Ped Safe Guide - FHWA Case Study Contra-Flow Bike Lanes

PEDSAFE: Pedestrian Safety Guide and Countermeasure Selection System SEPTEMBER 2004

FHWA-SA-04-003

Technical Report Documentation Page 1. Report No.

2. Government Accession No.

3. Recipient's Catalog No.

FHWA-SA-04-003 4. Title and Subtitle

5. Report Date

PEDSAFE: Pedestrian Safety Guide and Countermeasure Selection System 7. Author(s)

September 2004 6. Performing Organization Code

8. Performing Organization Report No.

David L. Harkey and Charles V. Zegeer

9. Performing Organization Name and Address

10. Work Unit No. (TRAIS)

University of North Carolina Highway Safety Research Center 730 Airport Road, CB #3430 Chapel Hill, NC 27599

11. Contract or Grant No.

DTFH61-99-X-00003

12. Sponsoring Agency Name and Address

13. Type of Report and Period Covered

Final Report 2001 - 2004

Federal Highway Administration Office of Safety Programs 400 7th Street, SW Washington, DC 20590

14. Sponsoring Agency Code

15. Supplementary Notes

This report was produced under the FHWA contract "Bicycle and Pedestrian Technical Information Center," directed

by John Fegan (AOTR). The task manager was Tamara Redmon (FHWA). The technical manager was Leverson Boodlal. Pedestrian Safety Consultant of KLS Engineering. Report layout and graphics support provided by Lisa Jusino of LEJ Graphics; case study solicitation and support provided by the Association of Pedestrian and Bicycle Professionals; web/CD application programming provided by Dwayne Tharpe of HSRC; and web/CD application design support provided by Zoe Gillenwater of HSRC. 16. Abstract

This report is the next generation of the Pedestrian Facilities User Guide – Providing Safety and Mobility.1 It includes an update of 47 engineering countermeasures or treatments, along with education and enforcement programs, that may be implemented to improve pedestrian safety and mobility. Included in this version are 71 case studies that illustrate these concepts applied in practice in a number of communities throughout the United States.

The most significant enhancement is the integration of the countermeasures and case studies into an expert system known as PEDSAFE. This system and the content of this guide are included on the enclosed CD and are available on-line at http://safety.fhwa.dot.gov/pedsafe and at www.walkinginfo.org/pedsafe. The system allows the user to refine their selection of treatments on the basis of site characteristics, such as geometric features and operating conditions, and the type of safety problem or desired behavioral change. The purpose of the system is to provide the most applicable information for identifying safety and mobility needs and improving conditions for pedestrians within the public right-of-way. PEDSAFE is intended primarily for engineers, planners, safety professionals, and decisionmakers, but it may also be used by citiznes for identifying problems and recommending solutions for their communities.

1

Pedestrian Facilities User Guide – Providing Safety and Mobility was authored by Charles V. Zegeer, Cara Seiderman, Peter Lagerwey, Mike Cyneki, Michael Ronkin, and Robert Schneider.

17. Key Words:

18. Distribution Statement

pedestrian safety, pedestrian facilities, crash typing, engineering treatments, education, enforcement

No restrictions. This document is available to the public through the National Technical Information Service, Springfield, Virginia 22161.

19. Security Classif. (of this report)

Unclassified

20. Security Classif. (of this page)

Unclassified

21. No. of Pages

22. Price

336

Form DOT F 1700.7 (8-72) Reproduction of form and completed page is authorized Pedestrian Safety Guide and Countermeasure Selection System

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ALLEGHENY COUNTY, PENNSYLVANIA

CASE STUDY NO. 3

Park Road Restriping

PROBLEM

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Throughout the 1990’s, Lakeshore Drive, a park access road in North Park, experienced increasing volumes of motor vehicle, bicycle, and pedestrian traffic. In the 1980’s, the open section, two-way road was striped with a 1.5 m (5 ft) bicycle lane on one side. Absent proper enforcement, over time this sub-standard bicycle accommodation became overrun with two-way bicycle and pedestrian traffic, creating conflicts and confusion for all road users.

BACKGROUND Pedestrian and bicycle safety concerns were first identified in the Allegheny County Parks system in the late 1980’s. In response to those concerns, the County completed a Trail Improvement Feasibility Study in 1990. However, the recommendations of the study were never implemented.

In the spring of 2001 an accident occurred in another county park, South Park, which killed three pedestrians, the driver of an errant car, and a passenger in the vehicle. This accident brought the safety of pedestrians and bicyclists to the forefront in Allegheny County. As a result, the County revived its commitment to increasing the safety of pedestrians and bicyclists in each of the county parks.

• Bicycle and pedestrian conflicts in the designated bicycle lane.

• The presence of only one bicycle lane on a two-way road.

• The presence of dangerous intersection crossings.

SOLUTION Recommendations in the 2001 Master Plan for North Park were built upon the concerns raised in the 1990 plan. To reduce conflict, the County designed and built separate facilities for each travel mode. Bicycle lanes were provided on each side of Lakeshore Drive, giving cyclists the opportunity to travel with the direction of motor vehicle traffic (a requirement of the Motor Vehicle Code). In addition, a 1.5 m (5 ft) pedestrian pathway for walkers and joggers was located adjacent to the bicycle lane on the right hand side of the road.

Where space was limited and traffic patterns permitted, the roadway was designated as one-way, allowing continuation of all three travelways for the bicyclists and pedestrians. In this case, a bicycle lane with an adjacent pedestrian path

Specific safety concerns for North Park included the following: • Wrong way bicycle riding and the use of vehicular lanes by bicyclists due to congestion in the designated bicycle lane.

Prepared by John Buerkle, Pashek Associates, Pittsburgh, PA.

Striping of three travelways—center lane for one-way vehicle flow, a parallel flow bicycle lane on the right, and a contra-flow bicycle lane on the left.

Pedestrian Safety Guide and Countermeasure Selection System

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Case Studies

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RESULTS Approximately 1.6 km (1 mi) of striped pedestrian and bicycle lanes on Lakeshore Drive were installed in the summer of 2001 for a total cost of approximately $150,000 (for planning, design and construction). The project was designed and implemented in-house, by the Allegheny County Department of Public Works. Similar improvements were made later in South Park.

Bicycle lanes are marked with words and symbols as shown to indicate proper travel direction. Note that this symbol is not what is currently recommended in the MUTCD.

was striped on the right side of the road and a contra-flow bicycle lane was striped on the left side of the road.

Lane widths were also adjusted. To free up space to accommodate wider bicycle lanes and pedestrian pathways, the width of the vehicular lane was reduced to 3.1 m (10 ft). In order to ensure that the width of the bicycle and pedestrian lanes were able to accommodate changes in peak demand, the master plan recommended taking regular peak period pedestrian and bicycle counts.

Finally, signs and markings were added to designate the respective corridors created for each mode and to educate travelers on proper use of the facility. This was accomplished through painting traditional traffic markings on the pavement as well as posting rules and regulations that establish what is expected of each trail user.

Given the short time the improvements have been in place, it is difficult to scientifically validate the results.

However, field observations made in August of 2001 indicate the improvements have been successful. Mode separation, wider bicycle and pedestrian lanes, and better signage have made the North Park roadway safer and more comfortable for pedestrians. Not only have the changes resulted in reducing the conflicts between the various non-motorized modes, but the implementation of the recommendations has also resulted in calming traffic in the adjacent vehicle lanes and has made drivers more aware of the other transportation modes operating within the roadway corridor. Response from the public has been very positive.

CONTACT John O. Buerkle, Jr., RLA, AICP Pashek Associates 619 East Ohio Street Pittsburgh, PA 15212 Phone: (412) 321-6362 E-mail: jbuerkle@pashekla.com

Informational signs educate patrons about traffic safety in the park.

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Case Studies

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Pedestrian Safety Guide and Countermeasure Selection System