Designing for Pedestrian Safety – Road Diets 9-1 ROAD DIETS

Designing for Pedestrian Safety – Road Diets 9-1

ROAD DIETSROAD DIETS


ROAD DIETSROAD DIETSLearning outcomesLearning outcomes

Describe how Ped crash risk increases with Describe how Ped crash risk increases with number of travel lanes and speed.number of travel lanes and speed.

Describe how reducing the number of travel Describe how reducing the number of travel lanes reduces risk, and makes it easier to lanes reduces risk, and makes it easier to cross the streetcross the street

Describe how reducing # of lanes frees space Describe how reducing # of lanes frees space for higher & better use:for higher & better use: Streets are as is 24/7, though peak traffic Streets are as is 24/7, though peak traffic

may be a concern for as little as 30 may be a concern for as little as 30 minutes a dayminutes a day


Classic Road DietClassic Road Diet


Road Diets:reclaim street space for other Road Diets:reclaim street space for other usesuses

Not just for bike lanesNot just for bike lanes

Cambridge MACambridge MA


Road DietsRoad Dietsand Traffic Operationsand Traffic Operations


Fewer midblock conflictsFewer midblock conflicts

Four-lane undivided Conflict Point Three-lane

What 2 types of crashes can be avoided

with the 3-lane configuration?


Fewer intersection conflictsFewer intersection conflicts

Four-lane undivided Conflict Point Three-lane


Better left-turn sight distanceBetter left-turn sight distance


Valencia Street (SF) - before road dietSan Francisco CASan Francisco CA


Valencia Street (SF) - after road dietSan Francisco CASan Francisco CA


Mission District, San FranciscoNorth-South ADTs

0

5000

10000

15000

20000

25000

Dolores Guerrero Valencia Mission S. Van Ness

1998 - before bike lanes 2000 - after bike lanes


Valencia Street Bicycle VolumesValencia Street Bicycle VolumesPM peak hour countsPM peak hour counts

88 bikes/hr

215 bikes/hr

0

50

100

150

200

250

Valencia St

before bike lanes after bike lanes


Which road produces the highest speed? With a 4-lane road a fast driver can pass others With a 2-lane road slower drivers set the speed

Which road produces the highest crash rate? Which is better for bicyclists, pedestrians,

businesses?

Road DietsRoad Diets

Which road carries the most traffic?


Old centerlineOld centerline

Reclaiming road space creates room for islandsReclaiming road space creates room for islands

Portland ORPortland OR


On-street On-street parkingparking

MedianMedian

Center turn-laneCenter turn-lane

Bike Bike laneslanes

Reclaimed road space creates room for many usesReclaimed road space creates room for many uses

Seattle WASeattle WA


This 5-lane Main Street was converted to…This 5-lane Main Street was converted to…

Pottstown PAPottstown PA

Designing for Pedestrian Safety – Road Diets 9-17Pottstown PAPottstown PA

Name 4 things that changedName 4 things that changed

Fewer travel lanes; added bike lanes; parallel to Fewer travel lanes; added bike lanes; parallel to back-in diagonal parking on one side; new back-in diagonal parking on one side; new pavementpavement


There’s potential on one-way streets too:There’s potential on one-way streets too:Is this street operating at capacity?Is this street operating at capacity?

Boise IDBoise ID


This area was recaptured from a 4This area was recaptured from a 4thth travel travel lane; the street took on a whole new lifelane; the street took on a whole new life



Iowa DOT study -15 road diet projects with 15 control sites over 23 years


= 25.2% reduction = 25.2% reduction in total in total

crashes/milecrashes/mile

= 18.8% reduction = 18.8% reduction in crash ratein crash rate


What are some benefits of What are some benefits of road diets for pedestrians?road diets for pedestrians?

Reduce crossing distanceReduce crossing distance Eliminate or reduce “multiple threat” crash typesEliminate or reduce “multiple threat” crash types Install medians or crossing island to break crossing into Install medians or crossing island to break crossing into

2 simpler crossings2 simpler crossings Reduce top end travel speedsReduce top end travel speeds Add sidewalk buffer from travel lanes (parking or bike Add sidewalk buffer from travel lanes (parking or bike

lane)lane) Reclaim street space for “higher and better use” than Reclaim street space for “higher and better use” than

moving peak hour trafficmoving peak hour traffic


ROAD DIETSROAD DIETSLearning outcomesLearning outcomes

Described how Ped crash risk increases with Described how Ped crash risk increases with number of travel lanes and speed.number of travel lanes and speed.

Described how reducing the number of travel Described how reducing the number of travel lanes reduces risk, and makes it easier to lanes reduces risk, and makes it easier to cross the streetcross the street

Described how reducing # of lanes frees Described how reducing # of lanes frees space for higher & better use:space for higher & better use: Streets are as is 24/7, though peak traffic Streets are as is 24/7, though peak traffic

may be a concern for as little as 30 may be a concern for as little as 30 minutes a dayminutes a day


Questions?Questions?

Documents

Designing for Pedestrian Safety – Road Diets 9-1 ROAD DIETS