Pedestrians are unlikely to use a marked crosswalk if it is too far out of their way. So how far is too far?
Like so many other things in transportation engineering, the answer is dependent on the context. In this case, variables may include the surrounding roadway characteristics, traffic, and the type of crossing facilities that are available. A pedestrian's decisions can also be affected by how far they are walking, how many streets they have to cross, and other factors.
Researchers at Portland State University (PSU) are embarking on a new study to determine the optimal spacing between marked crosswalks.
Based on their findings, the team will create a tool to inform transportation agencies when to add marked crosswalks (also known as zebra crossings) at unmarked intersections and midblock crossing locations.
Funded by the National Cooperative Highway Research Program (NCHRP), the research team is led by the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, and includes Joe Broach, Sirisha Kothuri and Nathan McNeil of PSU and Rebecca Sanders of Safe Streets Research & Consulting.
WHY IS THE RESEARCH IMPORTANT?
An estimated 6,205 pedestrians were killed in traffic collisions in the United States in 2019, and over 80% of those pedestrian fatalities occurred at unmarked midblock locations.
To reduce fatalities and injuries, agencies need to provide safely designed crosswalks that are properly spaced so that it is practical for pedestrians to use them.
Current guidance and research on marked crosswalk spacing is limited. The American Association of State Highway and Transportation Officials (AASHTO) Council on Active Transportation’s Research Roadmap (July 2021) identifies “determining context-driven optimal spacing between marked crosswalks” as one of their six highest-priority needs.
This study aims to reduce pedestrian fatalities and severe injuries through a better understanding of appropriate marked crosswalk spacing.
WHAT WILL THE RESEARCHERS DO?
In the course of developing guidelines for crosswalk spacing, the research team will:
Identify and evaluate factors that influence pedestrians’ choice to divert from an unmarked direct crossing path toward a marked crosswalk.
Determine the maximum additional cost, in terms of extra travel distance and delays, that pedestrians will accept to use a marked crosswalk.
To accomplish these two things, the researchers will examine pedestrian crossing behavior in varied contexts. They will survey pedestrians about crossing preferences, and also recruit participants to log their walk trips to understand crossing behaviors.
Based on their findings, the team will then develop marked crosswalk spacing recommendations in various contexts, which will help guide agencies in placing crosswalks that are more accessible to pedestrians.
Read more about the project: NCHRP 17-115: Guide for Marked Crosswalk Design, Spacing, Placement, and Safety.
Portland State University's Transportation Research and Education Center (TREC) is a multidisciplinary hub for all things transportation. We are home to the Initiative for Bicycle and Pedestrian Innovation (IBPI), the data programs PORTAL and BikePed Portal, the Better Block PSU program, and PSU's membership in PacTrans, the Pacific Northwest Transportation Consortium. Our continuing goal is to produce impactful research and tools for transportation decision makers, expand the diversity and capacity of the workforce, and engage students and professionals through education, seminars, and participation in research. To get updates about what's happening at TREC, sign up for our monthly newsletter or follow us at the links below.
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