Design and Safety of Pedestrian Facilities

Author(s):

Zegeer et al.

Organization:

Institute of Transportation Engineers, Prepared for the Institute of Transportation Engineers

Publisher/Date:

1998

Rating:

Very Useful

Abstract:

This book, one of the ITE's "Recommended Practice" series, focuses on ways to reduce accidents between pedestrians and vehicles. Its primary use will be as a supplemental resource for planners and street designers. The document has a brief description of the characteristics of pedestrians, including those with limited physical, visual, and cognitive capabilities. The book¹s format is by feature -- a chapter on sidewalks, another on signing, another on signalization, and so on. In general, access issues are integrated into the general text. However, sometimes they are missing. Nonetheless, the book is recommended to planners, municipal transportation departments, and designers.

Annotation:

Design and Safety of Pedestrian Facilities, one of the ITE's "Recommended Practice" series, is aimed at planners and designers to be used as a companion to other guidelines. The authors' major concern is with what they call "collisions between pedestrians and motor vehicles,” and, to address these, the document has a brief description of the characteristics of pedestrians, including those with limited physical, visual, and cognitive capabilities. As with all the material written by Professor Zegeer, the book's organization is clear, logical and intuitive. Its format is by feature -- a chapter on sidewalks, another on signing, another on signalization, another on crosswalks, and so on. The footnotes at the end of each chapter allow for an impressive bibliography (not annotated) for further reading.

The first chapter on roadway design, in fact, is a good primer for the design for pedestrians, and throughout the book, the generous number of pictures help show to illustrate good and bad design. While not singling out access as the issue, many pictures are, in fact, access issues. While there is a specific chapter on Pedestrians with Disabilities, access concerns are often integrated within the text. When access features are mentioned in the generic sense they work very well -- e.g., in the section on curbs, there appears the following: "Along with drainage and vehicle redirection at low speeds, designers should be mindful that a curb is also a barrier to handicapped and older pedestrian.” When they are specific, the criteria are expressed in maximums/minimums, not the recommended dimension -- e.g., this entry on curb ramps: "At a minimum, curb cuts should be 36 inches wide with flared sides that do not exceed 10%." In lieu of fixed minimums and maximums, it would have been useful to have said: ‘Construct curb ramps as wide as possible. Try to never go to below 5 feet in width, and if you cannot get a ramp at least 3 feet wide, seek and alternative approach to the street crossing.’

In other sections, access criteria is missing altogether. In the section on signalization, there is nothing about persons with disabilities -- hearing problems, sight problems, or mobility problems -- until one column at the end of the section. And even there, no specific guidance is given nor is the issue of requirements for accessibility noted. The book is somewhat outdated in specific criteria, but it is a good source for general information. Since engineers use ITE for source material, ITE should reissue the volume with the current best practices and added information that integrate the accessible public rights of way guidance.

Number of Pages:

119

Table of Contents?

Yes

Index?

No

Illustrations?

Yes

Material Type:

Book

Notes:

Key Resource because it was done by ITE and hence will likely turn up on the bookshelves of engineers.

Key Document?

Yes

Categories:

Guidelines, Policy, Planning, Schematic Design, Design Development

Keywords:

Geometric Design, Pedestrian and Bicycle Safety, Pedestrian Facilities

Strengths:

• Many pictures; many examples.
• Most of the time, access issues are integrated into the general text.
• Clear, logical, and intuitive organization of material.
• The book is good enough for one to want it to be better.
• Most criteria performance criteria with rationale given.

Weaknesses:

• Is a supplemental text and hence may not have a wide distribution.
• Some access information is out of date.
• Signalization section is devoid of information about accessible pedestrian signals.

Suggestions for Future Editions:

• This book is too good to not come out in an up-dated version.
• Collaborate with an expert on accessible pedestrian design for the up-dated version, using current best practice as criteria.
• At the minimum, consult with the U.S. Access Board.

Record Last Updated:

July 2006