8. Pedestrian issues

8.1 Pedestrian phase issues

Pedestrians are the most vulnerable road users and require special consideration during signal design. People who walk may be too young or too old to drive or cycle, or have a vision impairment. Turning motorists may have to filter through parallel pedestrian movements and, due to the complex demands at signalised intersections, pedestrians may be unintentionally overlooked.

Safety and efficiency issues

The following safety and efficiency issues can arise:

• Pedestrians need to be able to clear the length of the crosswalk during the clearance period to avoid conflict with crossing traffic.
• Where the number of pedestrian/vehicle conflicts is high, pedestrian protection using red arrow control should be considered.
• Late introduction or reintroduction of a pedestrian phase can catch turning motorists by surprise.

Recommended treatments

• The clearance-time settings need to be based on the actual crossing length and take into account special requirements (eg, proximity to a rest home or hospital).
• Where arrow displays are present, they should always be used for full or partial pedestrian protection.
• If pedestrian protection is deemed warranted but no arrow displays exist, it is acceptable to provide a late start for the parallel vehicle phase (generally about 3 seconds).
• Unless full pedestrian protection is used, it is not good practice to provide a crosswalk that right turners from the stem of a T junction have to cross.
• Late introduction or reintroduction of a parallel pedestrian phase should only be used if the conflicting vehicle movements (left and right turns) have been terminated or banned (eg, crossing the upstream approach of a one-way street).

Figure 15 Bad practice of providing a crosswalk to the right of the side street at a T intersection without pedestrian protection

Figure 16 A late start of the vehicle phase provides pedestrian protection at this T intersection

8.2 Push button location

The correct push button location is an important aspect for pedestrians, especially for those with vision impairment (many of whom also have a hearing impairment). The correct placement is at the cutdown associated to the crosswalk, with an embossed arrow indicating the direction of travel through the intersection. The use of audio-tactile equipment requires that push buttons for different crossings are not located too close to one another.

Safety and efficiency issues

The following safety and efficiency issues can arise from poor push button locations:

• Push buttons located away from the cutdown may result in pedestrians tripping at the kerb.
• Poorly orientated embossed arrows and tactile paving may lead vision-impaired pedestrians away from the crosswalk and they may cross in the wrong direction.
• Pedestrians may be less inclined to demand their phase if the push button is poorly located.
• Wheelchair users may not be able to reach poorly positioned push buttons.
• Audio-tactile equipment for adjacent crosswalks may confuse pedestrians if the posts are positioned too close to one another.

Recommended treatments

• Install push buttons at the cutdown. Make use of short stub posts if the signal post is not in a suitable location and cannot or should not be shifted.
• Ensure that the embossed arrow and any tactile paving are orientated correctly.
• Avoid safety rails obstructing push buttons.
• Ensure audio-tactile equipment for adjacent crosswalks is at least 3 m apart.
• Ensure the recommendations of RTS 14 are followed.

Figure 17 Visually impaired pedestrians are directed away from the crosswalk by the warning paver layout. Tactile pavers should be laid at the same angle as the crosswalk.

Figure 18 Use of stub post for appropriate placement of pedestrian call box adjacent to the pram crossing. Note, however, that the stub post on the far side of the island is placed on the wrong side of the crosswalk.

< previous | next >