Module 3

1. Module 3 Walking Along the Road Crashes

2. Walking Along the Road Crashes Learning Outcomes: • Describe the Operational and Safety Benefits of Shoulders and Sidewalks • Define the Design Requirements for Sidewalks

3. Strategic Highway Safety Plan • Statewide-coordinated safety plan that provides: • comprehensive framework to reduce highway fatalities and serious injuries on all public roads. • Establishes statewide goals, objectives, and key emphasis areas • Stakeholder involvement • 2 Challenge Areas – Bikes, Pedestrians

4. Walking along the road crashes account for 10-15% of all pedestrian crashes:- Less in urban areas - More in rural areasThey are easily preventable by Shoulders & Sidewalks. NCHRP 500, Strategy 9.1 A1: Provide Sidewalks/Walkways and Curb Ramps

5. Crash Reduction Factors (CRF): • Paved shoulders reduce pedestrian crashes up to 80% • Sidewalks reduce pedestrian crashes up to 88% (most sidewalk crashes occur at driveways) Shoulders & Sidewalks: NCHRP 500, Strategy 9.1 A1: Provide Sidewalks/Walkways and Curb Ramps

6. Shoulders serve pedestrians in rural areas Benton County OR

7. Shoulders improve safety for all users For motorists: • Room to avoid crashes Benton County OR

8. Shoulders improve safety for all users For bicyclists: • A place to ride Benton County OR

9. Shoulders improve safety for all users For pedestrians: • A place to walk Benton County OR

10. At a certain point, sidewalks are needed Canyonville OR

11. “Goat trail” indicates sidewalks are needed Redmond OR

12. The AASHTO “Green Book” states: “Sidewalks are integral parts of city streets” Sidewalks are not added to streets, they are part of the street

13. Proven CRF = 88% CRF = Crash Reduction Factor Sidewalks reduce the risk of pedestrian crashes Salem OR

14. Curbs & sidewalks are more likely to slow traffic than a speed sign Sidewalks define an urban street Coburg OR

15. Sidewalks should not end midblock Fredericksburg VA

16. A sidewalk on one side only is not OK Discussion: Why are sidewalks on 1 side not OK? Answer: Pedestrians walk in street, or cross twice

17. Characteristics of good sidewalk design • Proper width • Clear of obstacles • Smooth & level surfaces • Separated from traffic

18. Sidewalk Corridor - The Zone System • Sidewalk corridor extends from the edge of roadway to the edge of right-of-way: • Curb zone • Furniture zone • Pedestrian zone • Frontage zone

19. ADA requirements for sidewalks • Well-designed sidewalks meet ADA requirements: • Sidewalks should be wide & clear of obstructions (4’ minimum clearance); • Sidewalk surface should be smooth; • Sidewalk surface should be at 2% max cross-slope; • Sidewalk surface should be level across driveways. Using the zone system creates a safer and more pleasant place to walk, and makes it easier to meet all ADA requirements. Note: many slides include older photos that show non-compliant sidewalk features, especially ramps without the truncated domes

20. Designing Sidewalks and Trails for Access – Best Practices Design Guide http://www.fhwa.dot.gov/environment/sidewalk2/index.htm

21. Curb Zone

22. Furniture Zone

23. Government Grass Collector Strip Parking Strip Utility Strip Buffer Boulevard Landscape Strip Planting Strip Park Strip Lawn Extension Idiot Strip Boulevard Strip Hell Strip Tree Lawn Furnishing Zone Furniture Zone Devil’s Strip Landscape Area Buffer Zone The Parking Terrace Grass Lawn Verge Parkway Planter Strip Kill Strip Greenway Parkway Strip Snow Zone

24. The furniture zone matters: It keeps the sidewalk clear Ashland OR

25. Randomly arranged street furniture clutters sidewalk Silverton OR

26. Carefully arranged street furniture leaves sidewalk clear Washington DC

27. The furniture zone matters: Without it, obstructions block the sidewalk Ashland OR

28. All these things go here! All the “stuff” goes in the furniture zone

29. Planter strip also helps define driveways, making them easier for drivers to find Corvallis OR

30. Parked cars create a good buffer(especially on narrow sidewalks) Philadelphia PA

31. Pedestrian Zone

32. 5 feet (1.5 m) necessary for two people to walk comfortably side by side (or to pass each other) Henderson, NV

33. Measure from back of curb 6’ AASHTO recommends an extra 2’ buffer Width of curbside sidewalk (least desirable) should be measured from back of curb (not face of curb) A 6’ curbtight sidewalk is nominally a 4’ sidewalk according to AASHTO

34. Measure from here Independence OR

35. “Nominal” sw width Narrow curbside sidewalk loses part of its usable width Narrow curbside sidewalk provides no buffer Augusta ME

36. ADA 3’ min clearance is NOT an acceptable S/W width * New guidelines min. clearance = 4’ Salem OR

37. Narrow curbside sidewalks are inadequate in commercial areas Reno NV

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

39. Frontage Zone

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

41. The type of fence material impacts pedestrian comfort: the sidewalk on the left is wider, but feels constrained because of high chain link fence

42. The Zone System - Summary Street Curb Zone Frontage Zone Pedestrian Zone Furniture Zone Parking 1st example: residential street

43. Street Curb Zone Parking Pedestrian Zone Furniture Zone Frontage Zone The Zone System - Summary 2nd example: commercial street Washington DC

44. 2’ recommended Specifying sidewalk width is not enough: Desired clearances should be specified in specs

45. Utilities & poles should not obstruct sidewalk Las Vegas NV

46. There are simple solutions Salem OR

47. Sidewalk can wrap around pole Amity OR

48. Curbs & drainage are the greatest sidewalk cost Grants Pass OR

49. Curbless sidewalks are possible Amity OR

50. Sidewalk can be placed behind a ditch or swale