Pedestrian crossing
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
A pedestrian crossing or crosswalk is a designated point on a road at which some means are employed to assist pedestrians wishing to cross. They are designed to keep pedestrians together where they can be seen by motorists, and where they can cross most safely with the flow of vehicular traffic. Pedestrian crossings are often at intersections, but may also be at other points on busy roads that would otherwise be perilous to attempt to cross. They are common near schools or in other areas where there are a large number of children. Crosswalks can be considered a traffic calming technique.
Crossings may just consist of some markings on the pavement in low-traffic areas. However, in busier areas, they can have special signals consisting of electric lamps or light-emitting diode (LED) panels. On some traffic signals, pressing a button is required to trigger the signal. These signals may be integrated into a regular traffic light arrangement or may be on their own if the crossing is not at an intersection. Audible or tactile signals may also be included to assist people who have poor sight. Sites with extremely high traffic (freeways or motorways) may instead use pedestrian bridges or tunnels. A variation on the bridge concept, often called a skyway or skywalk, is sometimes implemented in regions that experience inclement weather.
Special markings are often made on the road surface, both to direct pedestrians and to prevent motorists from stopping vehicles in the way of foot traffic. There are many varieties of signal and marking layouts around the world and even within single countries. In the United States, there are many inconsistencies, although the variations are usually minor. There are several distinct types in the United Kingdom, each with their own name.
Pedestrian refuges or small islands in the middle of a street may be added when a street is very wide, as these crossings can be too long for some individuals to cross in one cycle. In places where there is very high pedestrian traffic, pedestrian scrambles (also known as Barnes Dances) may be used, which stop vehicular traffic in all directions at the same time. Another relatively widespread variation is the Curb (or kerb) extension (also known as a bulb-out) which narrows the width of the street and is used in combination with crosswalk markings.
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[edit] Worldwide variations
[edit] Pedestrian crossings in the Commonwealth
In the United Kingdom, animal names are used to distinguish several types of such crossings:
- Zebra crossing: wide longitudinal stripes on road, often with belisha beacons; pedestrians may cross at any time; drivers must give way to pedestrians who demonstrate intent to cross.
- Pelican crossing: traffic lights for pedestrians and vehicles; button-operated.
- Puffin crossing: pedestrian lights on near side of road; button-operated with curb-side detector.
- Toucan crossing: for bicycles as well as pedestrians.
- Pegasus crossing: an equestrian crossing.
Belisha beacons are found at zebra crossings and coloured lights at all others, often showing a pictogram of their intended user(s): a "little man", bicycle or horse.
Belisha beacons are often used in the United Kingdom, New Zealand, Singapore and Hong Kong to warn drivers of a crossing.
The coloured lights of the signal are red and green for pedestrians and red, amber and green for motorists.
The film The Quiet Earth shows that in New Zealand, instead of "WALK/DONT WALK" signs, theirs say "CROSS/WAIT".
[edit] Crosswalks in North America
In the United States, crosswalks are usually marked with white stripes, though every municipality seems to have a slightly different method, style, or pattern for doing so (and the styles vary over time as intersections are built and replaced). There are two main methods for road markings in the United States. Most frequently, they are marked with two thick white lines running from one side of the road to the other. A shorter third line is usually also present, to be used as a stop point for vehicles and discourage drivers from pulling into the crosswalk. The more easily visible continental stripes (like UK zebra crossings) are seeing increasing usage in place of the two-line variant.
Crosswalks are usually placed at traffic intersections or crossroads, but are occasionally used between intersections near schools or other popular pedestrian destination. In the United States, such crossings may be marked by signs such as "PED XING" (for "pedestrian crossing"), by flashing yellow lights, by stop signs, or by full traffic signals. At a crossing without a traffic signal, the vehicles must yield right-of-way to a pedestrian or bicyclist who has already entered the crosswalk.
At crossings controlled by signals, the most common variety is arranged like this: At each end of a crosswalk, the poles which hold the traffic lights also have WALK and DONT WALK signs, usually lighted with white fluorescent argon tubes and red-orange neon tubes, respectively. Modern signals in the United States tend to feature an orange hand and a white pedestrian symbol instead of the WALK/DONT WALK signs. Additionally, LEDs have replaced the tubes in many modern installations. As a warning, the DONT WALK or hand signals may begin to blink when the transition to DONT WALK is imminent. On pedestrian signals displaying text, "DONT WALK" is spelled without an apostrophe.
Crosswalks have also been adapted for the blind by adding two small loudspeakers at each corner, chirping when it is safe to cross east-west, and cuckooing for north-south. Salt Lake City has had these for years; other towns include Portland, Oregon, Yakima, Washington, East Lansing, Michigan,Keyport, New Jersey, Green Bay, Wisconsin, Waynesville, North Carolina, Boston, Massachusetts and Redding, California, and they are becoming more widespread in Southern California. The speakers are not usually installed at every crosswalk in a city.
Some pedestrian signals integrate a countdown timer, showing how many seconds are remaining until the vehicular traffic will be allowed to proceed through the crosswalk. This can be seen at many intersections in Washington D.C., and Las Vegas, Nevada. Some also incorporate a button on the near side to allow a pedestrian to notify the system that a pedestrian is waiting for a WALK signal, which may or may not produce the desired signal more quickly -- although some systems for busy roadways will increase motor traffic flow by not producing a WALK signal at all unless such a button is pushed.
Pedestrian buttons are most commonly used on actuated traffic signals, where a traffic signal system relies on sensors to detect vehicular traffic. Currently in some cities, another method of pedestrian detection is being tested, such as Infrared, microwave technology, or even weight sensors built in at curbside. On fully actuated signals, or semi-actuated traffic signals, crossing the side road portion, when there is no side traffic, pressing the button will cause an "instant walk signal." Contrary to popular belief saying the buttons are placebos, most buttons do work, but some only at certain times of day, and some, even at certain times of the year. In an event that the pedestrian button is malfunctioning, the pedestrian signal will be recalled automatically until the button is repaired.
To gain the right of way in Canada, the pedestrian holds out his hand in a position much like that used to shake hands, and steps off the curb. To a visitor, it is always impressive to see traffic actually stopping for this gesture. The risk is that some of the drivers may also be visitors, so it always pays to check that the vehicles really plan to stop before committing yourself too far.
[edit] In non-English-speaking countries
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In some countries, instead of "DONT WALK", "red man" or "hand" indicating when not to cross, the drawing of the person crossing appears with an X drawn over it.
In many parts of East Germany, the drawings of the crossing men (Ampelmännchen) have hats on them.
In Mexico City, the walking man moves his feet.
[edit] Enhancements for disabled users
Pedestrian controlled crossings are sometimes provided with enhanced features to assist the disabled. Enhancements may include:
- Tactile cones near the control button. These rotate when the pedestrian signal is green - the image of a "green man". This provides an indication to pedestrians incapable of seeing the lights that a crossing is possible with a degree of safety.
- Tactile surfacing pattern laid flush within the adjacent footways (US: sidewalks), so that visually impaired pedestrians can locate the control box and cone device and know when their crossing has been accomplished.
- Audible signals, such as beeps, in order to assist blind or partially sighted pedestrians; or a short recorded message, as in Scotland and some parts of the US, including Michigan, Massachusetts and Texas. In Japan, various electronic melodies are played, often of traditional melancholic folk songs such as "Toryanse" or "Sakura"
- A vibrating button in addition to an audible signal is used in Australia, Germany, and some parts of the United States and Greece to assist the hearing-impaired.
- Electrostatic, touch-sensitive buttons; these require no force to activate. To confirm that a request has been registered, the buttons usually emit a chirp or other sound.
[edit] See also
- Ampelmännchen, the little men that are commonly shown on pedestrian traffic lights at crossings in Germany.
- Tropicana - Las Vegas Boulevard intersection, an example of replacing grade level crossing with overhead walkways
- Stile
- Traffic light
