This guide is part of a series of Federal Highway Administration (FHWA) guides, collectively entitled “A Manual for Local Rural Road Owners.” The Manual provides information related to various safety topics of interest to local road managers and other practitioners that are responsible for owning, designing, operating, and maintaining local rural roads. The topics are presented in a way that will not be overwhelming for most local agencies, and regularly includes definitions and reasoning when appropriate to reinforce the concepts.

This particular guide addresses non-motorized user safety in low-volume local rural roadways such as in a rural village setting. The intended audience is any agency that operates and maintains local rural roads, such as municipalities, counties, and Tribal governments. This guide is meant to serve as a concise toolbox of resources and information. There is a focus on engaging other stakeholders, and obtaining input and data that may not be as common for motorized safety concerns.

The guide covers topics related to identifying factors that affect non-motorized safety, analyzing data to prioritize non-motorized safety concerns, selecting and implementing countermeasures, and monitoring and evaluating implemented countermeasures.  A number of suggested countermeasures are discussed. For each, the guide addresses in simple terms where to use the countermeasure, why it works, and other considerations.