Global Street Design Guide Designing Streets for People Designing for Pedestrians Pedestrian Crossings Crossing Types

Global Street Design Guide

Crossing Types

Pedestrian Volumes Low to High
Signalized Yes
At Intersection Yes
Mid-Block No
Vehicular Speed Any Speed
Vehicular Volumes Low to High

Conventional Crossing

Pedestrian crossings should be aligned as closely as possible with the pedestrian clear path. Inconvenient deviations create an unfriendly pedestrian environment.

Many pedestrian crossings are designed using inadequate, narrow striping, setbacks from intersections, and deviations from the pedestrian clear path, resulting in considerable crossing distances.

Intersection crossings should be kept as compact as possible, facilitating eye contact by moving pedestrians directly into the driver’s field of vision.

Pedestrian Volumes High
Signalized Yes
At Intersection Yes
Mid-Block No
Vehicular Speed Any Speed
Vehicular Volumes Medium to High

Diagonal Crossings

A diagonal crossing, also called pedestrian scramble, is a type of crossing in which a dedicated phase allows pedestrians to cross the intersection in every direction at the same time. During this phase all vehicular traffic is stopped.

This type of signalized crossing avoids conflicts between pedestrians and turning vehicles.

It should be applied only at intersections with high pedestrian volume and should be designed to provide enough space for large numbers of people to gather on the sidewalk corners.

If not well-coordinated, it can create long waiting times for both pedestrians and motorists. Reduce waiting time for pedestrians for higher compliance and increased safety.

Pedestrian Volumes Medium to High
Signalized No
At Intersection Yes
Mid-Block Yes
Vehicular Speed Below 30 km/h
Vehicular Volumes Medium to High

Raised Crossings

Non-signalized crossings at intersections and mid-block can be raised, extending the level of the sidewalk across the street.

This helps calm traffic, improve accessibility, and increase visibility between motorists and pedestrians.

Raised crossings can be applied in busy neighborhood main streets and commercial streets, or where small neighborhood streets with slower speeds meet larger corridors. See: Small Raised Intersection and Neighborhood Gateway Intersection.

Pedestrian Volumes Low to Medium
Signalized No/Actuated
At Intersection No (prefer raised)
Mid-Block Yes
Vehicular Speed Above 30 km/h
Vehicular Volumes Medium

Traffic Calmed Crossings

At mid-block crossings where motorist compliance is low, use vertical deflection measures such as speed bumps, tables,and cushions to reduce motorist speed and warn them of the presence of an upcoming pedestrian crossing.

Vertical speed control elements should be set back 5–10 m from the crossing according to vehicular speed. A series of bumps before the crossing increases compliance levels.

Use pedestrian-activated warning lights, flashing beacons, or High Intensity Activated Crosswalks (HAWK) to increase motorists’ awareness and improve pedestrian safety.

The pedestrian crossing could also be raised to increase mutual visibility between pedestrians and motorists. In streets with high vehicular volumes, give preference to conventional crossings with fixed signalization.

Pedestrian Volumes Low to Medium
Signalized Actuated
At Intersection No
Mid-Block Yes
Vehicular Speed Above 30 km/h
Vehicular Volumes Medium

Staggered Crossings

Staggered crossing should only be applied when the depth of the cutthrough allows full accessibility. They allow pedestrians to face the direction of oncoming vehicles, increasing visibility along the crosswalk.

The minimum width of the median should be 3 m and the offset between the two legs of the pedestrian crossing should not exceed 1 m, keeping crossing distances to a minimum.

The stop bars at this type of mid-block crossing should be set back 5–10 m.

If vehicular volumes are high or compliance levels are low, other strategies, such as calming the crossing using speed bumps, tables, cushions, or implementing fixed signalization should be employed.

Pedestrian Volumes Low
Signalized No
At Intersection No
Mid-Block Yes
Vehicular Speed Below 30 km/h
Vehicular Volumes Low

Pinchpoint/Yield Crossings

Crossing design in conjunction with pinchpoints, provides short crossing distance at mid-blocks.

By reducing the roadway from two lanes to one lane at a mid-block, drivers are forced to reduce speed and yield to traffic coming from the opposite direction.

Maintain a lane width of 3.5 m at the pinchpoint for emergency vehicle access.

Adapted by Global Street Design Guide published by Island Press.