Safety and Education
Walking safety is a priority in the City of Madison. Learn more about initiatives to make Madison a safe, convenient, and enjoyable place for walking.
- Guide to Street and Path Crossings: This guide from the Wisconsin Department of Transportation helps both crosswalk users and drivers understand their responsibilities in ensuring safety on our streets.
- Shared-Use Path Etiquette – When using a shared use path, please walk to the right and pass on the left. Be aware of others around you. If you are walking with a dog, they must be on a leash and under control.
- Wisconsin Pedestrian Laws – Find out more about Wisconsin’s State Statutes related to walking.
Safety Improvements:
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Vision Zero
The City’s initiative to eliminate fatal and serious traffic crashes.
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Safe Streets Madison
Do you have safety or connectivity concerns that you think could improve walking? The Safe Streets Madison program focuses on improving traffic safety and filling gaps in the walking and biking network.
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Traffic Safety Improvement Measures
Using proven safety countermeasures, the City implements a variety of improvements that benefit people walking including lowering speed limits, better street lighting and traffic calming measures including:
- Flashing Beacon Crosswalk Light – Learn more about this pedestrian-actuated warning device at non-signalized intersections.
- Accessible Pedestrian Signal Request – These buttons near signalized pedestrian crossings provide audible information to assist people with crossing the street.
- Pedestrian Flag Program(link is external) – In 2003, Safe Communities launched a pedestrian flag program to improve crosswalk yielding. Community organizations and businesses can apply to adopt a crosswalk flag installation.
Pedestrian Safety for Children and Parents
- How Children See Traffic, help your children be better pedestrians and bicyclists
- Guidelines for Talking to Children about Pedestrian Safety
- Children's pedestrian safety instructions / coloring sheet
- Safe Routes to School – The City of Madison in partnership with the Wisconsin Bike Fed work collaboratively with the Madison Metropolitan School District and private schools to encourage more students to walk and bike to school through a variety of programming efforts including walking education.
Schools
Includes criteria for assigning Adult School Crossing Guards
- Walking School Bus Basics
- Walking School Bus Complete Guide
- School Zone Safety brochure on driving and parking in school zones