CITY COUNCIL 2024
JAMES COLEMAN, MAYOR (DIST. 4)
EDDIE FLORES, VICE MAYOR (DIST. 5)
MARK ADDIEGO, MEMBER (DIST. 1)
FLOR NICOLAS, MEMBER (DIST. 3)
MARK NAGALES, MEMBER (DIST. 2)
SHARON RANALS, CITY MANAGER
OFFICE OF
THE CITY ENGINEER
PHONE (650) 829-6652
FAX (650) 829-6689
Guide for Parking Restriction
Enhancements at Crosswalks
Effective Date
October 4, 2024
Subject
Vision clearance guidelines at approaches to crosswalks.
Purpose
To improve safety for all modes at street intersections and crossings by establishing guidelines for vision clearance and on-street parking setbacks from crosswalks.
Figure 1: Example of how setting back parking from crosswalks can improve visibility. (Jose, 2015) Background
The “Daylighting” bill, Assembly Bill 413, approved on October 10, 2023, modifies California Vehicle Code section 22500 to prohibit stopping, standing, or parking of a vehicle within 20 feet of the vehicle approach side of any unmarked or marked crosswalk or 15 feet of any crosswalk where a curb extension is present, apart from bicycles or motorized scooters. The bill allows violations to be issued for any unsigned or unmarked locations after January 1, 2025.
CITY COUNCIL 2024
JAMES COLEMAN, MAYOR (DIST. 4)
EDDIE FLORES, VICE MAYOR (DIST. 5)
MARK ADDIEGO, MEMBER (DIST. 1)
FLOR NICOLAS, MEMBER (DIST. 3)
MARK NAGALES, MEMBER (DIST. 2)
SHARON RANALS, CITY MANAGER
OFFICE OF
THE CITY ENGINEER
PHONE (650) 829-6652
FAX (650) 829-6689
Revision 8 of the 2014 edition of the California MUTCD provides an example of parking space markings in Figure 3B-21(CA) showing 20ft minimum parking setbacks from all crosswalks, and 30ft minimum setbacks on the approach to crosswalks at signalized intersections.
Uniform Vehicle Code 1-118 11-1003(a)(D) also prohibits parking within 30 feet of any flashing signal, stop sign, yield sign or traffic-control signal.
California Vehicle Code section 257 defines crosswalks as either marked or unmarked locations across the roadway within the extension of the adjacent sidewalks except at alleys or prohibited with signs.
Figure 2: Representation of new California Vehicle Code regarding parking near crosswalks. (SFMTA, 2021) CITY COUNCIL 2024
JAMES COLEMAN, MAYOR (DIST. 4)
EDDIE FLORES, VICE MAYOR (DIST. 5)
MARK ADDIEGO, MEMBER (DIST. 1)
FLOR NICOLAS, MEMBER (DIST. 3)
MARK NAGALES, MEMBER (DIST. 2)
SHARON RANALS, CITY MANAGER
OFFICE OF
THE CITY ENGINEER
PHONE (650) 829-6652
FAX (650) 829-6689
Guidance
Where a parking lane exists, emphasize a parking prohibition with regulatory signs or red painted curb zones. Typically, this will include painting the curb red within 20ft of the vehicle approach side of any crosswalk.
Along streets with a speed limit of 30mph or higher, consider increasing the parking prohibition to a length in feet equal to the speed in miles per hour, as drivers require more space to see crossing pedestrian.
At crossings with signalized intersections, yellow school crosswalks, and at crossings with rapid flashing beacons, consider increasing the parking prohibition to 30 feet to provide greater visibility at these high-use pedestrian locations.
When a crosswalk is present, measure from the edge of the crosswalk, as illustrated in Figure 3. If there is no crosswalk but a stop bar is present, measure from the stop bar. If neither a crosswalk nor a stop bar exists, measure from a point 10 feet behind an imaginary line connecting the curbs of the crossing street, as shown in Figure 4. Do not mark curb within driveways, curb ramps, or marked crosswalks.
Daylighting zones may be used for bicycle and motorized scooter parking. Bus stops may be in daylighting zones. Curb extensions and transit bulb-outs increase the overall visibility of pedestrians and replace the space where cars would normally park, and thus do not require traffic control devices to prohibit parking.
The traffic engineer may determine that parking should be removed for a greater distance on the approach to crosswalks as needed due to geometric conditions or on higher speed roadways.
CITY COUNCIL 2024
JAMES COLEMAN, MAYOR (DIST. 4)
EDDIE FLORES, VICE MAYOR (DIST. 5)
MARK ADDIEGO, MEMBER (DIST. 1)
FLOR NICOLAS, MEMBER (DIST. 3)
MARK NAGALES, MEMBER (DIST. 2)
SHARON RANALS, CITY MANAGER
OFFICE OF
THE CITY ENGINEER
PHONE (650) 829-6652
FAX (650) 829-6689
Figure 3: Examples of parking restriction enhancements at marked crosswalks.
Figure 4: Examples of parking restriction enhancement at unmarked crosswalks.