Pedestrian Safety by Andre Maltsev
Achieving results
Photo by Andrey Maltsev
In urban areas, because residential streets have been adapted as public space, they are used for both pedestrian and vehicular traffic together. Residential streets therefore require careful design. All trips start on foot or on a bicycle or switch to public transport or cars. It shows that residential streets not only assigned for public or private transport. They also support a variety of social activities: playing, meeting, conversing and commerce, for example.
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Almost all types of road-use and target groups may be found on residential streets Although, design of the street might look like a simple task to planners and designers, residential streets are the most challenging. Within the design process, it is important to search for the right location for traffic reduction. Users of bicycles and people walking should have priority on residential streets.
Generally, we can say, safety depends on several factors. These factors include presence and visibility of human-powered adults, particularly women, pedestrians and cyclists, but also street-vendors. It also helps when street buildings – shops, café, restaurants and offices—have windows that open onto the street, creating natural vigilance.
Motorized traffic should be considered a less desirable use. Care must be taken to assure residents can use cars travel to home, shops and other destinations. Even in fully pedestrian zones, some vehicles, such as police, fire and ambulances are necessary.
This may also help parents to supervise their children and keep an eye on what’s happening in general. If a street has sidewalk gardens, seats and other street furniture, especially where the elderly can relax for a while, it is also enhance the safety of streets and other related public spaces.
Within the design process, the following aspects should be considered:
To encourage a continuous stream of all type of pedestrians, the street should be part of an uninterrupted network of public space. Public lighting is essential not only for finding the way, but also to feel comfortable after dark. Designers, when developing a street’s lighting, commit a common error by focusing light only on drivers’ needs for well-lit roadways.
Protection • • • •
General safety Traffic safety/accident reduction Traffic reduction Speed limitation
Traffic reduction measures include cutting both vehicle volume and speed. The most traditional method is known to some as “speed bumps” and to others as the “sleeping policeman”. Another wellknown measure to slow traffic is to place elements on the roadway that force drivers to deviate from a straight line. These kinds of measures are very effective, but also bring a lot of driver exasperation.
Protection, for most people on the streets, lie within safety public areas. This public area will attracts road users of bicycles and pedestrians. If they don’t feel safe enough, for instance, from aggression or traffic accidents, people will not spend much time on the street, and use their vehicles whenever they can. Parents will not let their children play on the street and in public areas, nor partake in social activities.
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