Pedestrians and Intersections

“This (intersection) has caused a death. That one will, too, unless they do something.”
–Gregory Wilson

As pedestrian safety becomes a major issue across American cities  and states we explore how to improve safety standards where many accidents occur: intersections. Creating safer intersections is not rocket science though, it is just difficult to convince city officials and traffic engineers to change their old auto-centric way of thought to make things safer.

Curb Radius Design
Courtesy of: http://www.fabb-bikes.org/guide/commonissues2.html

We apologize but things are about to get a bit technical. The greatest threat to pedestrian safety at an intersection is the radius of the curb. This determines how sharp any given corner is and effects the travel speed of vehicles and the width of the street (see diagram below). Unfortunately, a wide curb radius has become the norm in today’s design standards. Traffic engineers advocate for them because their design manta is “to move cars quickly” so they want traffic to not have to slow down for a tight corner because traffic will clog up behind them. Another advocate for the use of a wide curb radius are emergency response vehicles. They believe that a wider curb will help them to respond to emergencies quicker. However, this has a catch 22 effect because the wide curbs to get to emergencies faster but what is actually happening is creating more accidents due to unsafe intersections. You can read more about this in Suburban Nation.

There are several design elements to improve crosswalks. The goal is to make pedestrian crossings as visible as possible by ladder stripes and signage. The safer it is for pedestrians because it is more visible it will be for vehicles. Some communities are taking an initiate and being creative with crosswalks markings to make them unique to a community and more visible. Some communities are learning the benefit of installing roundabouts at intersections to improve traffic flow and enhance pedestrian safety. While there is some opposition to roundabouts they are proven to help control traffic flow and be safer for pedestrians.

Textured and colored crosswalk
Photo courtesy of: http://grandlakeguardian.org

Fast cars and poor planning is not the only thing to blame though. Pedestrians need to take responsibility for their own actions. Jaywalking sounds like a minor offense but it is the same as running a red light. Pedestrians should  cross the street only at a crosswalk and if a signal is available only go ahead when it is your turn. If there is no walk signal be sure no cars are coming before you cross. Always remember what your mom and dad always said, “look both ways before you cross the street.”

Is Your Street Complete?

So just when is a street “complete”? Streets are complete when the design gives access for all users, regardless of mode of transportation, age, or ability. The street is more than just a road for cars. Legally, they extend from one property line to another, this is what is known as the “public right of way.” This is an area the city as set aside as public space for everyone to use, not just cars, but the design sometimes limits use for non-motorized users.

Typical Section of a complete street
Image courtesy of http://www.kauai.gov

While all streets look different, the above section shows the public right of way, when designed correctly, gives even access to all modes of transportation. The width of each lane is key to the overall success of the street. If the travel lane is too wide cars will speed and bikers and pedestrians will feel unsafe. Using trees serve as a buffer between the travel lanes for cars and the pedestrian walkways causing cars to slow down, making everyone safer, they also are a great way to beautify the community.

Complete streets offer economic benefits for the community. A recent report documented added economic benefit to communities that are more “walkable.” With this new data developers are trying to push for walkable neighborhoods so that both they and the community will profit from their development.

Complete streets also have many health benefits including increased safety for pedestrians and cyclist, increased access to free and safe physical activity in the way of cycling, walking, and public parks, plus it decreases automobile use which is better for the environment and air quality. According to Richard Jackson, M.D., Director of the National Center for Environmental Health, “It is dishonest to tell our citizens to walk, jog, or bicycle when there is no safe or welcoming place to pursue these life-saving activities.” Complete streets gives the community the option to have a safe routes to school program which aims to reduce obesity in children as it has in Alabama. It is important for public health professionals and community members to understand and advocate for complete streets, especially in low-income neighborhoods, where people are more likely to depend on non-motorized and public transportation.

Completed Street
Image courtesy of http://www.completestreets.org