incentives for walking or biking to work    0
Provides an on-site exercise room or facility, or pays a substantial part of membership fee to exercise clubs (YMCAs, fitness clubs, etc.)    0
Provides health information to employees (via bulletin boards, newsletters, intranet messages or sites, etc.)    1
Has a wellness coordinator or wellness committee to plan opportunities and events    1
Gives incentives/rewards for employees who demonstrate a certain level of physical activity (such as reduced health insurance co-pays, extra vacation time, prizes, etc.)   0
Size of Company    
Please check which of these major employers promote physical activity in the following ways:    
Provides showers    1
Provides safe area to walk or exercise    1
Offers flexible work/break times to allow physical activity    1
Offers exercise classes    1
Offers a walking club    0
Provides bike racks    1
Offers incentives for walking or biking to work    0
Provides an on-site exercise room or facility, or pays a substantial part of membership fee to exercise clubs (YMCAs, fitness clubs, etc.)    1
Provides health information to employees (via bulletin boards, newsletters, intranet messages or sites, etc.)    1
Has a wellness coordinator or wellness committee to plan opportunities and events    1
Gives incentives/rewards for employees who demonstrate a certain level of physical activity (such as reduced health insurance co-pays, extra vacation time, prizes, etc.)   0
Size of Company    
Please check which of these major employers promote physical activity in the following ways:    
Provides showers    0
Provides safe area to walk or exercise    0
Offers flexible work/break times to allow physical activity     
Offers exercise classes    1
Offers a walking club    0
Provides bike racks    1
Offers incentives for walking or biking to work    0
Provides an on-site exercise room or facility, or pays a substantial part of membership fee to exercise clubs (YMCAs, fitness clubs, etc.)    0
Provides health information to employees (via bulletin boards, newsletters, intranet messages or sites, etc.)    1
Has a wellness coordinator or wellness committee to plan opportunities and events    1
Gives incentives/rewards for employees who demonstrate a certain level of physical activity (such as reduced health insurance co-pays, extra vacation time, prizes, etc.)   0
 
 

Section 5. Schools  

    
 

 
5.1Schools have surveyed the extent to which children can walk or bike safely to school.                        5.1 2
5.2 Did elementary schools participate in Walk to School Day last fall, or have they made a commitment to do so this coming fall?  5.2 1
5.3 What percentage of school children who live within one mile of schools could safely walk to school?  5.3 2
5.4 What percentage of school children who live within two miles of schools could safely bike to school?  5.4 2
5.5 If some children who live within walking or biking distance cannot safely walk or bike to school, steps are being taken to correct hazards.  5.5 2
5.6 Where it is safe, schools are actively promoting walking or biking to school.  5.6  
5.7 Community Education: Does the Community Education program or the community's parks and recreation department offer classes and programs that provide opportunities for physical activity?  5.7 1
5.8 Physical Education Curriculum: What percentage of physical education teachers are using the Michigan Exemplary Physical Education Curriculum (EPEC) or a comparable curriculum?  5.8  
5.9 Has the largest school district in your area been recognized as meeting standards for exemplary physical education by the Governor's Council on Physical Fitness? If so, level of recognition.  5.9  
5.10 On average, over the past school year, how many days per week were children receiving physical education?  5.10  
5.11 In high school, what percentage of children take more than the one required semester of physical education?  5.11  
5.12 Are all high school students required to take physical education, even if they are in marching band or on athletic teams?  5.12 0
5.13 Is health ed., including physical activity being taught in most grades?  5.13 0
5.14 Do elementary schools typically have recess each school day? (Answer for all the elementary schools that children in your community attend.)  5.14  
5.15 Did elementary schools participate in the All Children Exercising Simultaneously (ACES) Day last spring, or have they made a commitment to do so this coming spring?  5.15 1
5.16 Percentage of schools offering physical activity opportunities for students in addition to physical education classes:  5.16  
Walking club   1
Supervised use of weight-training facilities   1
After-school programs that provide opportunity for physical activity (not including intramural sports or school athletics)   0
Intramural sports   1
If intramural sports are offered, does every child who wants to play have access to the programs?    1
5.17 Children can participate in school athletic programs without paying any fees. (Fees are a barrier to participation.)  5.17 3
5.18 Sports fields, swimming pools, and recreation areas under control of the school district are open to the public outside of regular school hours (i.e., before and after school, on weekends, and during summer and other vacations).  5.18 3
If so, costs to the school district for this availability are shared by other groups (i.e., recreation department, community police program, regional fitness council).     
5.19 Schools offer aggressive worksite wellness programs for teachers and administrators, thereby improving the role models available to students for physical activity.  5.19 0
 
 

Section 6. Public Transportation 

    
 

 
6.1 The community has a system of public transportation. For a small town, this could consist of a "Dial-A-Ride"—type program.  6.1 2
The public transportation system serves enough areas often enough to make it a realistic option for regular commuting for a significant number of residents.    2
Park-and-drive lots are available so that bicyclists and auto drivers can conveniently park vehicles while using public transportation or car pooling.    1
The system is accessible by wheelchair users and individuals with limited walking ability.    2
 
 

 

    
 

163
Notes:    
Shading indicates potential need/opportunity.    
Data refects highest score of 3 neighborhoods surveyed.      
A high score does not mean that more effort/improvement is not possible and desired.