DRAFT Alameda Active Transportation Plan
Appendix F: Pedestrian and Bicycle Facility Types
RAISED CROSSING
• Reduces vehicle speeds at intersection or mid-block
• Incr
eases visibility of pedestrians by elevating them
• Typi
cally used on residential/low-volume streets
CURB EXTENSION
• Reduces pedestrian crossing distances at intersections or mid
block crossings
• Slow
s motor vehicle turning speeds
• Visu
ally narrows the roadway which helps to reduce vehicle
speeds
• Can be b
uilt with concrete or paint and posts
HIGH-VISIBILITY
CROSSWALK/CURB RAMPS
• Improves visibility of crossing with bold, reflective striping whic
h can increase yielding rates at intersection and midblock • ADA-
accessible curb ramps provide access and detectable
warning for the physically impaired, and are useful to people pushi
ng strollers or baskets
MEDIAN REFUGE ISLAND
• Allows pedestrians to cross a street in two stages
• Visu
ally narrows the roadway which helps to reduce vehicle speeds • Used on m
ulti-lane roadways or roadways with high traffic volume
ADA-COMPLIANT SIDEWALK
• Provides a continuous clear path that is a recommended width of 6 fe
et (minimum 4 feet wide)
• A firm
, stable, and slip-resistant surface, typically concrete
PEDESTRIAN HYBRID BEACON
• Traffic signal for major street activated on demand by bicyclists or pede
strians
• Ofte
n at midblock crossings on higher speed, multi-lane roadways
IN-STREET PEDESTRIAN CROSSING
SIGN (PADDLE SIGN)
• Placed in advance of marked crossings, typically in the centerline • Warn
s drivers to watch for pedestrians so that they can yield appropriately
• Can re
duce motor vehicle speeds if multiple signs are placed at one crossing
RECTANGULAR RAPID FLASHING
BEACON (RRFB)
• RRFBs combine a crossing warning sign with a bright
fla
shing beacon that is activated only when a pedestrian is present
• Incr
eases motorists’ yielding compliance and pedestrian
visibility
SIGNALS
• Pedestrian Signal Timing - Signal head displays “Walk”, countdown, and “
Don’t Walk”; crossing time accommodates a normal walking pace • Acce
ssible Pedestrian Signals - Communicates information audibly to accommodate the visually impaired
• Lead
ing Pedestrian Interval - Walk phase begins 3-7 seconds before motor vehicles are given the green light, which increases visibility and reduces conflicts Pedestrian Facilities
www.ActiveAlameda.org
These pedestrian facilities and improvements are used by people who walk, skate, or use wheelchairs or other mobility devices.
HORIZONTAL TRAFFIC CALMING
• Reduces vehicle speeds by narrowing the lane and requiring drivers to horizontally a
lter their position
• In
cludes chicanes, curb extensions, mini-traffic circles, and other, similar treatments • Ty
pically used on residential/low-volume streets at intersection or mid-block l
ocations
PARKING PROHIBITION NEAR
INTERSECTION
• Increases visibility of pedestrians at intersections
• Als
o called “daylighting”
• Ty
pically extends 20 feet from the intersection
TRUCK APRON ON BULB OUT
• Functions similar to a curb extension by increasing the visibility of pedestrians and i
mproving pedestrian safety
• Fo
rces vehicles to slow down while making turns or traveling straight by narrowing t
he roadway
• A ta
pered increase in grade allows trucks to turn more easily
MINI TRAFFIC CIRCLE
• Circular islands installed in the center of local street intersections • Red
uces traffic speeds
• Co
mmonly landscaped with bushes, flowers, or grass
CROSSWALK VISIBILITY ENHANCEMENTS
• The following treatments may be used to make pedestrians easier to s
ee and show motorists where to stop when pedestrians are crossing:
a
dvance yield markings, “yield here to pedestrians” signs, curb e
xtensions, and high-visibility crosswalks
• Ca
n reduce crashes where traffic in one lane stops for a pedestrian or b
icyclist crossing but traffic in other lanes cannot see the pedestrian or b
icyclist
VERTICAL TRAFFIC CALMING
• Typically used on residential/low-volume streets in mid-block locations • Mo
re effective at reducing vehicle speeds than horizontal traffic calming • Pr
ovides a gentle rise on the roadway to slow motor vehicle speeds • Des
igned for motor vehicles to cross them comfortably when traveling at or below t
he speed limit
• Ca
n be designed to accommodate emergency vehicles (e.g., speed cushions)
STREETSCAPE IMPROVEMENTS
• Streetscape improvements can include many things, such as green infrastructure (e.g., bioswales), benches, street art, lighting, bus shelters, and planters
Pedestrian Facilities
www.ActiveAlameda.org
PEDESTRIAN SCRAMBLE
• Eliminates conflicts between pedestrians and vehicles by completely separating p
edestrian crossing movements from all vehicle movements • Ty
pically used at intersections in downtowns or other locations with hi
gh volumes of pedestrians and high volumes of turning vehicles
BUFFERED BIKE L ANE
• Increases riding space and comfort by adding a painted buffer to a st
andard bike lane
• Buf
fer located either between the bike lane and automobile travel lane, or between bike lane and parking
• App
ropriate on medium- to high-volume streets
NEIGHBORHOOD GREENWAY
• Prioritizes bicycle movement and minimizes bicycle stops along lo
w volume streets
• Pav
ement markings are often paired with traffic calming measures (e.g., traffic circles, speed tables...etc.)
• App
ropriate on low-volume streets, usually in residential areas
SEPARATED BIKE LANE
• Provides bike-only facility physically separated from automobile travel la
ne and distinct from sidewalk
• Sep
arated from traffic by curb, bollards, planters, parked cars and/or other vertical elements
• App
ropriate on medium- and high-volume streets
BIKE LANE
• Provides dedicated space for bicyclists on the street with pa
vement markings
• Appropriate on medium- or low-volume streets
BIKE BOX
• Dedicated space between the crosswalk and vehicle stop line where bic
yclists can wait during the red light at signalized intersections • Improve visibility and motorists’ awareness of bicyclists at intersections
BIKE DETECTION/PUSH BUTTON
• Bicycle push buttons are located on signal poles within reach of a bicyclist wai
ting in the roadway; the buttons trigger a green light for bicyclists once pushed (similar to pedestrian push buttons)
• Bicycle detectors are located in the street at intersections and trigger a green light for bicyclists who wait above the detector marking
SHARED-USE PATH
• Physically separated from motor vehicle traffic
• Com
fortable for a wide range of users
• Pro
vides connectivity to on-street bicycle network
• May n
ot serve all destinations directly
• May h
ave separate paths designated for walking and bicycling
PAINTED CONFLICT MARKINGS
• Improves visibility of bike lanes through intersections and alerts al
l roadway users of expected behaviors
• Red
uces conflicts with turning vehicles
• Recommended for select conflict locations
WAYFINDING SIG NAGE
• Helps bicyclists identify the best routes to destinations an
d directs bicyclists to connecting routes
• Usua
lly includes signage and pavement markings
• Sig
ns may indicate distances or travel times
to destinations
TWO-STAGE L EFT TURN BOX
• Designates an area without vehicle conflicts for bicyclists to wait for traffic to clear before pro
ceeding in a different direction of travel
• Pro
vides a way for bicyclists to make turns without having to merge across multiple lanes of traffic • App
ropriate at multi-lane intersections where bicyclists frequently turn left from a facility on the right side of the roadway, or at locations with separated bike lanes or shared-used paths where it is not possible for bicyclists to merge into motor vehicle lanes in advance of the intersection Bicycling Facilities
These bicycle facilities and improvements used by people who ride bicycles, electric bicycles, scooters, or other similar wheeled devices provided through programs like bikeshare.
www.ActiveAlameda.org