Here's a list of important terms used in the Pedestrian network guidance.
The speed at which, or below which, 15 percent of travellers are moving.
The speed at which, or below which, 85 percent of travellers are moving.
A main road through an area that carries traffic from one area or suburb to another.
Where two or more routes meet at the same vertical level.
A Barnes dance crossing is a form of traffic signals where all vehicles are temporarily stopped allowing pedestrians to cross in every direction, including diagonally, at the same time.
A physical barrier to prevent vehicles that leave the roadway from entering pedestrian areas.
Comparing the performance of an organisation, system or network with that of others, using a set of measures (indicators) that are common to each.
(For pedestrians, see Through zone)
An area alongside a roadway, free of potential hazards that are not frangible or breakaway.
The organisation commissioning a project. For many road projects this will be either the road controlling authority or the developer.
A non-arterial road that links local roads to the arterial road network, as well as serving neighbouring property.
A walking strategic plan for improving the walking environment specific to a defined community area, that identifies the area’s issues, difficulties and proposed remedial actions.
Courtesy crossings are usually made of bricks or paving or raised above the level of the road on a platform. A courtesy crossing is not an official pedestrian crossing, but to be polite, motorists should stop for people on the footpath waiting to cross. Motorists must give way to people already crossing. As courtesy crossings are not obvious, to both pedestrians and drivers, their use is generally discouraged except where the pedestrian volumes are very high and vehicle speeds are very low.
CPTED is a crime prevention philosophy based on proper design and effective use of the built environment. The use of CPTED is intended to reduce crime and fear of crime by reducing criminal opportunity and fostering positive social interaction among legitimate users of space.
National Guidelines for CPTED Part 1: Seven Qualities of Safer Places(external link)
National Guidelines for CPTED Part 2: Implementation Guide(external link)
The slope of the footpath perpendicular to the direction of travel.
Any point on the road network that has been designed to assist pedestrians to cross the roadway.
The distance over which pedestrians must see approaching traffic to be able to judge a safe gap.
A section of a traffic island or raised median where the height has been reduced to the level of the roadway to make an area where pedestrians can wait before crossing another part of the roadway.
The most direct route that people want to walk either paved or unpaved. This can sometimes be identified by an informal path worn into a grassy area by repeated pedestrian traffic.
The direction along a roadway towards which the vehicle flow under consideration is moving.
A driveway is defined in the Land Transport (Road User Rule) 2004 as a place used or appearing to be used as a vehicle entrance to or exit from land fronting a roadway.
A wheelchair powered by an electric motor that is used by a mobility impaired person.
A thin, directional sign showing the name of, and pointing the way to walk to, a major trip destination.
A footpath is defined in the Land Transport (Road User Rule) 2004 as ‘a path or way principally designed for, and used by, pedestrians; and includes a footbridge.’
Street furniture and other road infrastructure designed to break away or deform when struck by a motor vehicle, in order to minimise injuries to occupants.
The part of the footpath that pedestrians tend not to enter, next to adjoining land or along fences and buildings.
‘Geographic Information System’ – a computerised system used for storing, retrieving, manipulating, analysing and producing geographic data, which is referenced by map co-ordinates.
The separation of pedestrians from other road users by a difference in heights, usually by use of an overpass or an underpass.
The slope parallel to the direction of travel.
Data collected to measure progress toward a particular goal or objective.
An upright panel that lists key destinations, with directions showing the way to walk to each one.
A school pedestrian crossing point that is not marked as a pedestrian zebra crossing, at which a school patrol operates.
A raised border of rigid material (eg. concrete) formed between the roadway and the footpath.
A localised area where part of the footpath is lowered to the same level as the roadway next to it to facilitate convenient entry to the roadway. Kerb ramps are also known as kerb cutdowns, pram crossings, drop kerbs and dropped kerbs.
A localised widening of the footpath at an intersection or mid-block, which extends the footpath into and across parking lanes to the edge of the traffic lane. Also known as kerb buildouts, outstands or kerb blisters.
A localised area where part of the footpath is lowered to the same level as the roadway next to it to facilitate convenient entry to the roadway.
The part of the footpath next to the roadway.
A flat area at the top or bottom of a ramp.
The amount of walking that would happen if conditions were improved, but which is not happening currently.
An organisation that promotes walking as a healthy, environmentally friendly and universal way of transport and recreation.
A regional or territorial authority responsible for local government.
A road or street used mainly for access to neighbouring properties with little through traffic.
A chair on wheels used by a mobility impaired person, and propelled by the muscular energy of the user or pushed by another person.
A continuous painted or raised strip along the centre of the roadway.
A raised area within the roadway that provides a place for pedestrians to wait before crossing the next part of the road.
Traffic signals that are not at intersections, that stop traffic to permit pedestrians to cross the roadway.
A pedestrian whose ability to walk is hampered by a temporary or permanent loss of ability. It includes those using mobility aids, those carrying difficult parcels or accompanying small children, and those with temporary conditions such as a broken limb.
A powered vehicle designed for use in the pedestrian environment by a person with a physical or neurological impairment.
A kerb designed to define the edge of a roadway but which may be mounted or driven across, if the need arises, with little risk of damage to a vehicle.
The observation of people and their surrounds by others carrying out their normal activities.
The One Network Framework is a tool to help consistently categorise all of New Zealand’s roads and streets based on their function and the ways that people use them. The ONF uses the movement and place framework which acknowledges that roads and streets perform two functions – they help move people and goods, and are places where people spend time.
The height above the footpath within which there should be no obstructions for pedestrians.
A parklet is a reallocation of roadway space usually by converting on-street parking spaces either temporarily or permanently. They provide more space and amenities for people using the street and can include seating, outdoor dining, greenery and other facilities such as cycle parking.
A short section of widened footpath to allow one group of pedestrians to pass another easily.
A pedestrian is defined in the Land Transport (Road User) Rule 2004 as ‘a person on foot on a road; and includes a person in or on a contrivance equipped with wheels or revolving runners that is not a vehicle’. This can include a person walking or running, a person pushing a pram, a person in a wheelchair and a number of other users.
Users of skateboards, skates and scooters are not pedestrians as defined by law but are permitted on the pedestrian network.
A defined group of people interested in walking who are consulted as a matter of course about relevant issue.
Provision at a particular place to assist pedestrians to cross the roadway.
A fence that channels pedestrian movement. It offers no protection from vehicles that leave the roadway, but provides physical separation from a hazard.
The extent to which pedestrians can walk by direct routes to their desired destinations.
A raised area of roadway or raised table that slows vehicles and assists pedestrians to cross. They generally have a flat top and sit flush with the kerbs. On their own they provide a focus for pedestrians to cross, however pedestrians must still give way to vehicles.
A raised area within the roadway that provides a place for pedestrians to wait before crossing the next part of the road.
An area set aside for pedestrians only. Some vehicles may be permitted under specified conditions, such as for deliveries, or cyclists exercising care.
A plan developed on a one-to-one basis, according to the individual’s specific travel needs, to encourage them to use public transport, walking and cycling.
Feeling safe from the risk of injury, attack or accident.
See Kerb ramp
PUFFIN crossings are a type of crossing widely used in the United Kingdom with the pedestrian signal displays on the same side of the road as the pedestrian user and sensors to detect if pedestrians need more time to cross. They are not defined as PUFFIN crossings in NZ, the correct terminology is a mid-block signal-controlled pedestrian crossing with nearside signals.
A vertical deflection device designed to reduce the maximum comfortable operating speed for vehicles to Safe System collision speeds, particularly at intersections. Raised safety platforms can be designed to accommodate priority crossings or non-priority crossing treatments for pedestrians.
See Road controlling authority
A flat area, part-way through a ramp or steps, at which pedestrians can recover from their exertions. Also known as a landing area.
A road is defined in the Land Transport (Road User) Rule 2004 as ‘a street, motorway, beach, bridges, culverts, ferries and fords forming part of a road or street, and a place to which the public have access whether as of right or not.’
Organisations that are legally responsible for roads, including every city and district council, unitary authorities and Waka Kotahi NZ Transport Agency.
The part of the road used or reasonably usable by vehicular traffic in general.
A programme that aims to improve safety and remove barriers to walking (and cycling) to and from school.
The process of checking a proposed design or existing road to identify features that may result in unsafe conditions.
Older children or occasionally adults that use swing signs to stop traffic and permit children to cross free of traffic conflict at pedestrian zebra crossings or kea crossings.
Specially signed temporary speed limits covering the school zone for the time before and after school.
Older students or occasionally adults who choose the times at which it is safe for students to cross the road.
A programme that aims to encourage students to walk, scoot and cycle to school and reduce the effects of traffic near the school.
Area in the vicinity of a school where crossing assistance, safety measures and parking provision should be considered.
A route shared by pedestrians and cyclists where both groups use separate, designated areas of the path.
A pedestrian whose ability to walk is hampered by the partial or full loss of a sense, mainly sight or hearing. It may include those who are colour blind.
Separation of people from facilities, services and social networks they wish to use within their community; changes in comfort and attractiveness of areas; and/or people changing travel patterns due to the physical, traffic flow and/or psychological barriers created by transport corridors and their use.
A shared path is a path that is intended to be used by both pedestrians, cyclists, mobility devices and wheeled recreational devices (Traffic Control Devices Rule, Part 2: Definitions). A shared path may become a 'multi-use path' if it includes additional users, for example horse riders.
Shared space is an urban design approach that minimises segregation between travel modes by removing features such as kerbs, road surface markings and signage.
A shared zone is defined in the Land Transport (Road User) Rule 2004 as ‘a length of roadway intended to be used by pedestrians and vehicles’. Shared zones aim to eliminate the segregation of road users and allow the space to be shared. The shared zone sign means that traffic is required to give way to pedestrians but pedestrians must not unreasonably impede traffic.
The part of the road corridor outside the traffic lanes.
The distance, measured along the roadway, between a pedestrian about to enter the roadway and an approaching driver, or between two drivers, or between a driver and an object on the roadway.
A proven road safety countermeasure that delivers beneficial safety outcomes by improving the existing road network. There is a streamlined process for applying for funding approval for standard safety interventions.
An audit using a checklist to assess a street’s safety, convenience or usability.
Equipment within the footpath such as signal poles, lighting columns, signs, parking meters, seats, landscaping etc.
The part of the footpath between the through route and kerb zone primarily used for street furniture.
A specially profiled footpath surface that can be felt underfoot. It is provided to warn or direct vision impaired people. Legally named Tactile Ground Surface Indicators (TGSI) and also known as tactile paving.
The central part of the footpath designed as the place where pedestrians have a continuous and accessible path of travel.
Changes to the road environment to reduce driver speeds.
Changes to the road environment to reduce the number of vehicles travelling through an area.
Markings (often metal studs, coloured tiles or painted markings) set directly onto the footpath that pedestrians follow to reach their destinations.
A package of measures tailored to particular sites, such as schools or businesses, to promote active and environmentally friendly travel choices and reduce reliance on single-occupancy motor vehicles.
The place a journey ends.
The place a journey starts.
A path shared by pedestrians and cyclists where both groups share the same space.
The direction along a roadway that the vehicle flow under consideration has come from.
The overall design and structure of settlements.
A pedestrian whose vision is reduced and cannot be adequately corrected by spectacles or contact lenses, and who may use tactile, visually contrasting and audible cues when walking.
An attachment to a traffic signal face to minimum glare and reflection effects and reduce the possibility of a signal being seen by a road user for which it is not intended.
Pedestrians at greater risk than others of being involved in a crash, or more susceptible to serious injury. It includes older people, impaired people and children.
The extent to which the built environment is walking friendly.
An individual, or group of individuals, who encourage, support and enable pedestrian activity.
The area covered by a set walking time (e.g. 5 minutes) from a destination. Also known as a Pedshed.
A document setting out a strategy to increase walking and provide a walkable environment, including a programme of actions to achieve this.
Methods to assist pedestrians to find where they are and where they need to go to reach a destination.
A vehicle that is a wheeled conveyance (other than a cycle that has a wheel diameter exceeding 355mm) and that is propelled by human power or gravity; and includes a conveyance to which are attached one or more auxiliary propulsion motors that have a combined maximum power output not exceeding 300W. This can include skateboards, skates and scooters (push and electric). A person using a wheeled recreational device can use either the footpath or the roadway.
A travel plan tailored to a particular business, workplace or group of workplaces sharing a common location, influencing travel choices of staff and visitors.
A zebra pedestrian crossing point with longitudinal markings, where traffic is required to give way to pedestrians on the crossing. Legally they are called pedestrian crossings.
