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Bicycles/Pedestrians

Safety Toolbox: Engineering


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Crosswalks



   
Marked crosswalks are the portion of the roadway designated for pedestrians to use in crossing the street. Various crosswalk marking patterns are given in the MUTCD. In some cases, they can be raised and should often be installed in conjunction with other enhancements that physically reinforce crosswalks and reduce vehicle speeds.
objective To warn motorists to expect pedestrian crossings.
applications They should be provided at all signalized intersections with pedestrian signal heads; at all locations where a school crossing guard is stationed to assist children crossing the street; at high pedestrian volume locations; at all other locations where there is a need to clarify the preferred crossing location. In some urban areas where distances between intersections are long, mid-block crossing points provide pedestrians opportunities to cross safely. Mid-block crossings can also provide convenience and safety in less developed area, where pedestrian activity is high.
target population All Pedestrians, Motorists
crash type Pedestrian R/W Violation-Intersection, Pedestrian R/W Violation-Mid-block, Excessive Speeds, Pedestrian Violation-Mid-block
advantages
  • Increases visibility of the pedestrian crossing area, defining the space for crossing, and drawing pedestrians to the appropriate crossing point
disadvantages
  • May give pedestrians a false sense of security when crossing the street
pointers At certain locations, crosswalk markings alone are unlikely to benefit pedestrian safety.  However, at controlled crossings, especially those with signals, crosswalks should be marked on all approaches unless there is a significant reason not to.
cost Low to Medium: $100 for a regular striped crosswalk, $300 for a ladder crosswalk, $3,000 for a patterned concrete crosswalk. High, $50,000-$75,000 for mid-block crossings, depending on the width of the street and the length of the mast-arm poles.
responsibility Public Works
further reading

Pedestrian Crossing Study, Final Submittal, Pedestrian Traffic Control Measures, Arctic Slope Consulting Group, Inc.

Zegeer, C., J. Stuart, and H. Huang, Safety Effects of Marked vs. Unmarked Crosswalks at Uncontrolled Crossing Locations, Federal Highway Administration, Washington, DC, 2001

Glock, J.W., R.B. Nassi, R.E. Hunt, and B.W. Fairfax. Implementation of a Program to Reduce Pedestrian-Related Accidents and Facilitate Pedestrian Crossings. Paper submitted for the Pedestrian Project Award, Partnership for a Walkable America and ITE, August 2000.
examples Most California and Bay Area cities; City of Los Angeles, CA
related tools Raised Crosswalks, Pavement Legends for Pedestrians, In-Roadway Warning Lights at Crosswalks

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