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Determining the Ideal Location for Pedestrian Crosswalks at Signalized Intersections
| Content Provider | Semantic Scholar |
|---|---|
| Author | Jacquemart, Georges |
| Copyright Year | 2012 |
| Abstract | Crosswalks are usually aligned with sidewalks at signalized intersections in the United States. However, other countries are implementing different configurations, where the pedestrian crossings are recessed, or pulled back from the curb line. Although it is standard practice to concentrate all conflicts at one location, the recessed crosswalk idea stems from the opinion that moving pedestrians away from other conflicts in the intersection is preferable. This article discusses some of the advantages and disadvantages of recessed crosswalks. Recessed crosswalks provide an offset between front- and rear-wheel tracks for large trucks or buses. They can also improve visibility conditions for turning vehicles, provide a safety zone for left-turning vehicles, offer a shorter crossing distance for pedestrians, improve distinction of accessible pedestrian signals for visually impaired pedestrians, reduce traffic blockage by right-turning vehicles, and reduce congestion for pedestrians. These benefits are most significant in dense urban areas with large numbers of pedestrians and turning vehicles. However, some of the disadvantages include a less direct path when crossing a street, increased clearance time, and the need for landscaping or guardrails at the intersection corner in order to prevent jaywalkers and to guide visually impaired pedestrians. The observations in this study suggest the need for further research regarding optimal crosswalk location. |
| File Format | PDF HTM / HTML |
| Volume Number | 82 |
| Alternate Webpage(s) | http://www.ite.org/membersonly/itejournal/pdf/2012/JB12IA44.pdf |
| Language | English |
| Access Restriction | Open |
| Content Type | Text |
| Resource Type | Article |
