The safe and efficient accommodation of pedestrians along the traveled way is equally important as the provisions for vehicles. Too often, pedestrians are a secondary consideration in the design of roadways, particularly in suburban areas. Although sidewalks are an integral part of city streets, they are rare in rural areas and provided only sporadically in suburban areas. This contradicts available data that shows providing sidewalks along highways in rural and suburban areas results in a reduction in pedestrian accidents. When considering the placement of sidewalks, designers have several options. The sidewalk can either be placed flush with the roadside edge (if a curb is provided) or next to a buffer area, such as a planted strip (usually of grass or plant material), located between the sidewalk and roadside. The pros and cons of each option should be weighed and considered by the designer, using input from the community. For example, a planted strip has these advantages:
Buffers, or planted strips, may have the disadvantage of requiring additional right-of-way that may negatively affect restricted right-of-way corridors. Another important consideration, is the width of the sidewalk and planted strip. Typically, sidewalks in residential or low-density commercial areas vary in width from 1.2 to 2.4 m (4 to 8 ft). The Americans with Disabilities Act Accessibility Guidelines of August 1992 set the minimum passing width on a sidewalk at 1.525 m (5 ft) at least every 61 m (200 ft). If a planted strip is provided between the sidewalk and the curb, it should be at least 0.6 m (2 ft) wide to allow for maintenance activities. This planted strip also provides space for street lights, fire hydrants, street hardware, and landscaping.
Sidewalks can also provide space for street furniture and necessary traffic poles and signals; however, additional width should be added to sidewalks to accommodate these fixtures. The wider the sidewalk, the greater the number of pedestrians that can be accommodated and the less difficult it is for them to maneuver around these fixed objects. When considering the placement of objects inside sidewalks, it is important not to overlook the need to maintain as unobstructed a pathway as possible. For instance, locating utility poles to the sides and not in the center, of sidewalks is important. This detail facilitates the movements of people with disabilities as well. Adding sidewalks to a facility where none previously existed can be beneficial to a community. When the Lincoln Beach Parkway section of the Pacific Coast Highway (U.S. Route 101) was reconstructed in the early 1990’s, sidewalks were added along both sides of the facility. Not only did this result in a more aesthetically pleasing alternative to the shoulder section for the two travel lanes that previously existed, but the sidewalks made it safer for residents to walk between their homes and local commercial facilities. Residents can now interact with each other much more easily, which has fostered a higher level of community spirit.
Source: Flexibility in Highway Design pp. 83-84
Published: 1997
