Denver's Sidewalk Crisis
43% of Denver's sidewalk network is missing or deficient. Scroll to explore where the gaps are, who they hurt most, and what the data demands.
3,140 Miles of Sidewalk
missing or deficient
The Scale of the Crisis
Denver has 3,140 miles of sidewalks. But 43% of them - nearly 1,500 miles - are either missing entirely or too narrow for a wheelchair. At least 1,233 blocks need repair. At previous funding levels, completing the network would take over 400 years.
The Equity Gap
In DOTI equity priority neighborhoods - areas with the highest need - 37% of sidewalks are too narrow, compared to 34% citywide. 153 miles are missing entirely, concentrated in north and southwest Denver. The poorest neighborhoods bear the heaviest burden.
Can't Get to the Bus
Over half of Denver’s high-ridership transit stops have missing sidewalks within a two-minute walk. 71% have deficient-width sidewalks nearby. Union Station has less than 1% missing or deficient. The infrastructure follows the investment. The investment follows the wealth.
The Streets Where People Die
These four arterials have some of the narrowest sidewalks in Denver. The percentages show how much of each corridor’s sidewalks lack any buffer between pedestrians and traffic - on Leetsdale Dr, that’s two-thirds. They are all part of the High Injury Network, where 50% of fatal crashes happen on just 5% of streets. 93 people died on Denver streets in 2025. 35 were pedestrians.
Where Kids Walk to School
35% of community destinations - schools, parks, food stores, health centers - have missing sidewalks within a two-minute walk. The gap between wealthy and underserved areas is stark: Presbyterian/St. Luke’s Hospital has 7% missing or deficient. Abraham Lincoln High School has 64%.
The Window to Act
The Sidewalk Implementation Plan is being finalized through 2026. Public input on prioritization happens Spring 2026. This is the window to demand equity-first construction - that the most dangerous corridors and underserved neighborhoods come first, not last.
What You Can Do
Public Comment
The Sidewalk Implementation Plan accepts public input on prioritization in Spring 2026. Demand equity-first construction - that the most dangerous corridors and underserved neighborhoods come first.
Read the Full Policy
Our Pedestrian Infrastructure & Sidewalk Equity proposal includes a progressive fee structure, accelerated timeline, ADA-first construction standards, and integration with disability rights.
Read the Proposal →Share This Data
Copy the link to this page and share it with your neighbors, your council member, and anyone who walks in Denver. The data is public. The crisis should be too.
Data Sources
- City and County of Denver, DOTI.Denver Sidewalk Implementation Plan: State of the System Report. January 22, 2026.
- Denver Streets Partnership.Denver Deserves Sidewalks campaign materials, 2022.
- City and County of Denver.Vision Zero Dashboard, 2025. (93 traffic deaths; 35 pedestrians.)