Poudre River Trail Walk Audit

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.

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.

The partners who facilitated this walk audit wanted to ensure that the perspective of people of all ages and abilities were taken into account.

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:

 The pedestrian experience along Harmony Road can be considered unpleasant in general but is especially so at the following intersections:

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

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.