Designing for Pedestrian Safety

Sidewalk DesignPresented by:

Peter EunFHWA RC Safety Engineer

Assisted  by

Fred Ranck, PTOE, P.E.FHWA RC Safety Engineer

August 3, 2010

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Learning Outcomes:

At the end of this module, you will be able to:

Describe the operational and safety benefits of shoulders and sidewalks

Select the appropriate design requirements for sidewalks

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Walking along the road accounts for 10-15% of pedestrian crashes:

Fewer in urban areas

More in rural areas

They’re easily preventable 

Crash Reduction Factor (CRF):

Paved shoulders reduce pedestrian crashes 70%

Sidewalks reduce pedestrian crashes 88% (most sidewalk crashes occur at driveways)

CRF: % fewer crashes experienced on a road with a given treatment than on  similar road without treatment

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Shoulders improve safety for all users

For motorists: room to avoid crashes

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Shoulders improve safety for all users

For bicyclists: a place to ride

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6’ width preferred

CRF = 70% 

Shoulders improve safety for all users

For pedestrians: a place to walk

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At a certain point, sidewalks are needed

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“Goat trail” indicates sidewalks are needed

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The AASHTO “Green Book” states:“Sidewalks are integral parts of city streets”

Sidewalks are not added to streets, they are part of the street

6.0 ft6.0 ft 5 ft 5 ft6.0 ft 6.0 ft12.0 ft 12.0 ft

4 inches4 inches 8 inches

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Sidewalks reduce pedestrian crash risk by 88%

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Curbs & sidewalks slow traffic more than speed sign

Sidewalks define an urban street

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Discussion: Why are sidewalks discontinuous?

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Discussion: Why are sidewalks discontinuous?

Because they’re built by developers

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A sidewalk on 1 side only is not OK

Discussion: Why are sidewalks on one side not OK?

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A sidewalk on 1 side only is not OK

Discussion: Why are sidewalks on one side not OK?

Answer: Pedestrians walk in street, or cross twice

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Sample Implementation Strategy

Sample Implementation Strategy to retrofit existing streets with sidewalks

how to develop a program to fill in missing sidewalks over 20 years

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How do you make such a daunting task manageable?

Seattle example: divide it into bite‐size chunks, with overlapping priorities

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Urban village

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Schools

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Serviceproviders BINGO!

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Discussion:

What are your requirements for sidewalks:

1. What are the triggers?

2. Who pays for them?

3. Who maintains them? 

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Sidewalk Corridors – The Zone System

The sidewalk corridor extends from the edge of roadway to the right‐of‐way and is divided into 4 zones

Curb zone

Furniture zone

Pedestrian zone

Frontage zone

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Curb zone

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Why the curb zone matters:

Mountable curbs are inappropriate on local streets

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Why the curb zone matters:

It’s where pedestrians transition from/to the street

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Curbs & drainage are the greatest sidewalk cost

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This sidewalk cost little to install without the curb

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Furniture zone

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All these things go here!

All the “stuff” goes in the furniture zone

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The furniture zone keeps the sidewalk clear

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Sidewalk with furniture zone is pleasant to walk on

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Planter strip helps define driveways

It’s easier for drivers to find driveways

Drivers are more likely to yield to pedestrians

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Pedestrian zone

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Sidewalk width

5‐feet width is necessary for two people to walk comfortably side by side or to pass each other

6‐feet width is preferred

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Sidewalk width

A sidewalk should be as wide as needed to serve anticipated pedestrian use (use HCM ped LOS)

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Frontage zone

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Shy Distance

Shy distance concept applies to pedestrians, who will shy away from a vertical face; extra width is needed

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An interesting façade makes narrow sidewalks feel wider

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The type of fence material impacts pedestrian comfort

The sidewalk on the left is wider, but feels constrained because of high chain link fence

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Street

Parking Curb Zone

Furniture ZonePedestrian

Zone

Frontage Zone

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The Zone System – Summary

Residential street

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Street

ParkingCurb Zon

e

FurnitureZone

PedestrianZone

Frontage Zone

The Zone System – Summary

Commercial street

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With Zone System

Street furniture arranged in zones leaves sidewalk clear

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Without Zone System

Randomly placed street furniture clutters sidewalk

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Without Zone System

No buffer between pedestrians and traffic

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ADA requirements for sidewalks

Well‐designed sidewalks meet ADA:

Sidewalks should be clear of obstructions:

3’ min clearance,  4’ proposed

Sidewalk should have smooth surface 

Sidewalk should be at 2% max cross‐slope including at driveways

The zone system creates a safer and more pleasant place to walk, andmakes it easier to meet ADA requirements.

Note: many slides include older photos that show non‐compliant sidewalk features, especially ramps without the truncated domes

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Options for ADA training

Designing Pedestrian Facilities for Accessibility (DPFA) Web Based Course from FHWA

To request a course or learn more contact

• Jodi Petersen at jodi.petersen@dot.gov

• Peter Eun at peter.eun@dot.gov

Designing Pedestrian Facilities for Accessibility training course from APBP (in person): 

To request a course see link below

• http://www.apbp.org/?Access_Course

• Agenda: http://www.apbp.org/resource/resmgr/dpfa/dpfa_one‐

page_flyer.pdf

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Agenda for DPFA Web Based Course

1. Introduction ‐ Live web conference

a) ADA Statistics

b) Policies / Legal Background

c) Walking Environment 

2. Pedestrian Access Route – self paced

3. Curb Ramps and Blended Transitions – self paced

4. Detectable Warning Services – self paced

5. Pedestrian Crossings – self paced

6. Accessible Pedestrian Signals – self paced

7. Street Furniture and Parking – self paced

8. Work Zones – self paced

9. Wrap Up ‐ Live web conference

a) Q & A

b) Knowledge Test

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Utilities & poles should not obstruct sidewalk

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Mitigate around obstacles on narrow curbside sidewalk

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Driveways

Driveways are the source of most conflicts with motor vehicles on sidewalks

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Driveways built like intersections encourage high-speed turns

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Driveways built like driveways encourage slow-speed turns

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This driveway was built like an intersection

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Driver exits at high speed, not looking at pedestrians

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3’

ADA requirements for driveways:

Minimum passage of 3’ (soon to be 4’) at 2% max cross‐slope

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6’

Easier to maintain level passage with separated sidewalks

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Cross‐slopeexceeds 2%

Without zone system (curbside sidewalk) hard to meet ADA

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For narrow curbside sidewalks, wrap sidewalk around apron

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Walking Along the Road – Let’s Recap

1.  Crash Reduction Factors:

Rural environments:

Paved shoulders reduce ped crashes up to 70%

Urban environments:

Sidewalks reduce ped crashes up to 88%

(most sidewalk crashes occur at driveways)

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Walking Along the Road – Let’s Recap

2. Sidewalk Design: The zone system

What are the 4 zones?

1. The curb zone

2. The furniture/planter/buffer zone

3. The pedestrian/walking zone

4. The frontage zone

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Walking Along the Road – Let’s Recap

3. Sidewalk Design: Key characteristics

How should the walking zone be designed?

Smooth

Separated from traffic

Clear of obstructions

Level cross‐slope (max 2%)

Wide enough to accommodate expected pedestrian volumes

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Walking Along the Road – Learning Outcomes:

You should now be able to:

Describe the operational and safety benefits of shoulders and sidewalks

Select the appropriate design requirements for sidewalks

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Questions?