Why form a WAG? Communities that establish and nurture such committees are more likely to improve walkability and pedestrian safety than communities that just hold a Walking Workshop and then take no steps. Committees help identify and prioritize issues and keep them on the front burner, enabling elected officials and staff to accomplish more than they could alone.

 Where does the WAG fit? To decide the best location in your community’s governmental structure, consider who is most committed to improving pedestrian safety or where there will be the most support. Consider its location based on the top issues, priorities and solutions identified in the workshop, especially if the issues are all related.  For example, if most of the problems and solutions that were identified are enforcement related, it makes sense to align the group with a Police Chief’s citizen advisory committee. Options: Mayor’s ad hoc committee, Police Chief’s citizen advisory group, School Board or PTA subcommittee, and/or County Environmental Health committee.

Who do we appoint to our WAG? After identifying who is most interested, decide who is also willing to work for change over time. Will they understand the committee’s role as an active advisory group? Choose participants who attended a workshop in your community (Pedestrian Safety Road Show, Walkable Communities Workshop, Walking Workshop). Or select from our “Potential Pedestrian Partners” list. Appoint key community staff people either directly to the committee or to work with the committee in a liaison capacity or to help staff it. Ask the state DOT to send a representative.

What format works best? Hold one meeting per month for the first year, with meeting time limited to 1½ hours per meeting. Use subcommittees if needed to maximize effort and minimize length of committee meetings. Establish a “job description” that includes committee member’s responsibilities, time commitments, term length, attendance requirements, etc.

How can we increase our WAG’s effectiveness? Provide a brief but detailed orientation to assure uniform understanding of the committee’s role, the governmental structure in which it exists, and any relevant policies and procedures. Begin the first meeting by inviting participants to identify pedestrian safety concerns they have about their neighborhood or the community at large. Also at the first (or second) meeting, provide key materials [A Walkable Community is More Than Just Sidewalks] and show a video like “Walk!” to assure common understanding of essential principles of walkability. Make other materials available at City Hall or the Public Library for committee and public use. [See Resource Notebook.] Be sure to clarify who the WAG advises: the head of the governing body (City Mayor, Village President, or Town Chair), the Police Chief, the Public Works Commission, the governing body (City Council, Village or Town Board), or all of them? Make specific recommendations at least annually.

What does a WAG do first? Ideally, it develops a vision statement for the group, but doesn’t spend a lot of time on this step. Adapt one of the sample vision statements to suit local needs:

1. To set priorities for completing our sidewalk and trail network so that all children in our community can walk or bike to school.
2. To calm traffic on “Main Street” so that seniors can safely cross the road.
3. To encourage more people who live, work, or visit friends in our community to walk downtown and patronize local businesses.
4. To create a culture of mutual courtesy and respect among motorists and walkers.

What are the next steps? Identify problem areas that need improvement, invite key players to talk about them, and then ask committee members to walk the area (together or with a friend) before the next meeting, using an assessment sheet. (You may already have done something like this during a Walking Workshop.) Gather additional information to help in the planning process (safety records, public works plans, etc.).

Does the WAG need a work plan? The committee can build momentum by setting (and achieving) reasonable goals for 6 months, a year, and longer. If possible, set nine goals, three in each of the following goal sets:

a.       Set one short-term goal that is easy to accomplish, won’t cost a lot of money and that everyone in the room can agree on now and can help make happen. Set three if you can.

b.       Set one medium-range goal that will involve some planning, some money, some discussion, and some help. Set three if you can.

c.       Set one long-range goal that will involve more planning, more money, more discussion, and more help. Set three if you can.

Review goals every six months and annually.

Will the WAG provide or need training? Work with WisDOT, the regional planning commission or local university to offer training for committee members. Open the training sessions to staff, elected officials, and the public. Invite neighboring communities too. This will encourage intergovernmental partnerships that can lead to corridor change.

Other pointers for success:

•Establish a regular meeting day and time.

•Develop an agenda for each meeting and distribute it at least a week before the meeting.

•Begin and end on time.

•Set the meeting room up so that all attending can interact effectively.

•Have sufficient copies of materials for all who attend the meeting.

•Stay focused, discourage side conversations.

•Record the activities of the committee.

•Invite committee members to shepherd one specific project from planning through completion. This gives them ownership and a feeling of success. Plus, you have a friend to share any frustration that may occur in working through the governmental process!

After six months of committee work, see if any working groups are emerging or need to be appointed. For example, the North Central Texas Council of Governments employed three working groups in the early days of its Bicycle & Pedestrian Transportation Task Force. One working group focused on developing guidelines for design and maintenance. Another highlighted common safety problems and made recommendations for improving and expanding of public education programs. A third provided outreach to build, develop, and maintain bicycle commuting and walking programs with employers, schools, and commercial businesses.

Wisconsin Walks thanks Ben Gomberg, City of Chicago Bike/Ped Coordinator, the North Central Texas Council of Governments, and Elaine Cogan of Cogan Owens Cogan in Portland, Oregon for assistance in developing these guidelines.