Crosswalk Conundrum:Why, Where, and How?

Seleta ReynoldsFehr & Peers

“There is more to life than increasing its speed.”

Ghandi

“Our national flower is the concrete cloverleaf.”

Lewis Mumford

Why? Crosswalk Function

Creating reasonable expectations where pedestrians may cross a roadway

Channelization of pedestrians to designated crossing locations

Channelization

Advantages

They help pedestrians find their way across complex intersections

They designate the shortest path They direct pedestrians to locations of best

sight distance

Advantages

Disadvantages

They may create a “false sense of security” for pedestrians.

They may cause a greater number of rear-end collisions.

They may cause an increase in the number of fatal or serious-injury crashes.

Where? Review of Previous Studies

• Pedestrian crosswalk study (1970) - City of San Diego

• California Marking Policy at Intersections on California State Highways (1996) - ITE

• Safety Effects of Marked Versus Unmarked Crosswalks at Uncontrolled Crossing Locations (2000) - FHWA

Safety Effects of Marked Vs. Unmarked Crosswalks at Uncontrolled Crossing

Locations (2000) - FHWAData 1,000 marked and 1,000 unmarked crosswalks No school crossings 229 pedestrian crashes included Crash history (5 years), pedestrian volumes, traffic

volumes, number of lanes, speed limit

Safety Effects of Marked Vs. Unmarked Crosswalks at Uncontrolled Crossing Locations

(2000) - FHWA

Exceptions

Locations with high traffic volumes may be candidates for marked crosswalks if they also have extraordinarily high pedestrian volumes

No location with poor sight distance is a good candidate for marking a crosswalk

Exceptions

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Be Careful

Consider Marked Crosswalk

Uncontrolled and Midblock Locations

Step One: Assessing Demand Purpose: Choosing the best location for the

crosswalk and measuring need Data Needed: Adjacent land uses, pedestrian

volumes, sight distance

Equivalent Adult Units

Number Factor EAUs

 Children ___________ x 2.0 = _________

Seniors ___________ x 1.5 = _________

Disabled ___________ x 2.0 = _________

Adults ___________ x 1.0 = _________  

Source: Pedestrian Crossing Control Manual, Transportation Association of Canada13

Pedestrian Desire Lines

Uncontrolled and Midblock Locations

Step Two: Assessing Safety Purpose: Choosing the treatment for the

crosswalk Data Needed: Number of travel lanes,

average daily traffic, posted speed

Step-by-Step

Step-by-Step

How? Level One Devices

Pedestrian Refuge Islands

Split Pedestrian Crossover

Curb Extensions

How? Level Two Devices

Overhead Signs and Flashing Beacons

Raised Crosswalks In-pavement Flashers

How? Level Three Devices

Pedestrian-actuated signals: Hawk, Toucan, Pelican

Flashing yellow and then solid yellow when a pedestrian pushes the button

Signal is dark until activated Signal is goes solid red and pedestrian has a walk signal

How? Level Four

Pedestrian bridges and overcrossings

Photo by Dave Campbell

Step-by-Step

Uncontrolled Crossing Example